Vietnam is estimated to encounter electricity shortage of some 141 million kwh from March to May partly due to droughts in many localities, local newspaper Pioneer reported Thursday.

To cope with the shortage partly fueled by decreasing water levels in reservoirs of hydroelectric plants, and increasing electricity demand, Vietnam is upgrading and facilitating construction of power plants nationwide, installing power lines to import more electricity from China, and calling for individuals and organizations to save power.

The state-owned Electricity of Vietnam, the country's biggest power producer and sole distributor, is upgrading and building 220- kv transmission lines in the two northern provinces of Lao Cai and Ha Giang so that it can facilitate the purchase of electricity from China between March and April.

Vietnam's electricity demand is forecast to annually grow 15-16 percent until 2010, according to the country's Industry Ministry. It 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