In the entire year of 2022, Vietnam's total electricity generation increased to 260 billion kilowatt-hours, marking a significant year-on-year surge of 6.2%. According to national statistics, Vietnam's share of global electricity generation has risen to 0.89%, officially securing a spot among the top 20 globally ranked countries.
In its '2023 Statistical Review of World Energy,' British Petroleum (BP) noted that the global electricity generation reached 2916.51 billion kilowatt-hours in 2022, marking a year-on-year growth of 2.3%. However, the power production landscape remains unbalanced.
In the Asia-Pacific region, electricity generation soared to 1454.64 billion kilowatt-hours, a 4% year-on-year increase, constituting nearly 50% of the global share. North America's electricity generation reached 554.80 billion kilowatt-hours, rising by 3.2%, and accounting for 19% of the global share.
Contrastingly, Europe's electricity generation in 2022 declined to 3900.9 billion kilowatt-hours, experiencing a 3.5% year-on-year reduction, resulting in a global share decrease to 13.4%. The Middle East region generated approximately 1365.1 billion kilowatt-hours, with a modest 1.7% year-on-year growth, falling below the global average, and its share decreasing to 4.7%.
In the entire year of 2022, the total electricity generation for the entire African region amounted to only 892.7 billion kilowatt-hours, experiencing a marginal year-on-year contraction of 0.5%, causing its global share to decline to 3.1%-just slightly higher than one-tenth of China's electricity generation. This underscores the stark imbalance in the global power production landscape.
In terms of individual countries, China's electricity generation soared to an impressive 8848.7 billion kilowatt-hours in 2022, marking a substantial 3.7% year-on-year increase. Its global share expanded to 30.34%, solidifying its position as the world's leading power producer. The United States ranked second with an electricity generation of 4547.7 billion kilowatt-hours, constituting 15.59% of the global share.
Subsequent countries in the ranking include India, Russia, Japan, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Australia, and Vietnam, with Vietnam holding the 20th position.
Vietnam is endowed with abundant hydrological resources, with rivers such as the Red River and Mekong River having an annual average runoff of up to 840 billion cubic meters, ranking 12th globally. Hydroelectric power generation has consequently become a crucial sector in Vietnam's power production. Unfortunately, this year, there is a shortfall in rainfall.
Combined with high temperatures and the impact of dry weather, various regions in Vietnam are experiencing electricity shortages. In provinces like Bac Giang and Bac Ninh, multiple areas are implementing a 'rotating power outage, rotating power supply' scheme. Even heavyweight foreign enterprises such as Samsung, Foxconn, Canon, and others are not guaranteed sufficient power supply.
To alleviate the power shortage, Vietnam has once again approached the 'Guangxi Power Grid Company' in southern China to resume cross-border power purchases. It's important to note that this is not the first time; Vietnam has imported electricity from China to meet the needs of residents and businesses on multiple occasions.
This also indirectly indicates that a power production structure highly dependent on hydroelectric generation, which is susceptible to extreme weather conditions, is imperfect. Perhaps recognizing the current predicament, the Vietnamese authorities have resolved to significantly expand the energy production and supply framework.
Vietnam's extensive electricity production plan is about to commence.
Under immense pressure, Vietnamese authorities have explicitly stated a dual-preparedness strategy. Firstly, there is a temporary de-prioritization of concerns about carbon emissions and reaching carbon neutrality, with a renewed focus on coal-fired power construction. For instance, in May of this year, Vietnam's coal imports surged by 76.3% year-on-year, reaching 5.058 million tons.
Secondly, there is the implementation of a comprehensive electricity planning scheme, including the 'National Power Development Plan for the Period 2021-2030 and Vision to 2050.' Energy production is incorporated into the national strategic framework, mandating that Vietnamese power companies must ensure an ample domestic power supply
To efficiently harness hydroelectric power, Vietnamese authorities have mandated the elevation of reservoir water levels to cope with the potential for extended periods of heat and low water levels. Simultaneously, they are expediting the construction of projects in diverse energy sectors such as gas, wind, solar, biomass, and tidal power. This initiative aims to diversify Vietnam's electricity production landscape.