Coping with earthquakes at hydropower projects

On May 12, 2022, the Chairman of Kon Tum provincial People's Committee issued an official dispatch on strengthening the monitoring to ensure the safety of works and downstream areas around hydropower and irrigation reservoirs in Kon Plong district.

Accordingly, the Chairman asked the two hydropower joint-stock companies of Vinh Son-Song Hinh and Dak Drinh to continuously strengthen the monitoring and dealing with earthquakes in Kon Plong district.

Based on earthquake data announced by the Institute of Geophysics, hydropower plants should re-assess the safety of dams under their management, and develop plans to respond to unusual incidents, especially the aftershocks.

Simultaneously, they should conduct tests for hypothetical earthquakes of different intensities and water levels in reservoirs from the overflow threshold to the normal level rise at the hydroelectric power plants to develop a temporary process in response to the real occurrences before they are announced by agencies.

They should also prepare forces, vehicles, materials supplies, and equipment to promptly deal with earthquakes if they occur ensuring emergency response right from the first hour when an abnormality is detected, especially to prevent incidents that can damage dams and reservoirs.

The People's Committee of Kon Tum province has also assigned the Department of Industry and Trade to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Construction, the People's Committee of Kon Plong district and relevant units to strengthen monitoring, regularly inspect and guide for the safety of hydropower plants and irrigation reservoirs in the area. 

Owners of hydroelectric reservoirs and dams are requested to install ground accelerometers at the project site so that to have accurate data to evaluate the earthquake impact on the works and to find solutions in response to emergency situations.