Past event - Asia 2008
ASIA 2008 debates achievements and challenges in the Asia Pacific region
Nearly 500 participants representing 40 countries assembled in Danang, Vietnam, for ASIA 2008 - the Second International Symposium on Water Resources and Renewable Development in Asia. This represented a major increase in attendance compared with ASIA 2006 in Bangkok. The event was organized by the International Journal on Hydropower & Dams (Aqua-Media International), and co-hosted by Electricity of Vietnam. Strong support was also given by Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (with the Vice Minister present), and the Vietnamese National Committee on Large Dams. VNCOLD President Prof Pham Hong Giang gave a keynote address in the opening session, in which he described the country's dam development strategy, which he said played a key role in Vietnam's socio-economic development.High level delegations were present from all Asian countries with major development programmes under way, including China, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russian Federation, India, Pakistan and Nepal. More than 130 participants from Vietnam were present.
ICOLD President Prof Luis Berga underlined the important role of dams for economic development worldwide, and ICID President Mr Peter Lee discussed development and productive objectives of agriculture, examining how different objectives could be compatible. An opening address on revising the concept of sustainable water infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific was given by Le Huu Ti, Chief of the Sustainable Development and Water Resources Section of UNESCAP. He noted that investment in water infrastructure in Asia and the Pacific region was now facing major challenges emerging from the complex socio-economic conditions of the region, the requirement for much higher annual investment, the urgent need to protect the environment, and the emerging challenges of climate change. Climate change was the subject of a special debate later in the day, when various viewpoints were presented on the status of current research, but there was a consensus on the need for action in relation to water infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister underlines Vietnam's commitment to WRD and hydro H.E. Hoang Trung Hai, Vice Prime Minister of Vietnam, inaugurated the event, and gave an opening address in which he underlined his Government's commitment to water resources development. He pointed out that Vietnam's water resources were extremely unevenly distributed in both space and time, with 80 per cent of precipitation falling within just two months, causing major flooding in some regions, and severe droughts during the dry season. He also reminded participants that Vietnam had only exploited about 20 per cent of its hydroelectric potential, and it was clear that hydro had a major role to play over the next 20 years.
Introduction of ASIA 2008 themes
In her welcome address, Aqua-Media Director Alison Bartle set the scene for the various sessions by drawing attention to some of the major issues in the Asian region. She looked at the vast amount of development under way in the host country, Vietnam, and other nations in the region, and felt that it was important to bring together representatives of countries at very different stages of the development programmes, for a constructive exchange of experience.
She showed some statistics for world hydropower development, and corresponding figures for the Asian region, which demonstrated that 84 per cent of the hydropower capacity under construction at present is in Asia (> 126 GW), and that a further 220 GW of hydro capacity was planned.
She presented some of the current major projects and achievements of countries such as China, India, Russia, Vietnam and Lao PDR, but she also pointed out that as well as setting records for achievements, the Asian countries also set less positive world records in terms of their vulnerability to natural disasters - floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, droughts, etc. Water related disasters had caused around 600,000 casualties between 1960 and 2006, she said.She also spoke of future challenges for irrigation, with the need for food production to more than double by mid-century.
Hydro potential and plans in the Asian region
More details of hydro development plans were given by Dr Lam Du Son, Vice President of EVN, in his opening address. Hydro currently provides about 36 per cent of electricity in the country; increasing demand would be met by increased domestic production, expansion of the national grid, and imports from neighbouring China, Lao PDR and Cambodia. He pointed out that Vietnam has a total hydro potential of 18,000 MW, of which only about 4500 MW had been exploited. Projects under construction would provide an additional 5000 MW by 2010. He added that a total of 27 hydro projects were to be completed by 2015. He gave details of the schemes planned, by river basin.The subsequent session on hydro potential focused especially on the Greater Mekong Subregion (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and the neighbouring provinces in PR China). It was demonstrated that several of these countries have a very rapid growth in demand, and also that all the countries have vast hydropower potential and an impressive number of projects currently under construction and planned.Delegates heard of preparations in these countries for power trading opportunities, assisted by the Asian Development Bank.A team from the ADB late led discussions on project finance, which included the management of risk, and legal aspects.
Challenging conditions for project development
Conditions and challenges specific to the Asian region were key themes of the technical sessions, including: flood mitigation and management; seismic design of water infrastructure; challenging site conditions (including extreme climatic conditions, and complex geology); sedimentation management; rural electrification, and simple affordable solutions for the less development countries.There was also a special plenary session on climate change, with differing views presented about the status of current research, and implications for water resources development. The consensus was that uncertainties were not a good reason for a lack of action in terms of the provision and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure.An impressive presentation on the Karahnjukar scheme in Iceland highlighted the difficulties of working in extended periods of darkness, extremely low temperatures, and icy winds. Delegates were shown how the logistics of working in Arctic conditions were demanding for man, machinery, plant and materials.Another paper gave some practical insights into studying the requirements of a project, and ensuring that the right equipment is chosen for the job. Some key conclusions of the civil engineering discussions were: the importance of spending enough time and money on site investigations, to prevent 'geological surprises'; the advantages of close co-operation between all parties, particularly during construction; and, the value of training, and of passing on expertise to young people entering the profession.
Schemes for rural electrification
Speakers from South, East and Southeast Asia reported their varying experiences in rural electrification and the role hydropower plays in plans and policy in this area. Discussion focused mainly on the cost of small hydro projects in remote and developing areas. Overall, the cost appeared justified in the context of poverty alleviation, which, it was stressed, should always take priority.The importance also of the optimum use of local resources in the building and operating of plant was emphasized by all and, to achieve this good training in technical and management spheres was agreed to be paramount.It was agreed that more effort is required in the development of appropriate equipment and sound planning for rural electrification in all developing countries with much more collaboration on financial and technical issues between all nations.
Managing floods and sediment
A session on flood mitigation and management, chaired by ICOLD President Prof Luis Berga, pointed out that the rapid increase in the world population, economic growth and intense urban development in flood-prone areas had caused a major increase in the impacts and economic damage caused by floods. Current estimates indicate that one billion people live in the potential path of floods, with a 100-year return period, and two billion people could be vulnerable to floods by 2050. It was stressed that a holistic approach and integrated perspectives should urgently be applied, and effective integrated flood management policies should be developed. Increasing investments in structural and non-structural measures would be necessary to achieve 'water security', it was agreed. It was clear that the international development and financial institutions should focus more on disaster-risk reduction and move from response to preparedness to risks. Some of the current problems and crises involving floods, it was felt, may be attributed to greater climate variability.Valuable recommendations on project design to avoid or mitigate damage caused by sedimentation were put forward by world expert on this subject, Sultan Alam. He drew examples from schemes on some of the major rivers of the world, such as the Amazon, the Ganges or the Mississippi, and he also focused on the design of some low head schemes such as Rio Madeira in Brazil, where a re-design had involved a 20 per cent saving in project costs (about US$1 billion). Project layout and structural arrangements could play a key role, Alam felt.Some case studies where flushing had been used to deal with sediment, in countries such as Indonesia, followed.
Marine energy and pumped storageThis session, chaired by F. Louis of EDF, France, included a presentation on the vast role which could be played by storage systems at sea; there were also talks on innovations in wave power schemes, and pumped storage. One paper focused on the potential in Vietnam for pumped-storage development in the future. Others described recent development in large-scale machines - both pump-turbines and bulb units for tidal schemes.
Hydraulic machineryA broad range of topics were covered in this session, chaired by machinery expert John Gummer of Australia, from quality control, to developments in large-scale Francis and Pelton units, and the use of special coatings to protect turbine runners from silt erosion.Experiences were also exchanged in the refurbishing and upgrading of turbines and generators.
A more detailed report of the sessions, and some selected papers from the Symposium, will be published in future editions of Hydropower & Dams.