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PetroVietnam: Gas shortage not only reason for electricity shortage
One of the main reasons for the short electricity supply from gas-run power plants in the last two months was that the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) did not use up all the electricity output from the plants, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) said on March 5.
As reported, EVN on March 2 sent a document to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), warning about the possible lack of 1.07bil kwh of electricity in the dry season, affirming that the short gas supply for the three power plants Ca Mau 1 and 2, and Nhon Trach was the main reason behind this.
PetroVietnam (PVN) only gave an official response to the ‘accusation’ from EVN on March 5.
Only 30-50% of electricity output mobilised
PVN said that the actual electricity output of Ca Mau 1 and 2 in January 2009 only fulfilled 46% of the registered plan (371/801mil kwh). PVN does not think that only PVN is to blame for the shortage.
PVN said that on Tet days, from January 23 to February 1, 2009, EVN only mobilised 70% of Ca Mau power plant’s capacity.
The same situation continued in February. From February 1-4, EVN only mobilised 50% of the capacity due to the low electricity consumption on Tet. On February 9-10, EVN also did not mobilise all the power generation capacity of the two power plants it could have given the gas supply from PVN.
PVN said that if EVN had mobilised all the power plants’ capacities, in February, electricity output garnered for the national grid would have been 617mil kwh, or 102% of the plan.
Correcting information about Nhon Trach 1 Power Plant
As for Nhon Trach 1, in the report to MOIT, EVN said that the source will provide the electricity output of 2.415bil kwh for the whole year of 2009.
However, PVN has denied the information, saying that to date, PVN has not reached any agreement with EVN on Nhon Trach providing power.
PVN informed EVN about the Nhon Trach power generation in April. On February 19, PVN was informed that only 919mil kwh would be mobilised in April-July, or much lower than the volume of 1.23bil EVN plans to mobilise in the dry season.
Gas mobilisation depends on partners
PVN affirmed that the gas supply cut was not intended by PVN. In January, PVN had to cut down the gas supply to powers, leading to the electricity generation output of 14%.
It was because of the discovery of a high content of mercury in the wells in PM3-CAA and 46 Cai Nuoc areas, which affects the quality of oil. This has forced Talisman, the field manager, to close several wells with high contents of mercury.
However, since then, Talisman has used several new wells in order to meet the gas demand at the highest possible level. Therefore, the oil field is expected to provide 2.22bil cu m of gas in 2009.
PVN said that it is negotiating with Petronas on a gas output sharing contract, and it is trying to persuade Petronas to receive 1.4mil cu m of gas a day, the minimum level. If the agreement can be reached, PVN will have 1.6bil cu m, ensuring the gas supply for power generation in 2009.
PVN has also asked Talisman to delay the maintenance and repair of the oil rig in June in order to avoid halting gas supply in the first 15 days in March and 13 days in May. However, the final answer will only come in mid March.
Diep Anh
vietnamnet
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