Competitive electricity market officially operates
The National Power System Dispatch Center (A0) said that after one year of piloting the competitive electricity market, all necessary work for the competitive electricity market has basically met the requirements for official operation from today, July 1, 2012.
Accordingly, 29 power plants directly submitted bids to the Electricity Trading Company (EPTC). The total installed capacity of the 29 plants is about 9,035 MW, including 13 hydropower plants, 11 coal-fired thermal power plants and 5 gas turbine plants. In addition, there are 26 power plants indirectly participating in the market because A0 announced the mobilization chart, generation chart or because the Electricity Trading Company offered prices on their behalf.
In addition, 18 other power plants will temporarily indirectly participate in the competitive electricity market. A0 will calculate and publish the generation chart for these plants. 19 hydropower plants and 1 thermal power plant with a total installed capacity of 4,567MW are also on the list expected to participate in the competitive electricity market when officially put into commercial operation.
Mr. Dang Huy Cuong, Director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, said that during the pilot operation period, the Ministry of Industry and Trade directed relevant units such as Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, and power generation units inside and outside the electricity sector to urgently prepare work related to information infrastructure for the official operation of the competitive electricity market.
Previously, to prepare for the operation of the competitive electricity market, the Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed to let EVN sign contracts to buy electricity from a number of power plants at a price 5% higher than in 2011.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the competitive electricity market is the first step in the roadmap for developing the electricity market in Vietnam, aiming to bring competition into the electricity generation stage, ensure transparency in electricity operation and pricing, and attract investment in developing new power sources.
The Government's decision on the roadmap and conditions for the formation and development of electricity market levels, Vietnam's electricity market will be formed and developed at 3 levels: competitive electricity generation market (2005 - 2014 period); competitive wholesale market (2014 - 2022 period) and competitive retail market (after 2022 period).
According to (Chinhphu.vn)-LT
