The industry ministry warns that the heatwave could worsen strain on Vietnam's power grid
The?industry minister of Vietnam said that the heatwave in Vietnam had already put immense pressure on the?national power grid. The temperatures in the north of Vietnam have been hovering around 40 degrees Celsius for days. Hanoi residents have complained of sleepless nights due to power cuts in various districts as the grid was strained by abnormal demand for electricity. The U.S. has not confirmed its strength. However, there is considerable uncertainty. The Climate?Prediction Center said that there was an 82% chance of El Nino developing between May and July 2026. El Nino is a warming ocean surface which increases the risk of heatwaves and droughts.
Vietnam's Industry Ministry said in a statement that there is a danger of "prolonged droughts and heatwaves" as well as a drop in the water level in hydroelectric reservoirs.
Temporary Relief from Extreme Heat
Meteorologists have predicted that in the short term, the heatwave should begin to subside from Thursday. This will bring some relief after days of extreme temperatures.
Nguyen Nhat Qiang, 35, a Hanoi resident told me by phone that he had experienced power outages?three different times last night. Each one lasted at least forty minutes. If the situation persists this evening, I'll have to rent a room in a hotel for my children so they can sleep uninterrupted.
On its official Facebook page, EVN stated that no power cuts were planned and that the utility would maintain a steady power supply. It did not respond immediately to a request for comment about power outages. Since May 23, the industry ministry has reported that electricity consumption is at new daily highs. The industry ministry said that electricity consumption has reached new daily peaks since May 23.
If it continues, the heat will become unbearable. Pham Thi Ha is a Hanoi street vendor who has been selling on the streets for 50 years.
Vietnam's power system is highly dependent on coal-fired plants and hydropower reservoirs, which makes it vulnerable to high fuel prices and low reservoir levels. The situation has gotten worse as the Iran War?has caused unprecedented disruptions in energy supplies and?international oil prices topped $120 per barrel last month. EVN is urging households and businesses in northern areas to reduce their power consumption. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Phuong Nguyen & Thinh Nguyen. Additional reporting by Khanh Vu.
(source: Reuters)
