National Assembly Delegate: Hydroelectric reservoirs are important, but must not harm people.

“Legal documents must clearly state the following: hydropower must be safe; if it is not safe, it should definitely not be done,” emphasized delegate Nguyen Anh Tri.

Hydroelectric reservoirs and hydroelectric dams releasing floodwaters were issues raised by National Assembly delegate Nguyen Anh Tri ( Hanoi delegation) when discussing at the parliament the draft Resolution on mechanisms and policies for national energy development in the 2026-2030 period this afternoon, December 8.

Hydroelectric dam flood discharge causes damage to people

Affirming that electricity is very necessary for the country and energy development, generating electricity is extremely important, however, delegate Nguyen Anh Tri also emphasized that electricity development must be safe, not harmful to the environment, national security and defense, people's lives and human lives.

According to the delegate, the hydroelectric reservoir has the function of generating electricity, irrigation (storing water, distributing water, regulating water), aquaculture, aquatic plant cultivation, tourism development, and temperature regulation. A hydroelectric dam must ensure most of these functions, in which the most important thing is that the hydroelectric reservoir must not harm people and not affect human life.

There are measures to ensure the safety of hydroelectric reservoirs such as the hydroelectric reservoir must have a large enough capacity - based on the amount of safe rainwater for hundreds of years. Operation must be ensured during the rainy season, the reservoir can only store up to 50% of its capacity; use the bottom spillway appropriately to release floodwaters; have a firm grasp of weather forecasts; do not release floodwaters when the water level in the downstream is high; only release when the water level has not yet overflowed the banks causing flooding in the downstream.

Delegate Nguyen Anh Tri proposed reviewing small and medium-sized hydropower plants. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

Delegate Nguyen Anh Tri said that if all of the above contents are done well, the safety of hydroelectric reservoirs will be basically guaranteed. However, preliminary statistics show that nearly 20 small hydroelectric dams have released floodwaters, causing damage to downstream areas.

For example: Song Lo 8A Hydropower Plant (Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang ), Thac Gieng 1 Hydropower Plant (Bac Kan), Nam Pong/Nam Xay Hydropower Plant (Lai Chau - caused local flooding downstream); Ban Ve Hydropower Plant (Nghe An); Hua Na Hydropower Plant (Nghe An); Chau Thang Hydropower Plant or small hydropower plants in Que Phong District (Nghe An); A Luoi Hydropower Plant (Hue City - medium scale, caused flooding downstream); Rao Trang Hydropower Plant (Hue City - located in a strong landslide area); Dak Mi 4 and 2 Hydropower Plants (Kon Tum - Quang Nam - caused controversy over flood discharge operations); Plei Kan/Se San Small Branch Hydropower Plant (Gia Lai - Kon Tum - affected downstream many times); Suoi Sap 1, 2 Hydropower Plants (Son La) were repeatedly reported to have unexpectedly discharged floodwaters...

Review and limit small hydropower construction

The main causes of damage caused by hydroelectric dams are the construction site on steep terrain with many rivers and streams; the scale of the hydroelectric dam is small; and the operating process is unsafe.

Specifically, small hydropower plants, located in mountainous areas with steep terrain and many streams, when releasing floodwaters, can easily cause flash floods, landslides, and rapid flooding. Small reservoirs do not have a large enough storage capacity to regulate floods, so when it rains heavily, water flows in rapidly, the reservoirs quickly fill up and are forced to release floodwaters. The operating procedures and flood discharge notifications are incorrect, delayed, or even not notified at all, causing people downstream to have no time to evacuate and take precautions.

The male delegate from Hanoi said that in the 921 report submitted to the Government, the issue of flood prevention of the hydropower system was mentioned, but in important legal documents such as this Resolution of the National Assembly, there was still no mention of hydropower, especially planning and measures to limit the harmful effects of small and medium hydropower. Meanwhile, according to Decision No. 1682 Approving the supplement and update of the National Power Development Plan for the period 2021-2030 and vision to 2050, about 200 small and medium hydropower plants have been approved.

"I realize that we have not really paid proper attention to small and medium hydropower, especially the safety of the people and the community," said delegate Nguyen Anh Tri.

From the above evidence, delegate Nguyen Anh Tri proposed to review all small and medium hydropower plants to fix the causes of flood discharge that cause bad consequences, and to close down hydropower plants that do not fix the cause. If the discharge of water from a hydropower plant causes damage to people, appropriate compensation must be paid; if it causes harm to people's lives, criminal prosecution must be taken.

The delegates also recommended reviewing all small/medium hydropower projects that have been approved in all issued decisions (including Decision 1682) to re-issue construction permits; not building small hydropower plants in mountainous areas with steep terrain and many streams, without advanced and safe operating procedures.

Believing that it is necessary to limit the construction of small hydropower plants, delegates recommended that the State invest sufficient resources to build very large hydropower plants, ensuring safety, and at the same time replace the construction of medium and small hydropower plants with wind and solar power - renewable energy in which Vietnam has many advantages and has made many technological advances.

“Legal documents must clearly state the following: hydropower must be safe; if it is not safe, it should definitely not be done,” emphasized delegate Nguyen Anh Tri.

In response to this proposal, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said he respectfully accepted it and would review hydropower in 2026./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/national-congress-delegate-ho-thuy-dien-quan-trong-nhung-phai-khong-gay-hai-cho-dan-post1081749.vnp