Ministry of Industry and Trade: 'Ho Ho Hydropower Plant's flood discharge did not follow proper procedures'

After listening to the report from the working group of the General Department of Energy, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade concluded that the Ho Ho hydropower plant did not strictly discharge flood water according to reservoir procedures.

On the afternoon of October 18, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong had a working session at the People's Committee of Huong Khe district (Ha Tinh) on issues related to the flood discharge process of Ho Ho Hydropower Plant, which has flooded thousands of houses in the downstream area in recent days.

After listening to the report from Mr. Do Duc Quan, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade) who led the working delegation the day before, Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong concluded that "Ho Ho Hydropower Plant's flood discharge did not strictly follow the reservoir process".

Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong at the working session. Photo: Pham Hoa.

The Deputy Minister pointed out the reason: the inspection work to ensure safety before the flood season of this hydroelectric plant is not good. Specifically, Ho Ho hydroelectric plant does not maintain the operation road to the plant. The diesel generator station to open the valve gate is not arranged properly.

"This station should have been placed in a position where it could handle any emergency situation. If there was a moderate landslide, it would have directly affected the station," the Deputy Minister explained.

When hearing the factory leader report that the recent heavy rain forced the spillway to be opened to the maximum to release floodwater to ensure safety.

Mr. Vuong affirmed that the discharge of floodwaters through the spillway of Ho Ho Hydropower Plant was not in accordance with the procedure. This was because the work of checking and assessing the safety of the project before the flood season was not guaranteed.

By the morning of October 18, Ho Ho Hydropower Plant had stopped releasing floodwaters. Photo: Pham Hoa.

According to the Deputy Minister, in this case, the discharge should have been less than the inflow. The plant's leaders explained that given the risk of the landslide falling into the plant, causing unsafety to the structure, it was necessary to open the spillway to the maximum.

"That shows that the factory has not fully complied with the operating procedures of the reservoir during the flood season. Ho Ho Hydropower Plant has not promptly detected the risk of landslides on the right shoulder of the factory," the Deputy Minister questioned.

The representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade concluded that Ho Ho Hydropower Plant has not coordinated well with local authorities and people in announcing flood discharge. The plant has not coordinated with local authorities to conduct evacuation drills in case of emergency.

Ho Ho Hydropower Plant released floodwaters on the night of October 14, combined with heavy rain, causing flooding in many areas in Huong Khe district. Photo: Pham Hoa.

At the end of the working session, Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong requested Ho Ho Hydropower Plant to overcome the above shortcomings as soon as possible.

Ho Ho Hydropower Plant has been in operation since 2010, with a capacity of 14 MW and a reservoir capacity of 38 million m3. Ho Ho Hydropower Plant belongs to Ho Bon Hydropower Joint Stock Company (in which the Northern Power Corporation holds 93.09% of shares), with a normal water level of 70 m.

According to ZIng.vn