PM issues call to protect hydro-electric power plants

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has told authorities in charge of reservoirs in the same river basins to co-ordinate their operations in accordance with procedures developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The procedures aim to ensure the absolute safety and effectiveness of hydro-electric plants along the rivers and reduce flood water.

In all, 61 reservoirs in 11 river basins across the country should co-ordinate their operations, including the Hong (Red) River basin in the northern delta, Quang Ngai Province’s Tra Khuc River, Quang Nam Province’s Vu Gia-Thu Bon River system, Thua Thien-Hue Province’s Huong (Perfume) River, Thanh Hoa Province’s Ma River, Phu Yen Province’s Ba River and Dong Nai Province’s namesake river, among others.

With 13, the Dong Nai River basin has the highest concentration of reservoirs in the country.

The Prime Minister also issued procedures for co-ordination between the A Vuong, Dac Mi 4 and Song Tranh 2 reservoirs in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River system basin.

The river system supplies water to 58 hydro-electric projects which are either completed or under construction in the basin.

Last November, the A Vuong Reservoir was blamed for exacerbating downstream flooding by releasing more flow to avoid the break of its embankments.

As a result, Quang Nam Province People’s Committee asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to develop more suitable procedures for the operation of reservoirs in the basin with a view to increasing the volume of water stored in rainy seasons.

In another development, a spell of cold weather is forecast to arrive in the north today, causing torrential rain in central provinces from Nghe An to Ha Tinh, according to the National Hydro-meteorological Centre.

The National Committee for Flood Prevention and Control yesterday sent an urgent message to its branches and search and rescue groups in coastal provinces from Nghe An to Quang Ngai to carefully monitor changes in the weather.

The provinces were also instructed to watch over households in low lying areas and in areas prone to flash floods and landslides. They were told to prepare to evacuate if necessary and to have food, water and necessities ready to cope with heavy rains forecast to hit the provinces today.

They were also asked to check reservoir levels and any possible problems resulting from rising waters, and to prepare facilities to cope with bad situations.

The message was also sent to committees of provinces from Binh Dinh to Kien Giang, asking them to follow the development of the tropical front, and manage ships and vessels accordingly.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade was requested to ask Electricity of Viet Nam to ensure its reservoirs are fully operational in the event of flooding.

At 1pm yesterday, the tropical pressure was located at 10.5-12.5 degrees north latitude and 110-112 degrees east longtitude, on the waters north of Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago, causing strong winds at speed of 49-61 kmph. — VNS

Tags: Vietnam hydro-electric power plants