Son La Hydropower Plant is the largest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia. The project was built on the Da River main flow cascade, including 6 units, with a total installed capacity of 2,400MW. On an annual average, the plant supplies over 10 billion kWh to the national power grid.
This is a multi-purpose hydropower project of national stature, which has been self-controlled by Vietnamese engineers and workers from planning, design, construction and installation, equipment synchronization, and monitoring operation management. This hydropower project has a particularly important meaning in preventing floods in the rainy season, providing water in the dry season for the Northern Delta, and waterway traffic, generating electricity for the system, and contributing to socio-economic development in the Northwest region. With particularly important characteristics, Son La Hydropower Project is recognized as an important work related to national security.
The delegation of the Department of Energy Industry Safety Management (Laos) working with Son La Hydropower Company, 3 August 2022
Up to now, after nearly 10 years of its inauguration, Son La Hydropower Plant has produced 95.62 billion kWh of electricity for the national power system and is also the leading unit in the implementation of payment to the state budget in the locality.
Mr. Phoukhong Sengvilay (right photo) gives souvenirs to Son La Hydropower Company
The management and operation works of Son La Hydropower Reservoir are carried out by Son La Hydropower Company (under Vietnam Electricity). According to Mr. Khuong The Anh - Director of Son La Hydropower Company, with the special importance of Son La hydropower, over the years, the company has promoted the application of science and technology in operation management. Which, under the direction of Vietnam Electricity, the company has piloted the Work Safety Control Center on the cascade of the Da river hydropower plant.
The center has been in operation for over a year now. One of the most important goals is the centralized management of safety control information for works based on the signal connection of construction monitoring devices; collect, analyze, evaluate and process data professionally, ensuring objectivity and honesty. Thereby, the center helps EVN and the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control to make decisions on reservoir operation during the flood season in a flexible manner, suitable for real-time hydro-meteorological forecasting; bringing higher aggregate benefits to the hydropower cascade system on the Da River, significantly contributing to the national electricity system and providing water for downstream in the dry season. The results of the safe operation and management of the centralized dams and reservoirs will be the basis for the authorities to allow the adjustment of the reservoir and inter-reservoir operating procedures in real-time.
“The Work Safety Control Center on the cascade of Da river hydropower plant is a good, modern model, in line with the trend of the world. Hopefully in the future, DESM will continue to exchange and desire that relevant ministries of Vietnam and Son La Hydropower Company will help to develop regulations on dam safety and reservoir operation, deepening the special sentiments of the Vietnam-Laos cooperation relationship," said Mr. Phoukhong Sengvilay.
The delegation of the Department of Energy Industry Safety Management (Laos) listening to an introduction about the process of operating a hydropower reservoir on the cascades of the Da River.