On August 11, the Department of Water Resources Management (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) sent an official dispatch to the units managing and operating reservoirs and water plants in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River regarding the operation of Reservoirs to minimize the risk of water shortage for downstream areas at the end of the dry season in 2023.
Previously, from August 4 until now, the water level of the Vu Gia River at the Ai Nghia hydrological station was measured very low, leading to the water source not ensuring the production and daily life needs of people in the downstream area. Therefore, the Department of Water Resources Management required for hydropower reservoirs on the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River, based on the regulations of the inter-reservoir operation process, it is necessary to coordinate closely with localities to operate the reservoirs to release water downstream to supply water for production and daily life. And with information that hydroelectric plants on the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River discharge water with an average daily flow smaller than the flow specified in the Inter-Reservoir Operation Procedure (Procedure 1865) issued by the Prime Minister, Mr. Le Dinh Phuc - Deputy Director of the Company in sharing with media agencies said that from August 4 to 6, the flow of water discharged downstream was not guaranteed because of the heavy rainfall occuring in the North and Central Highlands during this period. The power system with hydropower plants were overflowing, so the power system could not mobilize power generation units in Quang Nam, including the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant in accordance with the electricity selling price for downstream water supply.
Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant
However, from August 7 to 10, the Company proactively worked with relevant units to mobilize two Song Tranh 2 generator units to generate electricity to ensure water sources to combat drought and saltwater intrusion for the downstream areas. Therefore, the water discharged downstream during this period has improved significantly with a discharge rate of 89.5 m3/s, 1.7 times higher than the requirement of Process 1865 (> 52m3/s).
"According to the direction of Quang Nam Province, from now until August 19, the Company will continue to release water downstream with an average daily discharge rate of > 100 m3/s” said Mr. Phuc.