On February 28.2, the Project for Monitoring the Operation of Mekong Hydropower Dams (MDM) said: Around February 1.2.2024, 1.400, the Tuoba hydropower dam with a capacity of XNUMX MW in Yunnan (China) began filling water into the lake. contain.
Touba hydroelectric dam, China's 12th dam on the Mekong mainstream, begins filling water
Thac Bat is one of the largest dams on the Mekong River. China has not made any announcements on reservoir filling activities or dam completion, although the country recently proposed to increase cooperation with lower Mekong countries.
According to MDM, satellite images show that Tuoba Dam is releasing water through the outlet, so it may gradually accumulate water during the upcoming dry and rainy seasons.
Last week, the amount of water released during the dry season for hydropower production was minimal, just over 100 million cubic meters. So far, China's water releases have been relatively small, which may be related to the Tuoba dam. This has caused river levels across the basin to be currently low. At Tonle Sap Lake (Great Lake in Cambodia), the water level is about 0,7m lower than normal at this time of year. While the river water level is low, the weather in the lower Mekong River is in an extremely hot and dry period.
Currently, there are 14 dams completed along the main stream of the Mekong River, of which 12 dams are in China and 2 dams are in Laos. There is also another dam under construction in Luang Prabang (Laos).
“China's introduction of water storage at the Tuoba hydroelectric dam will affect the amount of water in the downstream area during this year's dry season. The water shortage will continue to last because such a dam usually takes 1 year to store enough water," predicted M.S. Nguyen Huu Thien, an expert on Mekong Delta ecology.
In an updated news release on February 27.2 from the International Mekong River Commission (MRC), it said: Tonle Sap Lake's volume is only approximately 76,15% compared to the average of many years due to a decrease in rainfall. Since January 1.2024, there has been a composite index of severe and extreme drought, affecting agricultural production and likely to continue across most regions next week. The mid-Lower Mekong basin is expected to face the most severe drought, while the northern upper reaches are forecast to face moderate drought.
