People struggle to wade through mud in the middle of Nghe An's largest hydroelectric reservoir

In the past two months, Nghe An has experienced many severe heat waves, with temperatures ranging from 39-42 degrees Celsius, causing many difficulties for people in daily life as well as agricultural production.

Not only that, the drought forced the large hydroelectric plant in Nghe An to reduce its capacity. Meanwhile, the people's demand for electricity is very high. Therefore, Nghe An's electricity industry continuously cuts power in many places.

Water level in hydroelectric reservoir drops to unprecedented low

Mr. Ta Huu Hung - Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company said that the capacity of Ban Ve reservoir is more than 1.8 billion m3, of which the useful capacity from elevation 155m - 200m is 1.3 billion m3 of water.

" Currently, the lake water level is at 156.46m, 20m lower than the same period, meaning it is only nearly 2m higher than the dead water level ," said Mr. Hung.

People struggle to wade through mud in the middle of Nghe An's largest hydroelectric reservoir - 1 — The hydroelectric reservoir is almost at the dead water level. (Photo: Linh Chi)

Since the beginning of the year, due to the impact of El Nino, the water flow to Ban Ve reservoir has been very low. The demand for water supply downstream is very high, so from the beginning of the year, to ensure productivity for the Winter-Spring crop, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has requested Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to release water 3 times.

At the end of April, when thousands of hectares of winter-spring rice enter the flowering period, a large amount of water is needed.

When the reservoir reaches the dead water level of 155m, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant can only generate electricity with the discharge flow equal to the return flow.

According to regulations, only in special cases to meet energy security requirements can the lake below the dead water level be exploited. Therefore, in the second half of June and the end of the dry season, if the weather continues to be extremely hot, the downstream of the Ca River will experience water shortages and the risk of not being able to supply enough electricity to the system.

People struggle to wade through mud in the middle of Nghe An's largest hydroelectric reservoir - 2 — The water level in the upstream is low, leaving only mud and dead trees. (Photo: Lo Tuan)

“ Towards the end of the dry season when heat waves occur over a large area, the demand for water in the downstream increases. In the hot season in early June this year, the water level of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant was at its lowest since the plant began operating, ” said Mr. Hung.

One of the things Mr. Hung shared is that when there is a lack of water upstream, the risk of seawater intruding further inland will increase. This risk will occur in mid-late June, if the weather continues to be extremely hot without rain in the upstream of the Ca River.

People wade through mud in the middle of the lake

To enter the "oasis" of Huu Khuong commune (Tuong Duong district, Nghe An), local people and government officials here must take a boat from above the Ban Ve hydroelectric dam.

Up to now, the prolonged drought has caused the bottom of Ban Ve Lake to dry up, people have to wade through mud and walk hundreds of meters to reach the boat dock.

Today (June 10), speaking with VietNamNet, Mr. Lo Van Tuan - Secretary of Huu Khuong commune said that the water level of Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir has dropped to an unprecedented low.

“This year, the drought and prolonged heat have caused the water level in the lake to drop. People in the commune now have to walk 500 to 600 meters in the middle of the lake to get to a boat. Officials and people have to wade through mud in the middle of the lake, which is extremely difficult,” Mr. Tuan shared.

According to Mr. Tuan, in the next few days, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant will provide funding for local authorities to build temporary roads and bridges so that people do not have to wade through mud when crossing the lake.

Image of people struggling to move around in the middle of Ban Ve hydroelectric lake: