Deploying safety solutions for Ban Ve Hydropower Plant

In the face of the complicated flood situation caused by the impact of storm No. 3 (storm Wipha), on the afternoon of July 23, the Inspection Team of the Ministry of Industry and Trade had an urgent working session with Ban Ve Hydropower Plant to review the work of ensuring the safety of dams, hydropower reservoirs and responding to natural disasters on the Ca River basin.

The inspection team was chaired by the leaders of the Department of Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment, along with representatives of the Electricity Department, Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), National Electricity System and Market Operation Company (NSMO) and Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade .

According to Mr. Ta Huu Hung - Director of Ban Ve Hydropower Company, from the evening of July 22, due to the circulation of storm No. 3, a large flood appeared on the Ca River, causing great pressure on the hydropower system in the area such as Ban Ve, Hua Na, Nam Non...

At Ban Ve Hydropower Plant, the flood started to appear at 4:00 a.m. on July 22 with a flow rate of 583 m³/s, the lake water level was at 189.08 m. By 10:00 a.m. the same day, the flood flow rate increased rapidly to 1,500 m³/s, the lake water level reached 194.36 m. Immediately after that, at 10:15 a.m., the Company received an order to operate flood reduction from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Nghe An province.

Inspection delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade at Ban Ve Hydropower Plant on the afternoon of July 23.

From 4:00 p.m. on July 22, the plant began to discharge floodwaters with a total flow of 845 m³/s (of which 508 m³/s was through the spillway, with all gates fully open), the lake water level reached 191.23 m, approaching the lowest flood level (191.5 m). Continued heavy rain caused the water flow to the lake to increase rapidly, peaking at 2:00 a.m. on July 23 at 12,800 m³/s; the discharge flow at this time was 3,285 m³/s.

“After reaching the peak, at 6:45 a.m. on July 23, following the direction of the Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, the company began to gradually close the valve gate, limiting the discharge to no more than 5,000 m³/s to save the Nam Non Hydropower Plant downstream, which was at risk of being flooded,” Mr. Hung informed.

Due to the circulation of storm No. 3, a large flood appeared on the Ca River, causing great pressure on the hydropower system in the area such as Ban Ve.

Faced with the emergency flood situation, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien issued urgent dispatch No. 5458/CD-BCT on the night of July 22, requesting the Chairmen of the People's Committees of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh provinces and reservoir management units in the area, especially Ban Ve and Hua Na Hydropower Plants, to urgently deploy response plans to ensure safety for the works and people in the downstream areas.

On July 23, the Minister of Industry and Trade continued to issue Official Dispatch No. 5494/CD-BCT, requesting units in the industry to maintain a high level of vigilance and be ready to act to protect the safety of works, property and lives of people in the downstream area of the Ca River.

At the same time, the Minister also directed the establishment of a working group of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to go directly to the scene, direct the operation of the reservoir, and ensure the safety of the dam and downstream areas.

At the meeting, Mr. Trinh Van Thuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment requested EVN, Power Generation Corporation 1 and Ban Ve Hydropower to continue to closely monitor hydrological developments, continuously update flood forecasts to prepare response plans according to the "four on-site" motto.

“Units must strictly follow the approved single-reservoir and inter-reservoir operating procedures. At the same time, organize a 24/7 disaster prevention and control team and promptly report any unusual situations to the authorities,” Mr. Thuan emphasized.

Mr. Trinh Van Thuan also noted that Ban Ve Hydropower Plant needs to operate scientifically, ensuring absolute safety for the project. In particular, it is necessary to notify people early before regulating water. In addition, units need to urgently review and check the status of dams, discharge equipment, downstream warning systems, ensuring that information is clearly communicated through loudspeakers, sirens, lights, signs, hydro poles, etc. in dangerous areas.

"Up to this point, the situation at hydropower projects has been basically controlled, ensuring safety for the projects, while contributing to cutting and reducing floods downstream," Mr. Thuan added.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Xa-hoi/trien-khai-cac-giai-phap-dam-bao-an-toan-cho-thuy-dien-ban-ve-i775788/