The Deputy PM urged that quick solutions be found to cracks recorded in the Tranh River 2 hydropower dam to avert safety risks to surrounding communities.
Cracks at Tranh River 2 hydropower dam pose possible dangers
Hoang Trung Hai, Deputy Prime Minister requested that reports on the case must be sent to the Prime Minister as soon as possible.
He charged the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Electricity of Vietnam Group and the National Construction Work Check and Take-over Council to supervise the process.
On March 21, the project's investor, Hydropower Project Management Board No. 3, admitted to some technical errors during construction. Currently there are six water leaks that have been found in thermal slots.
Tran Van Hai, head of the board, said it would take some months to deal with these problems.
After inspecting the case, Dr. Bui Trung Dung, an official from the council, confirmed that there have been cracks found around the dam's edges.
Dr. Nguyen Hong Phuong, Director of the Global Physics Institute’s Vietnam Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre, said that the cracks may be consequences of the recent seismic activity in the surrounding areas.
Currently, local residents in the central province of Tra My District, Quang Nam, where the plant is located, have been worried about the cracks found in the dam.
Phuong said, “The contractors’ claims that this is a normal phenomenon proves their lack of responsibility to the community. If measures are not taken soon, damage to the dam may become worse."
According to Phuong, there have been sufficient warnings about periodic earthquakes in the region following the plant's operations. He added that contractors should reinforce the dam's base and work out contingency plans for relocation of the local population in case of any unforeseen event.
In order to ensure the safety of the plant and surrounding communities, an earthquake warning system should be installed as soon as possible, he urged.
Several other scientists have expressed worry over a possible dam break, which could happen if the cracks expand to the main body of the dam.
Professor Pham Hong Giang, Chairman of Vietnam Association for Big Dams, said, “According to international standards, water leakage should not be allowed to occur at a hydropower dams, as it could compromise the dam’s structural integrity.”
Nguyen Hong Phuong did not completely agree with the possibility of a dam break, but still warned that an unforeseen incident may take place.
On March 19, the investor sent a report on the issue to both provincial and district governments. The report said water leakages have been recorded in three separate areas in the lower regions of the dam, measured at around 30 litres per second. They claimed, however, that this is an acceptable level.
They also claimed that the water ran through designed thermal slots, and not the cracks.
