Ministry of Industry and Trade issues telegram on reservoir operation to ensure downstream safety

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just issued Official Dispatch No. 8568/CD-BCT dated November 2, 2025 on the operation of hydropower reservoirs to ensure safety for downstream areas. Accordingly, in the last days of October 2025, heavy rains caused historic floods on two rivers in Hue and Da Nang cities, causing great damage to people and property. Proactive operation to reserve flood prevention capacity and flood reduction operations for downstream areas have contributed significantly to flood reduction and not increased flooding for downstream areas.

Illustration photo: Do ​​Truong/VNA

Pursuant to Official Dispatch No. 24/CD-BCĐ-BNNMT dated November 1, 2025 of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, to reduce flooding downstream and ensure safety of works in the event of prolonged rain and floods, contributing to minimizing damage to people and property, the Minister of Industry and Trade requests Heads of industry and trade units to strengthen direction, supervision and inspection of the operation of hydropower reservoirs to ensure safety downstream.

Specifically, Vietnam Electricity Group strengthens direction, inspection, urging and guidance for units under its management, especially projects under construction, to strengthen safety assurance for hydropower projects, and strictly implement the tasks assigned in this Official Dispatch.

At the same time, step up inspection and self-inspection of power grid projects and hydroelectric dams to ensure safe and stable power supply, especially for important loads; prepare response plans for upcoming natural disasters.

Direct the owners of hydroelectric dams under their management to be ready and concentrate all resources to promptly handle any incidents that may occur; develop emergency response plans, disaster response plans, dam and reservoir protection plans, and organize drills for officers and employees in the unit according to the approved plan. Closely coordinate with competent authorities in disaster response when required.

Hydropower dam owners must strictly comply with the operating procedures for inter-reservoirs and single-reservoirs approved by competent authorities, giving priority to flood prevention capacity for downstream areas, especially when unusual situations arise; operate scientifically , ensuring absolute safety for the project, not allowing artificial floods to occur, contributing to flood reduction for downstream areas; in particular, paying attention to notifying people early before operating flood regulation.

For hydropower projects with flood prevention capacity and current reservoir water level at high level (Ban Ve, Ho Ho, Huong Dien, Binh Dien, Song Bung 4, Dak Mi 4, A Vuong, Song Tranh 2, Dakdrinh...), absolutely comply with the operating orders of competent authorities, closely monitor hydrometeorological forecast information, and forecast water volume to the reservoir to strengthen operational coordination, and immediately report to the Head of the Command Board.

The Provincial Civil Defense Department and the Provincial People's Committee Chairman shall promptly adjust the water discharge regulation regime in accordance with the actual hydrological situation, prioritize flood prevention capacity for downstream areas, and promptly report to competent authorities when unusual situations occur.

Implement measures to ensure the safety of dams, reservoirs and downstream dams; arrange permanent forces to operate and regulate reservoirs and be ready to handle possible situations. Regularly check and evaluate the operating status of equipment, flood discharge works, water intake gates... and promptly fix defects (if any); prepare adequate resources, equipment, means and spare materials to promptly fix incidents and damages caused by natural disasters in the fastest time.

In particular, review and install monitoring, tracking, supervision systems, and provide data to competent authorities as prescribed; review the information system to warn people in downstream areas when releasing floodwaters, ensuring stable operations in all natural disaster situations. On the other hand, closely coordinate with the Civil Defense Command Committee and local authorities at all levels in the areas affected by the project; including information on flood regulation and flood discharge warnings to avoid unfortunate damage.

According to the forecast information of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, from the morning of November 2 to the early morning of November 4, the area from Hue city, Da Nang city and the East of Quang Ngai province will have 300-500mm, locally over 750mm; Ha Tinh, Quang Tri 200-350mm, locally over 500mm; Southern Nghe An province and Western Quang Ngai 70-150mm, locally very heavy rain over 250mm.

Regarding the flood situation, rivers in Ha Tinh are rising, rivers in Quang Tri, Hue City and Da Nang City are changing slowly. Flood forecast on rivers in Hue City and Vu Gia - Thu Bon River (Da Nang City) is at alert level 3; Tra Khuc River at Tra Khuc station is likely to rise again and at alert level 2 - alert level 3.

According to the initial assessment of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, around November 5, storm No. 13 will enter the East Sea; around November 7, the storm will move inland, with the focus of influence from Da Nang city to Khanh Hoa; the storm may cause strong winds and heavy rain in the Central and South Central regions from the night of November 6 to 9.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/bo-cong-thuong-ra-cong-dien-ve-van-hanh-ho-chua-dam-bao-an-toan-ha-du-20251103171932145.htm