Thac Ba Hydropower Reservoir opens 2 spillway gates, 4 provinces and cities must ensure safety

The Minister of Agriculture and Environment ordered the Director of Thac Ba Hydropower Joint Stock Company to open two spillway gates at 4:00 p.m. on July 28, 2025 to urgently bring the upstream water level of the lake to an elevation of 56.0 m.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has just issued a dispatch on opening the spillway of Thac Ba Hydropower Reservoir. The dispatch clearly states: At 7:00 a.m. on July 28, 2025, the upstream water level of Thac Ba Reservoir was at 56.21m, the downstream water level was 24.12m, the flow to the reservoir was 490m3/s, and the total flow to the downstream was 413m3/s.

Implementing the inter-reservoir operation process on the Red River basin in Decision No. 740/QD-TTg dated June 17, 2019 of the Prime Minister, Decision No. 922/QD-TTg dated May 14, 2025 of the Prime Minister amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Inter-reservoir operation process on the Red River basin; Resolution No. 102/NQ-CP dated June 29, 2024 of the Government on ensuring the direction and operation of natural disaster prevention and control during the period of perfecting the civil defense command and direction agencies at all levels, Document No. 3995/VPCP-NN dated May 8, 2025 of the Government Office on organizing the monitoring, supervision and implementation of natural disaster prevention and control, the Minister of Agriculture and Environment orders the Director of Thac Ba Hydropower Joint Stock Company:

Open 2 surface discharge gates (No. 01 and No. 03) at 4:00 p.m. on July 28, 2025 to urgently bring the upstream water level of the lake to elevation 56.0m; then adjust the opening to maintain the upstream water level not exceeding elevation 56.0m.

The two spillways of Thac Ba hydroelectric reservoir were ordered to open at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon (July 28).

Closely monitor the developments of floods and rains, construction safety, flow to the lake, water levels upstream and downstream of the reservoir and promptly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

On the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities of Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, and Hanoi regarding ensuring downstream safety when operating the Thac Ba hydropower reservoir.

To ensure safety for works and riverside activities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to immediately notify authorities at all levels, people, and organizations operating on rivers and riverside; aquaculture facilities, water transport vehicles; ferry terminals; review and ensure safety of works under construction; activities of sand and gravel exploitation, gathering, and transit to know information about the flood discharge of Thac Ba hydropower reservoir to proactively take preventive measures to ensure safety of people and property.

Report and promptly propose solutions to handle unusual situations that may occur during flood discharge to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/doi-song/ho-thuy-dien-thac-ba-mo-2-cua-xa-mat-4-tinh-thanh-phai-dam-bao-an-toan-i776306/