What did the inspection team report on the flood discharge operations of Chau Thang and Nhan Hac hydropower plants?

It is known that the above-mentioned inspection team was established under Decision No. 303/QD-SCT, dated October 13, 2023, led by Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade. In addition, there are representatives of the Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense of Nghe An province; Dr. Trinh Quoc Cong, Independent Expert on Hydropower, University of Water Resources.

Previously, many press agencies reported that people and authorities of Quy Chau district were concerned about the flood discharge from hydroelectric plant reservoirs on the night of September 26 and early morning of September 27, combined with heavy rain, causing great damage to people's property.

The two hydropower plants inspected by the delegation are Nhan Hac Hydropower Plant and Chau Thang Hydropower Plant on Quang River, located in Que Phong and Quy Chau districts, Nghe An province.

In conclusion, Nhan Hac hydropower reservoir has a small useful capacity (4.82 million m3), the reservoir operates day and night, has no flood prevention capacity and no flood cutting function. Therefore, based on the water level of Nhan Hac hydropower reservoir during the flood discharge operation provided by the reservoir owner, the plant ensures compliance with the operation of flood discharge equipment according to the approved process. During the flood discharge process, the flood discharge operation of the project does not increase the flood downstream.

However, the interdisciplinary team pointed out some poor implementation. That is, the factory's forecasting work was not accurate, and it was still passive in forecasting water flow to the lake, so it was not able to issue early warning notices to the downstream area.

The coordination in natural disaster prevention and control between the Factory and the People's Committee of Quy Chau district has not been done well. The issuance of notices has not been closely connected (the factory's inbox has recorded the sending of notices on reservoir operation and regulation via Gmail email in compliance with the provisions of Point d, Clause 4, Article 7 of the QTVH, however, the People's Committee of Quy Chau district reported that it had not received them).

2(1).jpg — Chau Thang Hydropower Plant. (Photo courtesy).

As for Chau Thang hydropower reservoir built on Quang river, located in Chau Thang commune, Quy Chau district and Muong Noc commune, Que Phong district, it has a small useful capacity (4.217 million m3), no flood prevention capacity and no flood cutting function.

Based on the water level of the reservoirs during the flood discharge operation provided by the reservoir owner, the plant has ensured compliance with the operation of the flood discharge equipment according to the approved process. The total discharge through the plant is not greater than the flow to the reservoir, so it does not increase flooding in the downstream area.

However, the delegation also pointed out the poor performance of Chau Thang Hydropower Plant, such as the plant's inaccurate forecasting work and passive forecasting of water flow to the lake, so it has not been able to issue early warning notices to the downstream area.

Poor implementation of inspection, maintenance and repair of equipment serving operations leads to damage to automatic monitoring and surveillance equipment.

The common problem of the two hydropower plants Nhan Hac and Chau Thang was pointed out by the inspection team as: "The forecasting work of the plant is not accurate, and the work of forecasting water flow to the lake is still passive, so early warnings have not been given to the downstream area."

The flood on September 26 and 27, 2023 caused nearly 180 billion VND in damage to Quy Chau district.

The inspection team requested the People's Committee of Nghe An province to direct departments and branches to inspect the responsibility of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district in leading and directing the implementation of natural disaster prevention in the area, including directing natural disaster prevention at hydropower projects.

Recommend assigning the Department of Industry and Trade to continue monitoring the implementation of the approved Reservoir Operation Procedures and Inter-reservoir Operation Procedures. Directing dam and reservoir owners to continue complying with legal regulations on dam and reservoir safety management according to the Government's regulations in Decree No. 114/2018/ND-CP dated September 4, 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BCT dated July 8, 2019.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is assigned to monitor, forecast, warn, and promptly provide information on natural disaster situations to serve the direction and response work; continue to improve the quality of natural disaster forecasting to ensure more timeliness and accuracy.

Early completion of installation of system for collecting, receiving and managing water resources and hydrometeorological database to monitor the operation of hydropower plants.

1(1).jpg — Ice flooded many places in Quy Chau on September 27, 2023.

Direct hydropower plants to carry out hydrometeorological forecasting in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of the Law on Hydrometeorology and the provisions in the single-reservoir and inter-reservoir operation procedures.

For owners of dams and hydroelectric reservoirs, it is necessary to develop operational and reservoir regulation scenarios to proactively operate reservoirs safely, ensuring safety of works and downstream areas.

Coordinate with the local government and disaster prevention command committee to regularly monitor weather conditions and improve forecast quality to promptly warn people downstream during flood control operations.

As reported by the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper, the historic flood from September 26-27, 2023, along with the hydropower plant's flood discharge, caused many localities in Quy Chau district, Nghe An province to be deeply submerged in water, causing severe damage.

According to Report No. 37/BC-UBND dated October 4, 2023 of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district sent to the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the above-mentioned flood caused one person to drown; more than 1,200 houses were flooded from 1-5m deep, over 5,000 people had to evacuate; 3 communes and 6 villages were completely isolated, 7 schools, many rice and crop areas were deeply flooded; more than 1,000 livestock and poultry were swept away... Estimated damage was nearly 180 billion VND.

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