Strengthening warning and disaster prevention for the downstream area of Ban Ve Hydropower Plant

On the afternoon of April 1, at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, Ban Ve Hydropower Company held a conference to review the work of PCTT & TKCN in 2024 and deploy tasks for 2025.

Attending the conference were representatives of Power Generation Corporation 1, North Central Hydrometeorological Station, Tuong Duong District People's Committee, Yen Na, Luong Minh and Huu Khuong communes.

123.photo pv — Mr. Ta Huu Hung - Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company reported at the Conference. Photo: Linh Chi

During the dry season of 2024, the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir basin faced a sharp decline, especially the water flow to the lake in March and April only reached the equivalent frequency of 82% and 84%, causing great difficulty in ensuring water resources for the downstream. The average water flow to the lake in the dry season was only 57 m³/s, while the average water flow to the lake in the same period of many years was 78.7 m³/s, corresponding to a shortage of nearly 380 million m³ of water compared to the average level.

However, Ban Ve Hydropower Company has had to adjust its operations and supply water to the downstream area many times with a flow rate exceeding the level specified in the Inter-reservoir Operation Procedure on the Ca River Basin (QT1605). In particular, in late February and late March, the reservoir had to increase the discharge level from 75 m³/s to 200 m³/s to ensure a drought-resistant water source for the downstream area, which was highly appreciated by authorities and localities.

During the flood season of 2024, Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir performed well in reducing floods for the downstream area in all floods to the reservoir. Specifically, in 2024, the reservoir had to carry out two spillway operations to regulate the flow. In particular, the flood caused by storm No. 3, storm No. 4 and consecutive heavy rains after the storms forced the reservoir to regulate water through the spillway for 26 days. The total amount of water discharged through the project during this flood reached 1,617 million m³, including the amount of water discharged through the generator and through the spillway.

Ban Ve Hydropower Company organizes communication on natural disaster prevention and control in Luong Minh commune. Photo: Linh Chi

At the conference, delegates highly appreciated the proactiveness and positivity of Ban Ve Hydropower Company in implementing legal regulations on PCTT & TKCN in 2024. Ban Ve Hydropower Project is located in an area that regularly faces dangerous weather phenomena such as storms, whirlwinds, thunderstorms, lightning and hail. These phenomena often occur suddenly and have a short impact time, making prevention difficult.

However, the Company's preparation for natural disaster prevention and control has always received special attention. The Company has proactively prepared promptly, carefully and implemented early according to the "4 on-site" motto. In addition, the operation of the reservoir has always been carried out in accordance with procedures and regulations, ensuring safety for the project and downstream areas.

In addition, Ban Ve Hydropower Company always focuses on propaganda, warning and guidance on measures to prevent, avoid and respond to natural disasters in a timely manner to cadres, employees as well as local people. Various forms of communication are deployed, including communication conferences on PCTT&TKCN, through newspapers, text messages, leaflets, posters, helping to raise awareness and response capacity of the community. Thanks to careful preparation and proactive measures, the results in 2024 have ensured absolute safety for people and property throughout the flood season.

Disaster prevention and control drills and dam protection drills at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. Photo: Nguyen Dao

In 2025, Ban Ve Hydropower Company has identified key tasks including: Improving the capacity to handle situations and respond to natural disasters for each officer, employee and worker in the unit; proactively coordinating with local authorities to respond promptly, prevent human losses and minimize property damage caused by natural disasters. At the same time, the company will continue to strengthen information, propaganda, warning and guidance on timely measures to prevent and avoid natural disasters, in order to raise awareness and responsibility of the community. The company also pays special attention to promoting self-awareness and proactive prevention of natural disasters of officers, employees, workers and people in the downstream area of Ban Ve Hydropower Project.

8(1).jpg — Ban Ve Hydropower Plant. Photo: Quoc Dan

To ensure the operation of the reservoir during the dry season of 2025, Ban Ve Hydropower Company proposed a solution. It stated that Ban Ve Hydropower Project is a multi-purpose project, both providing water for downstream areas and providing electricity for the national power system. Therefore, the operation of the reservoir during the dry season of 2025 must harmonize the benefits of water supply and electricity generation.

With the current situation of power system shortage, especially at the end of the dry season, water retention in reservoirs in the early dry season plays an important role in energy security. Therefore, Ban Ve Hydropower Company requests the People's Committee of Nghe An province to consider and direct relevant units to coordinate with the Company to develop a plan to operate Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir effectively and sustainably.

Specifically, from now until the end of May, the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir will operate at the minimum water supply level for downstream areas to maximize water savings. During peak water supply periods for downstream areas, the plant will adjust the discharge flow to exceed the prescribed level to ensure adequate water supply. From June until the end of the dry season, increasing the water supply flow for downstream areas will both contribute to ensuring energy security and create enough capacity to be ready to switch to flood season operation mode, while limiting excess discharge through the spillway.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/tang-cuong-canh-bao-phong-tranh-thien-tai-cho-vung-ha-du-thuy-dien-ban-ve-10294217.html