Southern largest hydropower reservoir's water drops to lowest level in 12 years

The water level in Tri An hydropower reservoir, the largest of its kind in the southern region, drops to “dead level” (Photo: cand.com.vn)

Dong Nai (VNA) – The water level of Tri An hydropower reservoir, the largest of its kind in the southern region, has dropped to “dead level” due to a prolonged dry season and El Niño phenomena.

Vo Tan Nhan, Director of the Try An Hydropower Company, said that the reservoir’s water level has decreased deeply, approaching the dead level of 50 metres.

Specifically, the water level measured on May 7 was only 50.5 metres. It’s the lowest water level measured in more than 12 years.

According to Nhan, the water volume was low due to the prolonged dry season, but thanks to the inter-reservoir operation mechanism, the plant has been still operating all four turbines.

He noted that in normal conditions, the hydropower plant has an output of 9.6 million kWh. However, the plant currently only produces about 2 million kWh, only about 20% of its peak capacity.

Previously, in September 2010, the water level of the Tri An reservoir dropped to 49.99m, lower than the dead water level, forcing the plant to alternately operate its turbines.

The water level is expected to increase by the end of May when the rainy season comes.

The Tri An hydropower plant was built on Dong Nai river which flows through Vinh Cuu district, Dong Nai province, 65 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City.

The plant was built with the financial and technological support of the Soviet Union since 1984, and inaugurated in 1991. It has four turbines with a total designed capacity of 400 MW and annual electricity output of 1.76 billion kWh. 

Besides contributing to the national grid, the project has also helped to reduce salinity and regulate floods for downstream areas and provides water for daily life and production for millions of people in Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces and Ho Chi Minh City./.