Vietnam Electricity (EVN), investor of the Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant in Bac Tra My District in the central province of Quang Nam, on Tuesday stated that leaks at the dam in the plant have almost been fully repaired, with leaking reducing by more than 90 percent.
EVN was stating this at a meeting hosted by the State Council for taking stock of the construction works and the progress made on the repair of leaks at the dam of the plant’s reservoir.
The meeting took place one day after Bac Tra My District was shaken by five consecutive tremors on September 3.
At the meeting, EVN said that the leaking had reduced by more than 90 percent.
The repair work has been done by the Institute of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Construction and the East China Design Institute.
Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 1, consultants for the Song Tranh 2 project, said that the repair of the leaks is complete and the plant’s dam is now safe and can withstand even a 5.5 magnitude earthquake.
A representative of Colenco, the Swiss independent consultant unit, proposed to the plant’s investor to perfect their observation system and report of the plant’s condition every week.
Trinh Dinh Dung, Minister of Construction, agreed with Colendo that EVN should perfect the observation system and keep updated on the operation process of the plant to ensure safety.
The ministry will publicly announce conclusions of specialized organs on the reservoir’s condition to residents in Bac Tra My District.
From 7pm-10.20pm on September 3, five tremors occurred in the district, where the Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant is located. The strongest one was felt at 8.50pm and lasted eight seconds, causing furniture in houses to topple and break.
Dang Phong, chairman of the People’s Committee in Bac Tra My District said that these tremors were much stronger than previous ones, scaring local residents and authorities.
Vu Duc Toan, deputy director of the Executive Board of the Hydropower Project No. 3, said that the tremors on September 3 will not affect the safety of the plant, which is still operating as normal.
Nguyen Thanh Quang, deputy head of the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention in Quang Nam Province, has proposed to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to determine the intensity of the tremors on September 3.
The Executive Board of the Hydropower Project No. 3 should report to the provincial People’s Committee and the committee on safety of the Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant of the recent tremors.
