Ensuring sufficient electricity supply for 2026 peak period and the entire 5-year phase

2026 marks the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress. At the same time, Dong Nai province also begins to implement the 2026-2030 five-year socio-economic development plan, with a target of double-digit economic growth. Therefore, electricity demand is forecast to continue to highly increase.

The 110kV power project in Long Thanh commune is completed by Dong Nai Power Company at the end of 2025.

This reality requires proactive measures to ensure sufficient electricity supply for socio-economic development, national defense and security, and people’s daily lives.

Ensuring no electricity shortage under any circumstances

Ensuring sufficient electricity supply for production, business, and people's daily lives during the 2026 peak period and the phase until 2030 is a consistent requirement of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Directive No. 01/CT-TTg issued on January 18, 2026. In this directive, the head of the Government assigned many specific tasks and solutions to central ministries, sectors, localities, and energy corporations with the goal of ensuring no electricity shortages under any circumstances nationwide.

At the local level, the Prime Minister requested that in 2026, efforts must be focused on coordinating, supporting, promoting, and urgently completing power source and transmission projects in the area as quickly as possible. At the same time, the Prime Minister asked the localities to strictly, decisively, synchronously, and effectively implement the tasks and solutions assigned in the resolutions of the Politburo, the National Assembly, and the directives of the Prime Minister on ensuring electricity supply for production, business, and consumption in 2026 and the period until 2030; strongly implement the principle of "local decision, local action, local responsibility."

The Prime Minister also requested the chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees to focus on directing and promoting the implementation of power source and grid projects; have feasible solutions to control the investment progress of projects required to operate in 2026, especially large-scale power source projects, base load power sources, and transmission grid projects to release capacity. In addition, the chairpersons were requested to strengthen supervision of the implementation of projects for which investment policies have been approved and investment certificates have been granted; strictly handle, in accordance with regulations, investors who are delayed or fail to implement projects according to the approved policy; direct functional agencies to coordinate closely with local power companies to work with customers, especially large electricity users, to effectively implement demand management and load adjustment; at the same time, promote load shifting and regulation, and prepare plans to mobilize customer diesel generators (mobilizing backup diesel generators of businesses and organizations - reporter) when necessary, to ensure electricity demand during the hot days of the 2026 dry season peak.

The national key energy project - Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plants officially commences commercial operation at the end of 2025. Photo: Cong Nghia

In Dong Nai, at the end of 2025, a national key energy project, Nhon Trach 3 and 4 Power Plants, with a total capacity of about 1,600 MW, was completed and put into operation; this project is not only important for the province's socio-economic development, ensuring a stable electricity supply for the Southern region, but also contributes significantly to maintaining national energy security. In addition, another national key power source project, the expanded Tri An Hydropower Plant, with an additional capacity of 200 MW, is also under construction and is expected to operate at the end of 2027.

Proactively developing plans to ensure power supply

2026 is identified as a pivotal year in the province's socio-economic development plan, associated with the commercial operation of Long Thanh International Airport (phase 1). Along with the completion of the transport infrastructure system to strengthen regional connectivity, such as expressways, ring roads, and the new investment in connecting railway and road projects, as well as industrial parks, to gradually affirm its role as an important trade, industrial, and logistics hub in the Southern region.

Given these requirements, the electricity sector is responsible not only for ensuring sufficient power supply but also for proactively "keeping one step ahead," maintaining energy security, meeting the demands of industrial production and people's daily lives, creating a foundational advantage to attract investment and implement projects.

Truong Dinh Quoc, Director of Dong Nai Power Company Limited (PCDN), stated: Based on the foundation of 2025 and the objectives set forth in the Resolution of the 1st Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, the company has developed a power supply plan to serve the province's socio-economic development.

In 2026, PCDN plans to invest in 10 110kV and 22kV substations, build over 60km of 110kV lines with a total capital of approximately 341 billion VND; invest in nearly 500km of 22kV lines and 517km of low-voltage lines with a total capital of 728 billion VND; and carry out major repairs on 46 projects with an investment capital of 164 billion VND.

Accordingly, PCDN’s 2026 operational plan focuses on reviewing and updating the list of important customers for submission to the Provincial People's Committee for approval; working with large electricity consumers on registering output, capacity, and load profiles for the year; and developing response plans for scenarios of power shortage, capacity shortage, or extreme dry season weather. At the same time, the company will continue to implement load adjustment programs, demand-side management, and load shifting agreements to reduce peak load pressure across the entire Southern region; and achieve a minimum electricity saving of 2.1% as directed by the Government.

In addition to management solutions, PCDN focuses on new construction and upgrading of the power grid system with the goal of relieving capacity and ensuring reliable power supply, enhancing operational redundancy during peak periods of extreme heat.

According to the PCDN’s leader, in addition to the unit's efforts in implementing technical and management solutions, ensuring safe and stable power supply during the hot season of 2026 requires strong cooperation and active participation from customers. The focus is on participating in demand-side management programs, using electricity economically and efficiently, adjusting and shifting loads outside peak hours, and achieving a minimum electricity saving of 2.1%. Large electricity consumers need to proactively provide consumption forecasts so that the electricity sector can develop operational plans that are close to reality; and strictly comply with regulations on rooftop solar power development under the self-production - self-consumption model, contributing to ensuring energy security and sustainable development in the province.

By Hoang Loc – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha