More than ever, the story of the impact of flood discharge on downstream areas is the focus of public attention. Of which, Song Ba Ha hydropower plant in Dak Lak (former Phu Yen province) is attracting the most comments.
From the night of November 18 and early morning of November 19, 2025, the water on the Ba River will rise rapidly, rushing down to the downstream area. At the same time, Song Ba Ha Hydropower Company announced an increase in discharge flow to 16,100 m3/s. This is the highest level since the plant was put into operation. The heavy rain and floods, combined with the huge flood discharge from hydropower plants, caused low-lying communes in Phu Hoa, Dong Hoa, and Son Hoa of Dak Lak (old Phu Yen province) to be deeply flooded, cutting off traffic. Many households could not wait to escape the flood. fields, crops, livestock, household items cannot be saved...
Up to this point, Song Ba Ha hydropower plant is complying with the Song Ba reservoir inter-operation process - according to Decision 878, dated July 18, 2018 signed by former Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (Process tac 878).
The Ba River basin has a total area of nearly 13,500km2, with dozens of reservoirs on upstream river branches, spread across the provinces of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Phu Yen (old). However, the Government's Inter-reservoir operation process for Ba River basin only stipulates 12 large hydroelectric reservoirs, including: the main reservoirs are Ba Ha River, Hinh River, Krong H' Nang, Ayun Ha, An Khe, Ka Nak, and Ia Ma, along with a chain of 5 smaller reservoirs on the branch river - DakSrong.
In which, the Ba Ha River hydroelectric reservoir is at the last steps, close to the downstream - before flowing into the Da Rang river, into the sea at Tuy Hoa (Phu Yen).
The total capacity of the lakes according to statistics in the Process is 878 - approximately 1.1 billion m3 of water. Meanwhile, the Song Ba Ha hydroelectric reservoir has a total capacity of 350 million m3 - of which the useful capacity is only 165 million m3.
With a large basin of nearly 13,500km2, along with dozens of stacked hydroelectric reservoirs upstream with a total capacity of 10 times, the Ba Ha River hydroelectric reservoir is too small due to the extreme floods pouring in at the same time in this basin.
Heavy and heavy rains and floods like the recent one have demonstrated the ability to withstand, regulate and operate reservoirs in the Ba River basin system.
Also according to the Government's Procedure 878, hydroelectric reservoirs are operated in order of priority: Ensuring the safety of works is arranged first. Then there is the need to contribute to reducing floods downstream...
Process 878 also clearly stipulates the level and class of individuals performing the work of operating reservoirs. Of which, the highest person is the Chairman of the People's Committees of Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Phu Yen provinces (old) - depending on the area.
The 878 - operation of the Ba River basin inter-reservoir has not been amended or supplemented after the merger of provinces. Administrative boundaries and accordingly the responsibility of local authorities have also changed compared to the provisions in Decision 878.
