Urgent repair of Southeast Asia's largest saltwater dam

The Thao Long dam project to prevent saltwater intrusion and retain freshwater is not designed with a backup gate, so if the gate fails and cannot be opened or closed, it will cause very serious consequences.

>>> Video : Thao Long Dam - the largest saltwater barrier project in Southeast Asia is deteriorating:

The Thao Long saltwater prevention and freshwater retention dam project started construction in August 2001 and was completed and put into operation in June 2006, with a total investment of 151 billion VND.

The project includes a saltwater prevention sluice designed with a water opening of 480.5m, including 15 compartments, each compartment is 31.5m wide and a boat lock compartment.

The traffic bridge is designed with a 10m wide bridge deck. The lower shaft valve gate is made of CT3 steel, the valve gate opening and closing is done by a hydraulic cylinder system...

Thao Long saltwater prevention and freshwater retention dam is considered by experts to be the largest saltwater prevention and freshwater retention dam in Southeast Asia.

In fact, since its inauguration, the project has played its main role in preventing salinity and keeping fresh water for the Huong and Bo rivers, ensuring adequate water supply for agricultural , industrial and residential production in Hue City. At the same time, it has contributed to improving the ecological environment and tourist landscape in the Huong River and Tam Giang lagoon.

However, after many years of use, the CT3 steel gate valves of the project, hydraulic equipment, electrical and electronic equipment installed outdoors, have been subjected to many adverse impacts of saline environment, humidity, and thunderstorms, and have been corroded and heavily rusted. The technical equipment structure is rusted. Organisms and sediments are stuck to the water barrier.

Not stopping there, the project was not designed with a backup valve, so in case of a valve failure, it would cause very serious consequences.

Thao Long Dam - the largest saltwater barrier project in Southeast Asia is in disrepair

At a recent inspection of Thao Long dam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has just issued Decision 2846/QD-BNNMT approving adjustments to the urgent repair project to ensure the safety of the Thao Long saltwater prevention and freshwater retention dam with a total investment of more than 348 billion VND from the central budget managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

The project is invested by the Project Management Board of Agricultural Construction Investment and Rural Development of Hue City with a project implementation period of 4 years. Expected to start construction in October 2025.

The project will handle and repair items of the saltwater barrier dam, including hydraulic and mechanical parts; replace and overhaul sluice gates; replace items of the lock compartment, electrical control system; items serving management and operation, etc.

>> Images of some items at the Thao Long saltwater retention dam project rusting, with seriously degraded technical equipment structure.