Severe drought, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant proposes to adjust water discharge operation mode
(Baonghean.vn) - With the reality of severe drought in 2024, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant is proposing to the Provincial People's Committee to allow adjusting the water discharge operation regime of Ban Ve Lake to suit the reality.
At the Nghe An conference to deploy flood and storm prevention solutions in 2024, the leader of Ban Ve Hydropower Joint Stock Company said: In recent years, the amount of water flowing into Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir has been low. Specifically:In the flood season of 2022, the water flow to Ban Ve hydropower reservoir is very low. Due to the requirement to ensure the security of the power system, the plant was highly mobilized in the last period of the year. At the end of 2022, Ban Ve hydropower reservoir did not store enough water, the water level of the lake only reached 195.83 m, 4.17 m lower than the normal water level, corresponding to a water shortage of 183 million m3.
During the dry season of 2023, the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir basin continues to experience a very serious drought. The average water flow to Ban Ve lake in the dry season is only 43.2 m3/s (average water flow to the lake over many years in the same period is 78.7 m3/s), corresponding to a water deficit compared to the average of many years of 613 million m3.
It is forecasted that in 2024, the drought will be more severe, with less rainfall. Checking the situation of water exploitation for production in the downstream area shows that the water level on the Ca River is much lower than the average of many years, making it very difficult for irrigation works to take water. Therefore, it is very difficult to supply water to the downstream area according to the regulations in the inter-reservoir operation process in the Ca River basin to ensure the water level in the downstream area for the irrigation works to take water effectively.
Therefore, to ensure the efficiency of water supply for downstream areas, avoid wasting water resources, and at the same time harmonize water supply for downstream areas and electricity production, Ban Ve Hydropower Company requests the People's Committee of Nghe An province and the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command to direct the adjustment of the water discharge operation regime of Ban Ve Lake.
Specifically during peak water supply period: Ban Ve Hydropower Plant discharges more water than specified in the process (about 150 - 200 m3/s) to raise the river water level so that water intake works downstream can operate effectively. During the remaining time, Ban Ve Lake coordinates with Khe Bo Lake to supply water to the downstream with a flow rate of not less than 95.5 m3/S.
Regarding the content of the Ban Ve Hydropower Company's request, the Provincial Flood and Storm Prevention and Search and Rescue Command said: In recent years, the weather has been extremely complicated, with prolonged intense heat and high temperatures ranging from 37-40 degrees Celsius.0C, some places over 400C. The low water level in Lam River and other rivers and streams affects the suction tank water level of pumping stations along Lam River.
It is known that in the Spring crop of 2023 and early 2024, the water level of the Ca River was very low, pumping stations in Do Luong and Thanh Chuong districts, and the Nam irrigation system operating to serve agricultural production were at times unable to operate.
From the beginning of 2024 until now, the Provincial People's Committee has also requested Ban Ve Hydropower Company to increase the discharge from January 10, 2024 to January 14, 2024 and from January 26, 2024 to January 30, 2024: Every day, Ban Ve reservoir operates to increase the average discharge level from no less than 100 m3/s up average not less than 150 m3/s; During the period from February 28, 2024 to March 1, 2024: Every day, Ban Ve Lake operates to raise the average discharge level from not less than 75 m3/s up average not less than 200 m3/S.
Therefore, in the coming time, based on the 2024 crop production project, the inter-reservoir operation process on the Ca River basin according to Decision No. 1605/QD-TTg dated November 13, 2019 of the Prime Minister, the assessment of the weather situation of the North Central Hydrometeorological Station, the water source situation of Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir; and based on the water demand requests of localities, the Provincial People's Committee will direct the competent authorities to coordinate and request Ban Ve Hydropower Company to operate and regulate the water of Ban Ve Hydropower Reservoir with appropriate water flow and time. This will meet the water supply for production and people's lives in the downstream area effectively and economically.
It is known that in 2023, Ban Ve Hydropower Plant said that it had coordinated quite smoothly with management agencies and water users in the downstream area. The company had ensured effective water supply to the downstream area, in accordance with the prescribed procedures. Flood reduction operations for the downstream area: the task of reducing floods for the downstream area was well performed, cutting off 2/2 of the floods to the lake. The electricity output produced in 2023 was 917 million kWh.
