About 75km west of Hanoi,the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant includes eight 240MW power generator unitswith total installed capacity of 1,920MW, and has become a majorsupplier to the national grid. Vietnam Economic News reports.
As a major national power supplier, Hoa Binh Hydropower JSC, anaffiliate of the Electricity of Vietnam group, has so far produced 175billion kWh to cater for the needs of the country and reached an annualoutput of 9-10 billion kWh.
Especially since theformation of the Son La hydroelectric reservoir, Hoa Binh plant has seenmarkedly increased generation capacity. It is expected to produce over10 billion kWh this year. Currently, its output has accounted forapproximately 8 percent of the national total.
Theplant is modernly equipped and designed, able to ensure stable powersupply, especially for Hanoi, as well as fast recovery of majorincidents in the national grid. It also means greatly in theirrigation work and improving water transport
Thereservoir of the plant has a capacity of nearly 10 billion cu.m and aflood control capacity of 5.6 billion cu.m (not taking into account thereservoir in Son La Hydropower Plant). The reservoir participatedactively and effectively in the flood control in the Red River Delta andHanoi.
The historical flood peaking at 22,650 cu.mper second appearing in August 1996 was controlled by 42 percent thanksto the reservoir of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant, preventing dikebreaking and flooding downstream. Since the plant entered operation, thepeople living along the rivers of Da and Red have never experiencedflooding or inundation threats.
The reservoir isabout 200km in length, favourable for trade between provinces in the RedRiver Delta and the northwest mountains. Thanks to the reservoir,water-borne trade is facilitated especially during the dry season. Thesuper long and heavy devices were easily transported from Hai Phong toSon La quickly and safely through Hoa Binh, contributing to a3-year-earlier finish of the Son La Hydroelectric Plant.
As a spearhead to the provincial socio-economic development, the JSCusually contributes a large proportion to the total revenue of Hoa Binhprovince, up to 850 billion VND per year. In addition, since 2009, thecompany has paid fees for forest environmental services from 150-185billion VND per year through the Vietnam Forest Protection andDevelopment Fund.
Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant hasbecome a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of local andforeign visitors to visit each year, contributing to creating more jobsfor local people.-VNA