The Minister of Industry and Trade has issued an urgent dispatch to the Vietnam Electricity Group, the National Power Transmission Corporation, the Departments of Industry and Trade of the northern provinces and cities, and relevant units under the Ministry.
According to the dispatch, as the aftermath of Storm No. 3 and the ongoing rain and floods in the mountainous and midland regions of the North are becoming increasingly complex, causing significant loss of life and damage to state and private property, and with the weather forecast predicting continued heavy rain in the coming days, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is implementing Directive No. 92/CD-TTg dated September 10, 2024, issued by the Prime Minister on focusing resources on overcoming the consequences of Storm No. 3 and the subsequent rain and floods, and following up on previous directions, the Minister of Industry and Trade requests that units in the industry and trade sector urgently and vigorously fulfill the tasks assigned in the Prime Minister’s and the Minister of Industry and Trade’s directives on responding to Storm No. 3 and the subsequent rain and floods.
Accordingly, the Minister requests that the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) direct units within the Group to mobilize and maximize resources from within and outside the power sector to promptly restore the power system and ensure the fastest resumption of power supply for production, business, and people’s daily activities, giving priority to ensuring power supply to hospitals, medical facilities, important production activities, and other loads in order of priority as proposed by the localities.
Closely monitor the developments of natural disasters; prepare sufficient human resources, materials, and means of transport in line with the motto of “4 on-site arrangements” to respond to any abnormal incidents that may occur.
Coordinate with the local Departments of Industry and Trade to direct and inspect the implementation of measures to ensure dam safety, especially vulnerable dams, small hydropower plants, or those under construction or repair; operate hydropower reservoirs to ensure the safety of the works and downstream areas in accordance with the rain and flood situation, especially large water reservoirs in the Da River hydropower cascade system.
The Minister requested the National Power Transmission Corporation to direct its units to mobilize maximum resources to maintain a 24/7 working regime, ensure smooth communication with power generation and transmission units to ensure stable power supply in all situations, and strictly comply with regulations on power system dispatch. At the same time, be ready with technical backup plans to maintain the safe operation of the power system in case of incidents.
Regarding the Departments of Industry and Trade of the provinces and cities, the Minister requested that they mobilize their forces to coordinate closely with the local power companies in repairing the power system.
Advise and request local party committees and authorities to direct the power company and other relevant units to urgently carry out tasks in repairing damage caused by the floods to promptly restore power supply for production and people’s daily activities; create the most favorable conditions for the power companies to successfully fulfill their tasks. Strengthen inspection of safety assurance work for the power grid under their management.
Direct units in the industry and trade sector in the locality to strengthen safety supervision, have response plans to ensure the safety of people, works, machinery, and equipment, and be ready with resources, means of transport, and materials to proactively deploy response measures to emergencies caused by natural disasters; not allow the construction of camps or temporary houses in areas at risk of flash floods, landslides, land subsidence, or low-lying areas; resolutely handle violating units.
Direct the hydropower dam owners in the locality to strictly implement the approved inter-reservoir and reservoir operation processes and the requirements and tasks in this dispatch.
Closely monitor market developments and coordinate with production and business units of commodities to immediately implement measures to use reserved goods and mobilize social resources to support and ensure the supply of essential commodities and goods for post-storm recovery in the storm and flood-affected areas; encourage, supervise, and request units trading in essential commodities, construction materials, repair equipment, generators, and energy storage devices to commit to stabilizing commodity prices.
Direct commercial units and units managing and operating local markets to have plans for supplying mobile goods in the area, strengthen connectivity, and seek more sources of goods from other localities to ensure uninterrupted supply activities. In case of incidents around the trading area, handle them promptly to facilitate smooth and safe trading and transportation of goods.
Assess the ability to supply goods to meet the daily essential needs of areas isolated by storms and floods; propose the demand for coordinating the supply of essential goods through distribution channels to promptly provide them to the people and stabilize the local market (if any).
Coordinate with the military, public security, and transport sectors to create favorable conditions for means of transport carrying essential goods and gasoline to be given priority to travel to isolated and blocked areas under safe conditions.
Take the initiative in providing information on the supply and price situation of essential commodities to the media agencies in the locality and at transaction points. Update the situation and report it to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Department of Domestic Market) before 9:00 and 15:00 every day.
Regarding units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Minister requested that the Electricity Regulatory Authority closely monitor the operation of the national power system and direct functional units to promptly overcome incidents in the power system caused by the storm, the aftermath of the storm, and rain and floods, especially important loads that provide electricity to hospitals, medical facilities, and important production activities, and other priority loads approved by the localities. Summarize and report on incidents in the power grid in a timely manner.
The General Department of Market Surveillance shall direct the provincial Market Surveillance Force to strengthen market inspection and control and resolutely handle violations, not to let the situation of hoarding and price gouging happen, ensuring price stability of commodities, especially food, foodstuffs, and essential goods in areas affected by super typhoons and storm aftermath.
The Department of Domestic Market shall organize the deployment of a task force on the provision and regulation of essential goods in the localities affected by Storm No. 3 to directly grasp the market situation and the demand for essential goods.
Implement the work of regulating the supply of essential goods between provinces and cities that are being affected by rain and floods and other provinces and cities upon the request of the locality to ensure the maintenance of the supply of essential goods to localities affected by rain and floods.
Summarize the difficulties and problems arising in the supply of essential goods in the provinces; advise and propose handling directions in emergency cases and promptly report to the leaders of the Ministry in case it exceeds its competence.
Regularly update the market situation of essential goods to the mass media and promptly provide information to the market management force for inspection and supervision in case there are signs of hoarding and unreasonable price increases.
The Department of Industrial and Environmental Safety Techniques shall monitor and update information on the response to rain and floods and the overcoming of consequences of storms, storm aftermath, and rain and floods of the units in the industry and trade sector and promptly report to the leaders of the Ministry in accordance with regulations.
Closely monitor the operation of hydropower plants under its management and urge units to implement the tasks according to this dispatch.
The Minister requested that the units continue to closely monitor the weather and natural disasters in the areas, strictly implement the Prime Minister’s and the Minister of Industry and Trade’s urgent dispatches, and report daily to the Department of Industrial and Environmental Safety Techniques for compilation and reporting to the competent authorities.
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