Efforts to overcome problems and safely operate hydroelectric plants

After heavy rains and floods caused by storm No. 10, many hydropower plants in Lao Cai province suffered heavy damage. Some places had to stop generating electricity completely, while others had their access roads buried by rocks and soil. Operators are urgently mobilizing maximum human resources and equipment to quickly fix the problem, restore infrastructure, stabilize power production and ensure the safety of reservoirs, works and downstream areas.

Lang Bang Hydroelectric Plant was completely buried.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Lao Cai province, the circulation of storm No. 10 (Bualoi) caused heavy rain, flash floods and landslides over a large area, causing damage to many construction items at 10 factories and hydropower projects in the province, with total estimated damage of about 120 billion VND; of which, the most severely damaged was Lang Bang Hydropower Plant (capacity 3.6 MW) of Xuan Tam Power Joint Stock Company, Phong Du Ha commune. The entire factory area and power distribution transformer station were buried; the pressure pipeline system was eroded and punctured in many locations; internal traffic roads were seriously damaged. Total damage to equipment and revenue was about 80 billion VND.

Total damage to equipment and revenue of Lang Bang Hydropower Plant is about 80 billion VND.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Trung - Director of Xuan Tam Power Joint Stock Company, said: Lang Bang Hydropower Plant has a total investment of about 125 billion VND, annually supplying more than ten million kWh of electricity to the national grid. Immediately after the incident occurred, the company mobilized local forces to clean up, check the safety of the dam and equipment, and at the same time develop an investment plan to restore the entire plant. We expect to complete the reconstruction and put the plant back into operation by the end of 2026.

Nam Xay Luong Hydropower Plant.

Also heavily affected, Nam Xay Luong Hydropower Plant under Ha Thanh Energy Development Joint Stock Company suffered a landslide of about 200m of the main dam operation road, with an estimated volume of landslides of about 2,000m³; soil from National Highway 279 overflowed onto the road leading to the factory premises, an additional 2,500m³, completely cutting off the entrance and exit. Although the generator set and control system were still safe, many auxiliary items were damaged, with estimated damage of about 2.5 billion VND. The plant had to stop generating electricity for 4 days, losing about 1.44 million kWh of output, equivalent to a decrease in revenue of more than 1 billion VND.

Nam Xay Luong Hydropower Plant has returned to stable power generation.

Mr. Tran Van Hai - Director of Nam Xay Luong Hydropower Plant, said: As soon as the weather stabilized, the plant mobilized mechanical vehicles and human resources to work continuously to clear rocks and soil, temporarily open the operation route, and check all items of the dam, transformer station, power line and control system. We are making efforts to restore the auxiliary items so that the power plant can return to safety and stability. At the same time, the unit has also developed a plan to prevent and combat natural disasters and a safe operation scenario before storm No. 11 is likely to affect the area in the coming days.

Check factory equipment and specifications.

Similarly, the Minh Luong Thuong Hydropower Plant has not been able to generate electricity again due to a large landslide on the dam, damage to an 800m-long operating route, and mud and debris swept into the water tunnel, making repairs difficult. The management unit is mobilizing mechanical equipment to handle the situation, but due to the difficult terrain and large amount of landslides, it is expected to take at least 10 more days to restore operations.

Bac Ha Hydropower Plant operates stably and safely.

Other factories in the area such as Bac Ha, Bao Nhai level 1, Bao Nhai level 2, Phuc Long... also suffered damage but have basically recovered. Internal traffic roads, grounding areas, trash buoy systems and factory cooling water systems have been reinforced and restored. Currently, these factories are maintaining stable power generation, ensuring safety for the project and downstream areas. Units are taking advantage of the sunny weather to handle landslides, reinforce slopes, and check electrical equipment to ensure stable and safe operation before the new storm.

Hydropower plants maintain stable production and ensure the safety of reservoirs, works and downstream areas.

Mr. Hoang Chi Hien - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade said that immediately after the flood occurred, the department sent officers to the scene to inspect, coordinate with investors to fix the problem, provide technical support and guide the safe operation of the reservoir.

We require factories to review their operating procedures, reinforce slopes, protective embankments, drainage systems, and install rain monitoring and landslide early warning equipment to ensure long-term safety, Mr. Hien emphasized.

Check hydroelectric plant equipment to ensure safe operation.

Before the forecast that storm No. 11 is likely to directly affect the Northwest region, hydropower enterprises in the province have proactively developed specific response scenarios, arranged 24/7 staff, prepared materials, fuel, backup generators and communication systems to ensure safe operation when extreme weather occurs.

Workers maintain 24/7 duty at the hydroelectric plant's central control center.

The units are on duty 24/7.

On October 4, the Department of Industry and Trade of Lao Cai province issued Official Dispatch No. 1808/SCT-NL, requesting investors and management units of hydropower, industrial and mineral exploitation projects in the area to urgently deploy measures to ensure the safety of lakes, dams and downstream areas, and minimize damage caused by floods.

Accordingly, units are required to be on duty 24/7, maintain smooth communication, report promptly when incidents occur; strictly implement inter-reservoir operation procedures, strengthen inspection and protection of dams and reservoirs, arrange forces, materials and equipment to respond to emergency situations. Large hydropower plants are required to lower the water level of the reservoir, increase flood capacity, contributing to reducing pressure on downstream areas. For projects under construction, the department requires temporary suspension of operations in high-risk areas, relocation of people and machinery to safe places, ensuring smooth communication to serve response, rescue and relief work when necessary.

Ensure safe and stable operation of hydropower plants.

Thanks to the drastic direction of the functional sector and the efforts of enterprises, the hydropower system in Lao Cai province is gradually overcoming difficulties, urgently fixing problems to soon resume operation, ensuring a stable and safe power supply for the downstream area.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/no-luc-khac-phuc-su-co-van-hanh-an-toan-cac-nha-may-thuy-dien-post883752.html