Build a new life Sitting on a motorboat, invested by Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu with an amount of more than 100 million VND, with all necessary equipment for tourists such as life jackets and lifebuoys, I feel the life of the people. The bed of the Sesan 4 Hydropower Plant has changed and is much different from 10 years ago, when they first came here to determine to build a new life, in their second homeland. The sound of the boat’s engine going up and down the lake reverberated and stirred the whole area. The wind blows on the lake surface, with a faint, strong smell characteristic of the river. Trieu’s houseboat pairing boat, tourists quickly spread out, some people are eager to feed fish, people go to see fish drying, making fish sauce, laughing and talking. As for me, hanging around Mr. Trieu to ask about his daily work. Mr. Trieu said, when the gray smoke behind the raft houses started to emerge, the men were ready to go and drop nets. 10 years living on this lake bed, his rafts and the people around him are getting bigger and bigger, sure, life is much better, old age and children can learn more words, but with The men from all over the country gather here are still the same: pulling nets at night, pulling nets during the day to drop nets and nets, and then sell fish to traders. Mr. Trieu confided, 10 years ago, the bed of Se San 4 lake was vast and lonely, with countless fish. On the first day of coming here, the people of Thua Thien Hue and Quang Binh fished gobies and chameleons; people in the west fish Dinh sesame, red-tailed snout; and the people in the central region, in the southeastern part of the country, they will catch any fish. “Now the fish are less and wiser, they just swim under the rotten wooden trunks of the lake bed, rarely come up, so if they drop the nets deep down, they will all be torn. In the past, there was a night when catching half a kilo of fish, at least from 10 kg to 20 kg. For the past few years, it’s only been a few kilograms, so you guys have to switch to fishing,” said Mr. Trieu, pointing out to tell me where there are rafts built by people there and floating on the lake. At about 17 o’clock, when the sunset fell, we got on the boat to follow Mr. Trieu and the households in the fishing village to prepare tools to cast nets and cast nets. The atmosphere becomes bustling by the sound of motorboats and fishermen calling each other. Trieu’s family has a total of 20 baskets, each with an investment of about four million dong. As he walked, he introduced me, each basket was placed at least 200 m apart, we clearly divided the area so that families did not concentrate on mining in one place, each time it took more than 1 It took hours to return to the shore because the distance was quite long. Each rack will be fitted with a battery used to connect to light a light bulb. That’s how to catch Sesan anchovies. Just stretch out, drop the lights down, the anchovies see the light and gather. Around 3 am the next morning, the boat went out to pull the nets and harvested the fish. Those who are afraid will bring it to Se San market to sell, diligently bring it back to dry and sell it gradually. Up to now, Sesan anchovy has become a famous specialty. When the batches are finished, the people of Sesan fishing village come back to pick up every piece of trash and waste floating on the river. It’s not because hundreds of people are always diving and roaming the river, so they do that but that’s the reason for living. Mr. Trieu said: Contaminating the river also means harming yourself, that thought is deeply rooted in the thinking of this fishing village. Living off the products on the river, more than a hundred people in Sesan fishing village always consider the river as a living being, like a soulmate to remind themselves not to do anything harmful to the river. Mr. Dang Van Thuoc, Director of Se San Cooperative, saw that Mr. Trieu’s house had visitors, so he rowed over to chat with us. He asserted that: I was one of the first people to come here with Mr. Trieu, well versed in all fishing channels, but I always remind the fishing village households to never fish in an extermination way, only with nets. Traditional , . We agree to make the eyeballs according to a certain size, only the big and right sized fish will be harvested and the fry and small fish will fall in to continue to grow. Especially from the 14th to the 20th day of the lunar calendar every month, the people of the fishing village will not pull the net and release the net because this is the breeding cycle of anchovies. In the most difficult times, absolutely no one is allowed to use explosives to fish in the river. It is a crime, it is to destroy the river. Gently stepping through the wooden planks to connect the floating rafts of the houses together, helping the nearby families to come to the house to chat, I met Mr. Nguyen Van Tung, who is over 70 years old this year. With a bright smile when welcoming a stranger to visit, he happily said: Every morning he wakes up very early to wait for the morning sun, and then begins his working day. “In the past, the whole family of six of us lived in a river down to the east, but there people were indifferent to the river, did not protect the river, so the fate of people was poor when the river was polluted. more shrimp. Up here, everyone has a sense of preserving the water flow and the landscape, so life has been warmed up,” said Mr. Tung. Beautiful fishing village After nearly 10 years of clinging to the Se San river, the lives of the fishing village households are still precarious, their children cannot go to school, their lives are floating along the water. Through the monitoring process, the households in the fishing village are all diligent, honest and have the desire to settle down for a long time, so the leaders of Kon Tum province have created conditions for the households to gradually stabilize their lives. The Lunar New Year of the Pig in 2019, the joy of the fishing village was multiplied many times when all 29 households with more than 100 people were imported, were granted 400 m2 of residential land and each household was supported 50 million VND. to make a house. From a place of floating and precarious living along the water, the people of the fishing village have been settled. Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu said, with the same amount of 50 million dong, most families in the fishing village try to contribute from 50 to more than 100 million dong to build a house. Therefore, 29 spacious and spacious Great Solidarity houses with an area of ​​​​from 80 m2 to 120 m2 with corrugated iron roof and flower tile background were inaugurated. Ashore, many families were able to buy motorbikes, televisions and refrigerators. Comrade Tran Trung Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ia Toi Commune, said that from the capital of the national target program on building new countryside, the fishing village was invested by the State with more than three billion VND. pull electricity from the grid to the village. In the coming time, we are focusing on bringing clean water to each household because this is still the most urgent issue today. For the education of children in the fishing village to be what it is today, families are always grateful to Mr. Nguyen Quang Tho, Head of Education and Training Department of Ia H’Drai district. Mr. Tho went to each campaigner, creating conditions to bring their children to class. Mr. Tho shared his memories of the first days of mobilizing families: Most of the people in the fishing village were afraid to send their children to school because it took a long time to pick them up. They think very simply that their parents and themselves who were born and raised on the raft are literate but still live well. However, I was not discouraged, went out to friends to talk, persevered, and encouraged each family so that the children could go to school. Thanks to that, all children born in the fishing village today who reach school age can go to school fully. Comrade Vo Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People’s Committee Ia H’Drai said: In the coming time, the district government will focus on supporting and investing more methodically in developing the tourism economy in the province. fishing village, to effectively exploit this potential. Tourism cannot be generalized but must deal with specific problems. For example, it is necessary to build a tour with a specific schedule so that visitors feel like coming back and recommending to friends to visit. The overnight stay of tourists at the raft can only meet a few, but not guarantee for large groups. In addition, the district will seek and call for capable and enthusiastic investors to invest in building more tourist attractions in the lakebed area, thereby forming a closed ecotourism chain. with its own charms. Deep lake night. The raft house of Mr. Nguyen Van Trieu sways with each wave. Lying down listening to the waves crashing into the raft house, from time to time there was the sound of fish jumping below, we kept awake. The alarm clock sounded at 3 am, I quickly got up to prepare to follow Mr. After two hours, when we returned, the sun began to shine. Before parting after a night of experiencing the life of the people of Sesan fishing village, I made an appointment with the people here to come back to witness the change when the tourism potential on the bed of Sesan 4 becomes a reality. Se San fishing village will become an attractive destination on the travel map of Kon Tum, the Central Highlands region in particular and the whole country in general.

Before flowing to Loei province – a province located on the Thailand-Laos border, the Mekong River’s water had to flow through dozens of other hydroelectric dams, including 11 of China and one of Laos. South China Morning Post On May 25, citing local people and experts, the hydroelectric dams of China and Laos have affected fish habitats, changing the natural flow with the seasons and even the color of the water. . The impact is becoming more and more obvious Rodjana Thepwong, a 64-year-old woman with a lovely smile, said gold panders in Thailand often wade into the middle of the river during the dry season. “The sediment at the bottom of the river is full of gold. I’ve even found pieces of gold as small as tamarind seeds,” she said, plunging into the river with a pickaxe, brushing away the mud and rocks. “Because of hydroelectric dams, river water rises and falls randomly, making the ecosystem out of balance. We were forced to move to the river’s edge, where there was only a very small amount of gold.” Ms. Rodjana is just one of 60 million people who depend on the Mekong River – the river that flows from China, through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia before emptying into the delta region of Vietnam. Environmental activists say the diets, livelihoods and environment of these millions have been put in jeopardy since Chinese companies harnessed hydroelectricity. One fine day, these two women were able to find $15 worth of gold. Photo: South China Morning Post. “I realized things were changing, many fish died and the water rose suddenly,” said Chantarasee Hieng, another gold pander. Downstream, experts say, in February, the river suddenly turned blue – a seasonal phenomenon for the first time, indicating that nutrients from silt are gradually disappearing from waterways this. Climate change also plays a role in causing this phenomenon, with heavier rains and prolonged droughts. But both Ms. Rodjana and Hieng insist hydroelectric dams are the main cause of the decline in the quality of the river that was once a source of food and income for many families. “So sad. But what can we do?” Ms. Rodjana said. Hope is forgotten A new dam is scheduled to be built about 2 km from the Chiang Kan district of Loei, the mountainous northeastern province of Thailand. The Sanakham Dam is a $2 billion program with electricity generated for export mainly to Thailand. The dam, built by Chinese company Datang, is expected to generate 684 megawatts of electricity when it comes into operation from 2028. The project is seen as an integral part of its strategy to become “the power source of Southeast Asia. ” of Laos. Gold panders in the Mekong River, Loei province, Thailand. Photo: South China Morning Post. The Mekong River Commission – the commission set up to manage water resources in the Mekong basin, with members Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – says it has only about $28 million (1.4%) total budget) is devoted to measures to reduce harm to the environment and society. Thailand openly opposes the Lao plan. Residents living in this river area are lobbying the government to stop building the dam, along with public debate about the need for electricity generated by hydropower among officials in the country. Tosapol Wongwan, assistant secretary-general, National Water Resources Office of Thailand, said: “What is happening in the Mekong River has reached a point where it cannot be repaired. What we can do right now is focus on how to reduce the impact (human activities on the river).” Not easy to solve Upstream countries – China and Laos – have begun to share data on water flows and herald the closure and release of dams to their downstream neighbors. However, it is difficult to achieve complete transparency among countries with competing strategic, economic and national security needs. Laos owns two dams – the Thai-developed Xayaburi dam in the north and the Don Sahong dam near the Cambodian border. There are also seven other projects being planned. Mekong River near the Thai-Lao border. Photo: Reuters. Critics say it’s difficult to make a transparent assessment of the uses and impacts of dams on the environment. China, which is speeding up dam construction, insists hydroelectricity is an eco-friendly resource to boost the Mekong’s economy. However, according to Songrit Kirk Pongern, an academic researcher on the Mekong River at Thailand’s Kasetsart University, as dam construction continues, the forecast of a negative impact on the river is ominous. “In the next five years, the consequences will become more and more obvious. The number of fish will continue to decline, the downstream will lack alluvium, riverside and local fishing will disappear, food security for 60 million people will be exhausted,” he said.

Control room of Ham Thuan factory with IP-based surveillance camera system Start digital transformation from equipment upgrade projects Concept “ Digital conversion ” has been widely used in the media in recent times. Since it is a new concept, each person can understand digital transformation in his or her own way. However, the basic thing of digital transformation is that the process of digitalization combined with the application of achievements of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 into practice has created many transformations. powerful changes in life. The application of digital technology (Digital technology) has been approved by the Company UD implemented since 2004 when implementing the Da Nhim Power System Restoration Project. Da Nhim hydropower plant was put into operation in 1964 with a control system based on analog signals with countless knobs, knobs, switches, switches… The system of bulky, power-consuming equipment is prone to breakdowns due to its long-term use, reducing reliability. After 40 years of operation, the equipment system needs to be replaced to meet the reliability and efficiency in power production. Operation room of Da Nhim hydropower plant before digitalization Da Nhim power system restoration project (2004 – 2006) was invested by Vietnam Electricity Corporation (now Vietnam Electricity – EVN) and assigned Da Nhim – Ham Thuan Hydropower Company – Da Mi (now Da Nhim – Ham Thuan – Da Mi Hydropower Joint Stock Company: DDD) is the Project Management Board. The project includes 3 main packages to renovate and replace Da Nhim’s equipment system, including: Package No. 1- Generator and electrical equipment; Package No. 2 – Water turbine and water pipeline equipment; Package 3 – Hydrological data collection system. In particular, Package 1 with the application of digital technology to electrical equipment and control systems has created a new and modern appearance for Da Nhim hydropower plant with a stable operating equipment system. , computer controlled high availability, replacing obsolete analog equipment system. The control system with Alstom’s ALSPA P.320 HMI interface combined with GE Fanus’ PLC has created a turning point in operation control. All operation of the device is done by clicking on the computer screen instead of turning the knob or pressing the mechanical button as before. OCC operation room of DHD Company – The first remote control model of power plants in the power industry Da Nhim Hydropower Plant Expansion Project (Operating Phase 1 with a capacity of 80MW in 2018) continues to apply the latest digital technologies to the control equipment system, creating a Da Nhim hydropower plant. more modern. Inheriting their knowledge and experience through the Da Nhim Restoration Project, the Ham Thuan – Da Mi Hydropower Project, from 2008 to 2010, the Company’s engineers UD has successfully researched, programmed and put into operation the DCS system of Song Pha hydropower plant with a combination of WinCC control interface and Siemens S7-300 PLC. With the new control system, Song Pha hydropower plant seems to be wearing a new shirt, the outdated analog control system has been completely replaced by digital equipment. Operation room of Song Pha hydropower plant in 2006 The memorable milestone of the application of Science and Technology 4.0 in power production operation was in 2013 when the General Assembly Company and the domestic contractors successfully installed and put into operation the Operation Control Center (OCC – Operation Control Center). Center). This is considered the first OCC center at power plants in Vietnam to remotely control power plants. Since the OCC Center came into operation, combined with the IP-based CCTV system, DHD Company has optimized its operation and improved labor productivity. With OCC’s remote control and monitoring capabilities, the number of operators at hydroelectric power plants is reduced from 5 to 2 to 3. The OCC model of AGM Company was then replicated to other units in the industry and brought many practical benefits. The operation room of Song Pha hydroelectric power plant is now with the control system designed and installed by DDH Company Combining digitization and industrial science 4.0 Responding to the digital transformation of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Power Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO1), the General Assembly Company applied the results of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 on the digital platform to create a remarkable transformation in production management and administration. On the digital platform that has been deployed at power plants, DDT Company has gradually upgraded telecommunications infrastructure to create a smooth connection between the OCC Center, power plants and dispatching centers for business purposes. operate production and offer electricity prices in the market with high efficiency. The application of IP-based surveillance camera system helps the operator to monitor lake water level, discharge status of water supply to downstream… creating many advantages in coordination between the Company and local authorities in the company. disaster prevention and search and rescue. For administration, the General Meeting of Shareholders thoroughly handles incoming/outgoing documents, internal documents, on the e-Office system while accelerating the speed of case handling and convenience in work. storage and retrieval while saving printing paper and protecting the environment. In the bidding work, the Company conducts online bidding to ensure that information is provided to contractors quickly and accurately, to ensure transparency in bidding and to save printing costs. Currently, cloud computing technology (i-Cloud) is widely applied and becomes more and more familiar to the employees of the Company. The company has registered a Google Drive account with unlimited storage, sharing capacity to each unit for use. Employees store files and documents on shared Google Drive so that they can easily perform their work on smartphones and tablets even if they are far from the working location. Using i-Cloud for work has become popular at the University of Da Nang Timekeeping, collection of opinions, statistics, surveys, etc. when there is a need for the coordination of many people, is easily done by Google tools such as Google doc, Google sheet, Google form. The digital transformation is making the work processing steps at the General Meeting of Shareholders more and more convenient, in line with the general trend of the whole society. E-learning is also being applied and achieving positive results. Digital transformation plan at the Company in the next period Although the digital transformation is bringing initial results, creating many advantages in operation and production and business, in order to achieve greater results, AGM needs to further promote infrastructure investment Information technology combined with human training. Mr. Le Van Quang – General Director of DHD Company commented: “Digital transformation has brought practical results that every employee in the Company can clearly see. Previously, employees in the Company had to save each monthly pay slip to track their income, now they can look up information about income, vacation days, earnings, deductions… through through payroll software developed by the Company itself. This is an example of digital transformation at AGM.” Following the direction of EVN and EVNGENCO1, the General Meeting of Shareholders established a Steering Committee for Digital Transformation and Technology Application of the 4th Industrial Revolution in production and business activities at the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. serve as Head of the Board. According to the Digital Transformation Plan for the 2021-2025 period, the General Meeting of Shareholders focuses on two major areas of work, including: Applying digital transformation in governance, administrative reform, improving labor productivity and Modernizing systems and infrastructure. In governance, the Company continues to carry out typical tasks such as: Raising awareness about digital transformation, capacity to use information technology for management and employees; Provide digital signatures for all employees in the Company; Establish a library, store documents on Google Drive; Do 100% internal writing via E-Office; Renovate the company’s web, build an online web-based working environment, to share resources, manage work, create the ability to work anytime, anywhere, any means; Building a forum for questions (of employees) and answers (of experts in the company), serving training; Digital invoice management; Digitizing internal and external reports; Record device parameters online on the basis of image recognition; Operation log no… Continuing, modernizing the equipment system and infrastructure, DDT Company will perform the following items: Setting up an unmanned Da Nhim Water Purification Station; Carrying out scientific research on unmanned power plants for Da Mi Solar Power Plant, Song Pha Hydropower Plant; Upgrade the IT system operation monitoring center, information security policy for information security, according to ISO 27001 standard; Complete security for information systems according to the specified safety level.

Power lines connecting high-voltage poles near the capital Brasilia (Brazil). Photo: Reuters. According to ONS General Manager Luiz Carlos Ciocchi, this could lead to higher electricity prices. However, the situation is still positive when the risk of power shortage or interruption of distribution has not yet occurred. About three-quarters of Brazil’s electricity is generated from hydroelectric plants. This is one of the largest percentages compared to countries in the world. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on May 10 that the country was experiencing the worst water crisis in its history, and warned of major problems with electricity production. The crisis comes at a time of increased demand for energy, as temperatures rise in the coming summer months. Last week, Brazil’s Electricity Supervision Commission approved potential additional measures to meet electricity demand, including increasing the power output of thermal power plants and importing energy from Argentina and Uruguay. Mr. L.Ciocchi said that the government should reserve water in the lakes to meet the needs of the people and maintain the necessary hydropower output.

Since the establishment of the Hua Na hydropower reservoir, people in Thong Thu and Dong Van communes (Que Phong district) have had more fish cage farming (photo). Up to now, on this lake surface, there are about 80 households participating in raising 326 fish cages of all kinds; in which many species have high economic value such as sea bass, mackerel, climbing fish, beetle, carp … With the selling price of about 50,000 VND / kg of carp, 100,000 VND / kg of climbing fish, ladybug, 120,000 VND / kg of sea bass and fish has provided farmers with a high and stable income. Among the people who have succeeded in making a living on the reservoir of Hua Na hydroelectricity include Mr. Lang Van Mao from Tuc village (Dong Van commune). In addition to the model of raising fish cages, this Thai ethnic boy also accepts to zonize, plant and protect forests on a floating hill in the lake bed, combine raising pigs, chickens … bamboo) has given him an income of over 100 million VND / year. In addition, Mr. Mao also took a boat carrying tourists to take wedding photos, admire the lake scenery, serve food … earn more income. In addition, at the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir, there are about 338 fish cages currently raised by people in Luong Minh, Huu Khuong and Yen Na communes (Tuong Duong district). In addition to raising fish in cages in the lake bed, people also add fishing in the wild, setting up farms along the lake to raise goats, cows, pigs …

Hydropower dams can negatively impact the environment. More harm than good? Bach Hac Than Hydropower Plant officially stored water when the second bottom outlet closed on April 6. This means that the world’s second largest hydroelectric project has taken an important step towards its power generation goal on July 1. With the discharge door closed, the reservoir water level begins to rise and will reach 775 meters by mid-June. As a result, generation conditions are met. From August to September, the water in the lake will be stored up to 800 meters and then 825 meters in June 2022. The total storage capacity of the Bach Hac Than dam will be 20.627 billion cubic meters, accounting for 91% of the Kim Sa river basin. This is an important part of the Yangtze River flood control system, which has a capacity of 7.5 billion cubic meters. The total installed capacity of this second-ranked power plant in the world is 16 million KW. The capacity of a world-leading unit is 1 million kilowatts. New electricity will help China achieve its carbon neutralization goal. The Bach Hac Than Hydropower Station is an important part of the flood control system in the Yangtze River basin. At the same time, Bach Hac Than is a landmark project in the development of the global hydropower industry. However, while some people give information about clean energy of hydroelectricity, many argue that it can cause immeasurable damage to biodiversity, soil erosion, loss of archaeological and cultural sites. Even more than a million people will have to be relocated. Although the government has yet to reveal a detailed approach to meet the target of achieving carbon neutralization by 2060, hydropower has been featured in the 5-year plan 2021 – 2025 as well as vision 2035. Both were approved by China’s top legislature in March. In those plans, the government stated its intention to “step up the construction of hydroelectric facilities in southwestern China”. At the same time, promote wind energy and solar energy. “The dams will be a solid support to China’s energy industry and reduce carbon emissions. The construction of hydropower plants can bring benefits to irrigation, shipping and power generation, with great socio-economic value, ”said Professor Lu Qiang of Tsinghua University. Lin Boqiang, head of the Xiamen University’s China Energy Policy Research Institute, said the country is set to expand hydroelectric capacity. Because, water is the cheapest clean energy that can be used stably. “The dam construction is still controversial in China because of environmental concerns. However, the objection is no longer as strong as before, because the need to achieve carbon neutralization is increasingly urgent, ”said Mr. Lin. China’s dam construction activity began in the 1950s and has accelerated over the past two decades. At the end of 2018, Chinese hydroelectricity had a capacity of 352GW, accounting for 28% of the total global capacity and more than three times that of any other country. Heavy impact The Bai Hac Than Dam is worth 170 billion yuan ($ 26 billion) on the Jinsha River (Yangtze), in Sichuan province. The dam has made many people admire for the speed of its construction. China only took four years to build, despite the rugged terrain and far away, with the help of artificial intelligence technology. The Bai Hac Than emergency construction reflects the acceleration in China’s plan to expand hydroelectric capacity as a source of renewable energy. By the time Bach Hac Than reaches full capacity by the end of next year, China will be a country with five out of the 10 largest hydroelectric plants in the world. That pace of development has raised concerns about the impact of hydropower dams. China Green Development and Biodiversity Conservation said it is closely monitoring new dam construction projects. “It has been shown that dam construction harms the ecosystem and affects the habitat of wildlife,” said Wang Jing, a spokesman for the organization. We are concerned that some places will increase the development of hydropower projects to serve the government’s goal of carbon neutral ”. According to Fan Xiao, geologist and chief engineer of the Sichuan Department of Geology and Minerals, dams have a negative impact on the local ecological environment. Especially for aquatic animal biodiversity. They slow down the water flow rate and reduce the volume and purity of the water, Fan said. From there, it destroys the habitats of aquatic animals and hinders fish migration. Chinese scientists in 2019 announced the extinction of paddle fish. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. They are also known as Chinese swordfish, with a length of 7 meters. This fish is believed to have gone extinct from 2005 – 2010. The construction of the Cat Chau Ba dam on the Yangtze River since the 1970s has been a major contributor to this species’ decline, researchers found, by preventing fish from reaching their only breeding ground. upstream. According to the scientists, the river system is in trouble containing more than 4,000 aquatic species. However, dam construction, overfishing, water traffic and pollution have caused a lot of damage, with fish stocks declining and biodiversity rapidly declining. Mr. Fan said that building more hydroelectric plants is not the best way to reduce carbon emissions. “Water is a kind of clean energy, but we cannot ignore the huge carbon emissions generated by dam construction, excavation and migration,” warns the expert.

China plans to build super hydroelectricity three times more than the Three Gorges dam. Illustration

Specifically, the new dam is planned to build a dam in Tibet, capable of generating electricity three times as much electricity from the Three Gorges Dam.

Beijing authorities have not released details of the new dam in Tibet, but Chinese media predict this dam with a capacity of up to 60 GW, could become the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, surpassing the dam. Tam Hiep, with a capacity of 22.5 GW.

The new dam project was mentioned in the five-year economic development plan (2021-2025) announced by the Chinese government at the annual parliamentary session.

In November 2020, speaking at a conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the China Hydropower Engineering Association, China Electricity Construction Group Chairman Yan Zhiyong announced that Beijing would exploit hydroelectricity in the lower reaches save the Yarlung Zangbao River. The Yarlung Zangbao River flowing into India is the Brahmaputra River.

Beijing could argue that the mega dam project in Tibet is an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels.

Given its position on the Yarlung Zangbao line, the new super hydro is in danger of facing strong opposition from environmental activists such as when the Three Gorges dam was built in 1994-2012, especially from India. . The Yarlung Zangbao River was renamed Brahmaputra when it flowed into India.

According to the report, the exploitation of hydroelectric resources on the Brahmaputra River could provide China with 300 billion kWh of carbon-free electricity a year, accounting for about 4% of the country’s total demand last year.

The proposal to build hydroelectric dams on the Brahmaputra River raises concerns in India and Bangladesh, the riparian states of the river because it serves as an important source of water. However, China seeks to downplay those concerns and announced that it would pay attention to the interests of these two countries.

Reuters quoted an Indian official revealed that the New Delhi government is planning to build its hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra River, in order to increase water retention capacity and find ways to neutralize the influence of the Chinese project. .

The Indian government has repeatedly conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities, urging them to ensure the interests of downstream countries are not compromised by any activities in the upper region. source.

The Three Gorges Dam created a huge reservoir and evacuated about 1.4 million residents. A dam three times as massive as the Three Gorges could have had a catastrophic impact on the neighborhood.

The areas around the Yarlung Tsangpo River are less densely populated than the Yangtze River. But there is a precedent for relocation of local residents to make room for dam construction projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Nearly 2,000 people were relocated to build the Yagen hydropower station in 2015, local media reported.

Yarlung Zangbao River.

Brian Eyler, director of the sustainability, water and energy program at the Stimson Center, a research organization in the US, says a super-large dam could be a bad idea. Large dams can impede fish migration as well as sediment flows during the downstream flood season.

While China already has a surplus of electricity, the generated electricity could be used to compensate for the losses as it switches from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.

Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, an environmental policy expert at the Tibetan Policy Institute based in Dharamshala, India, said the project contains both ecological and political risks.

“We have a very rich Tibetan cultural heritage in those areas, and any dam construction will destroy the ecology, engulf parts of that area. will be forced to abandon ancestral lands, “he said, adding that the project will encourage Han Chinese workers to migrate, who will gradually settle here permanently.

India is also concerned about the project, as analysts say China is in a position to control a large portion of South Asia’s water supply.

“Water wars are an important part of war because they allow China to use upstream power for its most essential natural resource” – political scientist Brahma Chellaney wrote in Times of India.

Nuoc Dop residential area is located on a hill on the other side of Dakdrinh hydropower reservoir. This is an area not included in the hydropower project, but the people of Nuoc Dop are indirectly affected by this project.

Tired of waiting for the way

We have returned to the Kingdom many times by different routes. For the first time on December 31, 2014, after one day, hydroelectricity was put into operation, to write the article “Dakdrr hydropower accumulation of water: Locking people in high mountains”. At that time, we rented boats, crossed the vast lake bed with more than 11 million cubic meters of water. Both going and going back took nearly 3 hours, with a price of 500 thousand VND.

Residents of Nuoc Dop residential area, Ra Manh village, Son Long commune (Son Tay) open their own “waterways” across the Dakdrinh hydropower reservoir to travel. Photo: Th. Nhi

Immediately after the press was published, the local government held an urgent meeting, immediately mobilizing the youth force of Son Tay district and Son Long commune to open a dirt road to make a passageway for the people of Nuoc Dop to go from the village to the middle communal mind. The road construction project was then urgently implemented, with a total length of 7.8 km, a total cost of more than 17 billion VND from the budget source. However, due to the design and other shortcomings, the project was stopped.

In 2018, the project of making this route restart. The total length is still the same, but the total cost increases to 30 billion VND, from the funding source of Dakdrinh Hydropower investor. Also since here, the Son Tay district government has to constantly go “debt collection” to have money for road construction. However, that road is still unfinished, even in many sections, it is even more difficult to go than the first day I crossed the lake bed, followed the path to return to this upland people.

Recently, we returned to the Kingdom. A 7.8km road can only make about 3.5km of the beginning of the route. The most important stretch of road is longer than 4km at the end of the route, that is, adjacent to residential areas, it is still sprawling with rocks, deep pools and steep slopes. Due to the difficulty of having no way to travel, the people of Nuoc Dop set up a wharf at the junction of the village adjacent to the Dakdrinh hydropower reservoir and named it “Ben Ra Manh”.

We arrived at Ra Manh wharf, Mr. Dinh Van Nghe thought that tourists would go on a trip, so he enthusiastically invited the boat to go to the lake for a walk. Mr. Nghiep said: This boat is the means of transportation of the whole village, carrying acacia, carrying the harvested noodles around the lake bed and on the rising hills between the hydroelectric lake. The investor of hydroelectricity only recovers the land at the foot of the hill, the rest of the people still grow acacia. Have to swim across the lake bed to clear grass, plant trees, then go sawing, taking boats to the shore. The small boat, piled with dozens of acacia trees, rowing all day to come ashore, but there is no other way.

Road to Nuoc Dop residential area. Photo: Th. Nhi

Bringing the story of persistent debt shortage to the leader of Dakdrinh Hydropower Joint Stock Company, Director of Dam Duc Thong Company said: “Hydropower is willing to pay for road construction, but until now, it has only paid about 17 billion, 13 billion more in debt. The reason is that the district has not completed the documents to be able to disburse it “. The file that this director explained is the final settlement of the project, that is, the district must complete, accept, hand over, then transfer the dossier to hydroelectricity for consideration and disbursement. However, on the side of the unit authorized to implement the Nuoc Dop road project, which is the Management Board of Construction Investment and Development of Land Funds in Son Tay District, said that if the capital is not arranged in advance, it will be very difficult for construction. Therefore, we hope that hydroelectricity will consider and make capital investments to make this road more flexible, because the longer it lasts, the more difficult people’s lives.

The electricity was creeping

For many generations, more than 100 people in Nuoc Dop residential area have not had access to the national electricity grid. For many years, Son Tay district has invested money to bring electricity to Nuoc Dop, but for many reasons, the project has not energized yet.

Residents of Nuoc Dop residential areas harvested the noodles and waited many days for traders to come and buy them. Photo: Th. Nhi

In Nuoc Dop, the medium voltage poles rise high, the wire is ready, but waiting to complete some procedures before it can be energized and supplied to households. Because it is too difficult when the life has no electricity, the people of Nuoc Dop residential area pay their own money to buy wires and pull electricity thanks to acquaintances from other KDC. Long distance, small wires, weak electricity, electric lights creeping not much brighter than kerosene lamps. “I hope to have electricity to light up for my children to study, watch television and listen to the radio to enjoy. Now I use electricity thanks to the time I lose. I don’t have electricity in my village,” said the village elder, Dinh Van Xon.

Because pulling electricity far away, the cost of pulling electricity back to the village is up to 4-5 million VND. Someone has to borrow hot money to get money to pull electricity. The electric lines like forest wires tangled in the pillars are actually dry acacia tops, low and low, with a section just at the knee. “I know that it is not allowed to connect electricity like that, but the family needs electricity very much before having to do so. I only hope that electricity can be brought back to the people on a large pole, a large wire for people to be assured to use. With electricity, a new life will be required. less suffering “, Ms. Dinh Thi Un confided.

It is difficult to pull electricity back to Nuoc Dop residential area because partly there is no road. When implementing road investment here, the district has planned to implement the road in parallel. However, the road project just kept sluggish and electricity so was also slow to follow.

When will the promise come true?

The day we got back to Dop, it was on the day when a truck came to buy noodles for the people. Dozens of households in Dop were very happy. Before Tet, the constant rain and flood, the noodles were left on the field. After Tet, when it was sunny, people harvested, bagged, carried them down the road, sent people to the center of Son Tay district to call people to buy. 3 days new car appointment The whole village rushed to pick it up, put the noodles in the car, laughed loudly. There are many people who divide the money to sell noodles into each item: pay for electricity, buy rice, give their children money to go to the district to go to boarding school, buy acacia seed to grow … All essential expenses of life. “Luckily, we can sell noodles, but if we can’t sell, we go” hot “to take care of our family but know how,” said Dinh Thi Xang.

The people of Nuoc Dop residential area plant and care for the areca tree. Photo: Th. Nhi

Also because there is no sugar, the agricultural products in Dop are sold at a much cheaper price than other places. Currently, the purchasing price of Acacia wood here is only about 600-700 thousand VND, which is about 200,000 VND / ton cheaper than the convenient roads. Difficult, low income, but here people do not have side jobs. Chairman of Son Long Commune People’s Committee Do Thanh Qua said: All households in Nuoc Dop are poor. In recent years, life has been more difficult due to the fall in agricultural prices. There are times when there are storms, traffic is divided, agricultural products cannot be sold. The commune hopes that the superiors will quickly build the road and bring electricity back to Nuoc Dop residential area so that the people can improve their living conditions and gradually reduce poverty “.

Now Dop is in a raging season for acacia cultivation. On the green acacia hills, groups of 5-10 people work hard to clean up. In Nuoc Dop, people still keep the same “rhyme” as in the past. Every family has important work, everyone in the village who is free will come to help. They help each other as wholeheartedly as family members. Therefore, despite the difficult life, the roads are back, electricity has not come back forever, but no one left the village to go elsewhere. The special thing is that the village has no evils of gambling, theft … And for many years, they have been united, sharing with all difficulties of the government, the investor of Dakdrinh hydroelectricity and patiently. waiting for a promise …