Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam proposes operation and regulation of reservoirs during the late flood season on river basins in Vietnam

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam proposes operation and regulation of reservoirs during the late flood season on river basins in Vietnam​ (Image from internet)

On November 29, 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam issued Official Dispatch 8372/BTNMT-TNN regarding the operation and regulation of reservoirs at the end of the flood season in the central, central highlands, and southern river basins.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam proposes operation and regulation of reservoirs during the late flood season on river basins in Vietnam

Currently, in the river basins of the central region, central highlands, and the South, the reservoirs are primarily in the phase of water accumulation at the end of the flood season according to the regulations of the Integrated Reservoir Operation Procedures. However, some reservoirs have water levels lower than the minimum level at the beginning of the dry season and may not accumulate enough water to supply downstream during the dry season of 2025, specifically: Song Bung 2 (lower by 20.54m), Song Bung 4 (lower by 7.56m), Dakdrinh (lower by 20.1m), Ka Nak (lower by 4.2m), Krong H’Nang (lower by 8.73m), Thuong Kon Tum (lower by 8.31m), Song Hinh (lower by 4.86m),…

On November 25, 2024, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Official Telegram No. 120/CD-TTg on proactively responding to, quickly remedying the consequences of floods in the Central Region, which directed besides scientifically and safely operating irrigation and hydropower reservoirs to contribute to reducing downstream floods, simultaneously emphasizing the proactive accumulation of sufficient water at the end of the flood season for the people's production and daily life. To implement the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam's directives and to minimize the potential water shortage on river basins in the dry season of 2025, as well as to ensure economical use and prevent water wastage, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment respectfully requests:

- For the People's Committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces: to direct competent agencies and units responsible for making decisions on reservoir operations during the flood season to closely monitor, update information on the weather, rainfall, flood, water levels at hydrological stations, the inflow to reservoirs, and forecast bulletins to consider and decide on reservoir operation regulation alongside ensuring the safety of works, reducing downstream floods, meticulous consideration should be given to the potential for water accumulation at the end of the flood season of reservoirs. Simultaneously, direct subordinate organizations and relevant agencies to develop a water use plan for the dry season of 2025, ensuring it aligns with water resource conditions.

- Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: to direct management units, reservoir operation units to follow the orders of the competent authority deciding on reservoir operations during the flood season to regulate the safe operation of reservoirs, ensuring downstream flood reduction as per the integrated reservoir procedure, concurrently operating to accumulate water at the end of the flood season to ensure sufficient water supply for downstream until the end of the dry season of 2025.

- Units managing and operating reservoirs on river basins to closely monitor hydrometeorological developments and water resources. Execute operation orders from the competent authority deciding on reservoir operations during the flood season. Proactively calculate and develop plans to operate water accumulation of reservoirs at the end of the flood season and plans to regulate reservoir operations to ensure water supply for downstream during the dry season of 2025, in accordance with the procedures of integrated reservoir operations, while ensuring the safety of works, and the safety of people's lives, properties, and other downstream structures and infrastructure.

Refer to detailed content in Official Dispatch 8372/BTNMT-TNN dated November 29, 2024.

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