Recent heavy rains have not significantly changed the water level of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir.
According to reports from our correspondent, over the past few days, the Northwest provinces in general and Hoa Binh province in particular have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall.
In discussions with our correspondent, representatives from several hydropower plants stated: “The heavy rain in recent days is a positive sign for the hydropower reservoirs, particularly the Son La and Hoa Binh reservoirs, following a dry spell that brought water levels close to the dead storage level.”
On the morning of June 27, our correspondent visited Bich Ha Port (Hoa Binh commune, Hoa Binh city) and the area surrounding the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir to assess the water level after several days of heavy rain.
Heavy rainfall has caused the inflow to the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir to reach hundreds to thousands of cubic meters per second. However, because the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant continues to operate all eight turbines, the water level in the reservoir has not changed much. (Photo: Tieu Linh).
Our correspondent observed that although there has been heavy rain, the water level in the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir has not changed significantly.
Speaking with our correspondent, Ms. Luu, an employee at a fish farming facility on the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir, remarked: “In the past 2-3 days, despite heavy rain, the water level in the reservoir has not changed much. Currently, the water level does not significantly affect our fish farming operations or those of the surrounding households.”
According to the leadership of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, the heavy rains in recent days have stabilized the inflow to the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir compared to before. During the heavy rain, the inflow to the reservoir can reach up to 1,000 m3/s. However, since the morning of June 26, the rainfall has decreased, resulting in a reduced inflow.
Additionally, representatives from the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant indicated that if heavy rains continue and the inflow to the reservoir maintains at 1,000 m3/s for about 7-8 days, the plant will be able to generate at full capacity.
The water level in the Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir does not affect the fish farming of local households. (Photo: Tieu Linh).
Explaining why, despite the heavy rains in recent days and inflows reaching hundreds to thousands of cubic meters per second, the water level at the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant has not changed significantly, the leadership of the plant added: “Although the inflow to the reservoir is high, we have been required to operate all eight turbines and continue supplying water to the downstream areas, which has kept the water level stable as it was before, with minimal changes.”
Previously, on June 11, the leadership of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant reported: “The inflow to the reservoir was very low, only about 40 m3/s; the water level was approximately 103m, 23m above the ‘dead water level.’ If we maximize extraction, after about 3 days there will not be enough pressure to generate maximum capacity, affecting backup capacity, and in about 12-13 days, the water level would reach the ‘dead water level.’
| Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant is the second largest hydropower facility in Vietnam and one of the largest hydropower projects in Southeast Asia. The Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant has a designed normal water level of 117m; a maximum water level of 120m; a dead water level of 80m; a reservoir area of 208 km2; total reservoir capacity of 9.45 billion m3; installed capacity of 1,920 MW, comprising 8 turbines; average annual electricity output: 8.6 billion kWh; the dam has 12 spillways and 8 generating units, each with a capacity of 240 MW. |
