Vietnam's biggest electricity producer and sole distributor is planning to build 17 coal-fired power plants in the southern region between 2010 and 2020, according to local newspaper Labor on Tuesday.

The plants with combined capacity of 11,000 MW to be built by the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) will increase the total capacity of the region's electricity system to 25,112 MW in 2020.

Most of the power plants are scheduled to be built in the provinces of Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Dong Nai and Binh Thuan. The smallest plant will have capacity of 600 MW.

To cope with the potential power shortage partly fueled by increasing electricity demand, Vietnam is upgrading and facilitating construction of power plants, buying more electricity from China, and calling for individuals and organizations to save power, the state-owned corporation said.

Vietnam's electricity demand is forecast to annually grow 15-16 percent until 2010, according to the country's Industry Ministry. Vietnam plans to increase its electricity capacity to 25,000-26, 000 MW in 2010 from 11,400 MW in 2005, meeting demand for its socio-economic development.

Source: Xinhua