EVN raises warnings over drying reservoir
Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) has reported alarmingly low water levels at the Hoa Binh Reservoir.
Last year, many people opened boat services and brought tourists to sightseeing Hoa Binh Reservoir. However, the boats were of no use this year.
"The water level has never dropped so low. At least last year, the water still reached the rocky shore," a boatman said.
Hung, a local in Hoa Binh, said the amount of water flowing into the Da River basin is also the amount of water going into Hoa Binh Reservoir. "It is reaching the dead storage level which is 85 metres," he said. "The rocky sides of the reservoir are being exposed as the water level gradually decreases."
Nguyen Dinh Thuy from Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Company said the water level was at 102.46 metres while the usual level was 117 metres. The current amount of water was 2.10 billion cubic metres lower than last year's level.
"The water level is so low that we can walk straight to the engines. For 30 years working at Hoa Binh Company, this is the first time I saw such low water level," he said.
Nguyen Van Minh, director of Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Company, said the floodwater in 2019 was low because of climate change and only accounted for 51% of previous years. During the flood season from June 15 to September 15, Hoa Binh Reservoir only received 14.70 billion cubic metres of water, a record low since the company was established.
Drought and prolonged water shortages have been forecasted. Hoa Binh Reservoir has to provide water for spring-winter crops in the downstream as well as produce electricity. Minh said lacking 2.9 billion cubic metres of water means they were lacking 680 million Kw/h.
Minh didn't confirm whether there would be more power outages but he went on to say that they would face more difficulties and the operation must be calculated carefully.
The water level at Hoa Binh Reservoir is 10 metres lower than in previous years
Last year, many people opened boat services and brought tourists to sightseeing Hoa Binh Reservoir. However, the boats were of no use this year.
"The water level has never dropped so low. At least last year, the water still reached the rocky shore," a boatman said.
Hung, a local in Hoa Binh, said the amount of water flowing into the Da River basin is also the amount of water going into Hoa Binh Reservoir. "It is reaching the dead storage level which is 85 metres," he said. "The rocky sides of the reservoir are being exposed as the water level gradually decreases."
Nguyen Dinh Thuy from Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Company said the water level was at 102.46 metres while the usual level was 117 metres. The current amount of water was 2.10 billion cubic metres lower than last year's level.
"The water level is so low that we can walk straight to the engines. For 30 years working at Hoa Binh Company, this is the first time I saw such low water level," he said.
Nguyen Van Minh, director of Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Company, said the floodwater in 2019 was low because of climate change and only accounted for 51% of previous years. During the flood season from June 15 to September 15, Hoa Binh Reservoir only received 14.70 billion cubic metres of water, a record low since the company was established.
Drought and prolonged water shortages have been forecasted. Hoa Binh Reservoir has to provide water for spring-winter crops in the downstream as well as produce electricity. Minh said lacking 2.9 billion cubic metres of water means they were lacking 680 million Kw/h.
Minh didn't confirm whether there would be more power outages but he went on to say that they would face more difficulties and the operation must be calculated carefully.
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