Source:People's Daily
Chinese and Lao employees monitor device operation at the
centralized control center of the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project.
(Photo: People's Daily/Sun Guangyong)
The Nam Ou River hydrological monitoring and reporting system, a
supporting project of Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project invested and
constructed by the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), is the
first project of its kind for a river basin in Laos, as well as the largest one
in the country that covers the widest area. It is hailed as an "eye"
of the Nam Ou River basin.
Put into service in May 2014, the system automatically collects,
transmits and processes hydrological, meteorological and project operation
information in the basin. It is also able to complete hydrological forecasting
and send warning alarms.
On the monitoring screen of the system in the centralized
control center of the Nam Ou River Cascade Hydropower Project, thousands pieces
of Chinese and English hydrological information are popping up. "The
system can operate by itself 24 hours a day without human attendance," the
head of the center told People's Daily.
"These science-based and reliable meteorological
information help us control the water volume in each station, allocate
generator load, and improve the utility rate of the water and benefits of power
generation based on the water level and flow of the reservoir," the head
of the center continued.
Thanks to the system, the Nam Ou River basin has effectively
coped with natural disasters and extreme weathers such as floods, droughts, and
typhoons, protecting the lives and property of the people, as well as the
operation of the power station.
Eric is an employee of the Nam Ou Power Co., Ltd. under
PowerChina. He lives in a village along the Nam Ou River, and his family has
lived on fishing for generations. According to him, it was very difficult for
them to deal with the sudden rise of water level in the old days. Now thanks to
the hydrological monitoring and reporting system, his family feel assured when
going out fishing, as they are always informed with the change of weathers.
"We are thankful that the Chinese enterprise has brought
the system to Laos," said Sinava Souphanouvong, Vice Minister for Energy
and Mines of Laos, adding that the system offers reliable technical support for
the irrigation, fishing, navigation and tourism in the Nam Ou River basin.
Laos is exploring feasible plans to establish such system in
other river basins, and is also actively launching a long-term cooperation
mechanism with China's Yunnan province, so as to enrich the country' s
hydrological database and build new models of disaster prevention and relief.