From noon on August 2, open 4 bottom spillway gates of Son La, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang hydroelectric reservoirs

On August 2, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Official Dispatch No. 5597/CD-BNN-DD to the Director of Son La Hydropower Company, the Director of Hoa Binh Hydropower Company and the Director of Tuyen Quang Hydropower Company on opening 2 bottom spillway gates of Son La Hydropower Reservoir, opening the 2nd bottom spillway gate of Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir and opening 1 bottom spillway gate of Tuyen Quang Hydropower Reservoir.

Accordingly, at 8:00 a.m. on August 2, the upstream water level of Son La Lake was at elevation 203.45m, the inflow to the lake was 9,220 m3/s, the discharge was 2,936 m3/s; the upstream water level of Hoa Binh Lake was at elevation 102.15m, the inflow to the lake was 3,355 m3/s, the discharge was 3,855 m3/s; the upstream water level of Tuyen Quang Lake was at elevation 109.73m, the inflow to the lake was 2,331 m3/s, the discharge was 670 m3/s.

Implementing the inter-reservoir operation process on the Red River basin in Decision No. 740/QD-TTg dated June 17, 2019 of the Prime Minister; Resolution No. 102/NQ-CP dated June 29, 2024 of the Government on ensuring the direction and operation of natural disaster prevention and control during the period of perfecting the civil defense command and direction agencies at all levels, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development ordered the Director of Son La Hydropower Company to open 2 bottom spillway gates of Son La Hydropower Reservoir at 12:00 and 14:00 on August 2; ordered the Director of Hoa Binh Hydropower Company to open the second bottom spillway gate of Hoa Binh Hydropower Reservoir at 18:00 on August 2 and ordered the Director of Tuyen Quang Hydropower Company to open 1 bottom spillway gate of Tuyen Quang Hydropower Reservoir at 12:00 on August 2.

Son La, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang Hydropower Companies closely monitor the developments of floods and rains, construction safety, inflow to the reservoir, upstream and downstream water levels of the reservoir, and promptly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control) and relevant agencies as prescribed.

On the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Document No. 5598/BNN-DD to the People's Committees of the provinces and cities of Tuyen Quang, Son La, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh on ensuring downstream safety when operating the Son La, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoirs.

Accordingly, implementing the inter-reservoir operation process on the Red River basin in Decision No. 740/QD-TTg dated June 17, 2019 of the Prime Minister; Resolution No. 102/NQ-CP dated June 29, 2024 of the Government on ensuring the direction and operation of natural disaster prevention and control during the period of perfecting the civil defense command and direction agencies at all levels and Official Dispatch No. 5597/CD-BNN-DD dated August 2, 2024 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development ordering the Director of Son La Hydropower Company to open 1 bottom spillway gate at 12:00 on August 2 and open the second bottom spillway gate at 18:00 on August 2; ordering the Director of Hoa Binh Hydropower Company to open the second bottom spillway gate at 18:00 on August 2; The Director of Tuyen Quang Hydropower Company ordered to open a bottom spillway gate at 12 o'clock on August 2.

To ensure safety for works and riverside activities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to immediately notify authorities at all levels, people, and organizations operating on rivers and riverside; aquaculture facilities, water transport vehicles; ferry terminals; review and ensure safety of works under construction; activities of sand and gravel exploitation, gathering, and transit to know information about flood discharge from Son La, Hoa Binh, and Tuyen Quang hydropower reservoirs to proactively take preventive measures to ensure safety of people and property.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities direct relevant agencies and units to coordinate with reservoir owners to find solutions to ensure safety for curious people approaching the flood discharge viewing area, and promptly report and propose solutions to handle unusual situations that may occur during the flood discharge process to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Department of Dike Management and Disaster Prevention and Control).

Previously, Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant closed 2 bottom spillway gates on July 29 and 30 (currently Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant is opening 1 bottom spillway gate).