Conditions for real-time operation of reservoirs and inter-reservoirs in Vietnam from July 1, 2024

Conditions for real-time operation of reservoirs and inter-reservoirs in Vietnam from July 1, 2024 (Image from the Internet)

On May 16, 2024, the Government of Vietnam promulgated Decree 53/2024/ND-CP detailing the implementation of several articles of the 2023 Law on Water Resources.

Conditions for real-time operation of reservoirs and inter-reservoirs in Vietnam from July 1, 2024

Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP stipulates the conditions for real-time operations of reservoirs and inter-reservoirs as follows:

- Technical infrastructure for the real-time operation of reservoirs must comply with relevant legal technical standards and regulations and include the following main components:

+ A network of automatic hydro-meteorological monitoring stations; monitoring devices for automatic, online supervision of reservoir operations, and databases related to reservoir operations;

+ Server systems, network infrastructure, and other auxiliary equipment for real-time data reception, transmission, and storage;

+ Software supporting real-time information processing, analysis, calculation, and forecasting, including key models such as statistical models, hydrological models, hydrodynamic models, water balance models, reservoir operation models, and water quality models;

+ Decision-support tools for reservoir operation to propose principles, rules, and operational plans in real-time;

+ Other relevant technical infrastructure.

- Technical infrastructure for the real-time operation of inter-reservoirs includes the following main components:

+ Technical infrastructure of reservoirs listed in the operating procedures for inter-reservoirs as specified in Clause 1, Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP;

+ Information and data on river basins for real-time inter-reservoir operations;

+ Server systems, network infrastructure, and other auxiliary equipment for real-time data reception and connection from reservoirs and other water utilization projects on river basins;

+ Decision-support tools for inter-reservoir operations to propose principles, rules, and operational plans in real-time;

+ Other relevant technical infrastructure.

- For reservoirs listed in the operating procedures for inter-reservoir operations, they must comply with the technical infrastructure requirements specified in Clause 1, Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP, and notify the competent water resource authority under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam for inspection and connection into the technical infrastructure for real-time inter-reservoir operations. Other reservoirs are encouraged to connect to the technical infrastructure for real-time inter-reservoir operations.

- Requirements for real-time operation of reservoirs and inter-reservoirs include:

+ Continuously and automatically updated information and data ensuring reliability;

+ Technical infrastructure meeting the conditions and requirements specified in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP;

+ Density of hydro-meteorological monitoring stations in the reservoir’s catchment area ensuring at least the legal requirements for meteorology and hydrology;

+ Real-time information processing, analysis, calculation, and forecasting software that has been verified to ensure reliability.

- Organizations and individuals managing and operating reservoirs are responsible for investing in the construction of technical infrastructure to meet the real-time operation requirements specified in Clauses 1 and 4 of Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP under their management, or to hire decision-support services for reservoir operation to ensure flexible, safe, and optimal economic, social, and environmental benefits but must comply with Article 70 of the 2023 Law on Water Resources.

- The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Construction, provincial People's Committees, reservoir management and operation organizations, and other relevant agencies and organizations on the river basin, shall complete the technical infrastructure for real-time inter-reservoir operations when reservoirs in the river basin meet the technical infrastructure requirements as specified in Clause 1, Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP and have sufficient resources to complete the inter-reservoir technical infrastructure as specified in Clause 2, Article 50 of Decree 53/2024/ND-CP.

See also Decree 53/2024/ND-CP effective from July 1, 2024.

To Quoc Trinh

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