Water levels at some hydropower plants in the southern region such as Ham Thuan-Da Mi and Tri An are still low despite recent rains.

The water shortfall is expected to affect the power generation of the hydropower plants in the future.

Le Van Quang, deputy general director of Da Nhim-Ham Thuan-Da Mi Hydropower Company, told the Daily that he was concerned about the low water level of Ham Thuan-Da Mi.

Ham Thuan-Da Mi plant, besides being a power generator, is also responsible for irrigating lowland farms in Duc Linh and Tanh Linh districts of Binh Thuan Province.

Quang said the reservoir of the Ham Thuan-Da Mi plant normally has a maximum water storage amount of some 500 million cubic meters to maintain its regular power production as well as to supply water for the lowlands.

“However, the reservoir of the plant at the moment only has 70 million cubic meters,” he said.

He said the plant has been supplying water for agricultural production in the lowlands but it cannot mobilize its maximum generating capacity because the water of the reservoir is higher than the danger level by only five meters at the moment.

Da Nhim-Ham Thuan-Da Mi manages four hydropower plants including Ham Thuan (300 MW), Da Mi (175 MW), Da Nhim (160 MW) and Song Pha (7.5 MW).

Nguyen Ngoc Diep, head of the Operational Office of Tri An hydropower plant, told the Daily on Monday that despite the recent heavy rains, the water level of the plant’s reservoir is only 53.5 meters, higher than the danger level by only 3.5 meters.

To have enough water for maximum designed power generation of up to 400 MW, the water level of Tri An reservoir must be reaching 62 meters, said Diep.

However, he said Tri An hydropower plant is also trying to run at its highest ability to supply power to the national grid.

Tri An is one of the most important power plants in the region using the water from Dong Nai and La Nga rivers to produce around 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of power a year.

Source: SGT