CSG Assists GMS Countries in Drought Relief

Since the beginning of this year, the GMS (Greater Mekong Subregion) countries such as Vietnam have been suffering from extremely severe drought because of the EL Nino phenomenon. Upon request of Vietnam, The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarter, Ministry of Water Resources consulted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and decided to dispatch emergent water from a cascade hydroelectric station in the Lancang River. It was required that from March 15 to April 10, 2000m³/s water per day should be discharged from Jinghong Hydropower Plant to relieve the drought in Vietnam. CSG responded to the decision actively, working closely with relative departments and reaching the goal by optimizing water dispatch in cascade reservoirs.

Against the backdrop of water shortage of Lancang River, peak regulation of power grid, asynchronous interconnection debugging of Yunnan Power Grid and the overhaul of units, electric transmission and transformation equipment, the Power Dispatch Control Center of CSG and dispatch center of CSG Yunnan Company worked together with Huaneng Lancang River Hydropower Co., Ltd. With their joint efforts, an emergency scheduling scheme was made, optimizing former scheduling modes.

By April 10, non-stop water supplement to the lower reaches of the Lancang River has been implemented for 27 days with a total amount of 3.4 billion m3 water (three times as much as that from natural inflow), which greatly relieved the drought in the affected countries. The assistance promoted the friendship between China and Vietnam as well as the harmonious development in the Greater Mekong Subregion.