VietNamNet Bridge - From March 23-26 Vietnam must reduce electricity consumption totaling 800 MW, the National Electricity Monitoring Centre has announced. 

The reason is the Phu My 3 Thermo-power Plant, which has a capacity of 720 MW and an output of 17 million KW/hour/day, will stop operation for technical inspection and equipment maintenance. 

Another reason is the water levels of national reservoirs are lower than those of the same period of 2006 while electricity consumption is rising. 

To ensure enough power for production in the dry season and the safety of the national power system, the National Electricity Monitoring Centre has asked power companies to seriously realize the power cut order. 

Accordingly, the north must reduce power consumption by 234 MW per day; Hanoi 45 MW per day; Hai Phong City 28 MW/day; the south 297 MW/day; HCM City 97 MW/day; and the central region 104 MW/day.