Concerns raised about the consequences of rapid hydropower plant growth

Hydro power plant license is one of issues amid heated public debate at a 10th sitting of the 14th National Assembly. There is a fact that hydropower plant projects have improved socio-economic conditions. But heavy rain, flood wreak havoc at hydropower plants in central provinces recently raises concerns about the consequences of rapid hydropower plant growth.

Lai Chau Province’s Department of Industry and Trade shows that 137 hydropower plant projects approved by the ministry have total capacity of 3,975 MW.

Presently, 21 hydropower plant projects from 95 invested-projects completed to begin generating power and 28 projects have been built. The rest are waiting for forest land allotment and environmental impacts assessment.

Lai Chau Province is changing the forest land use purpose to build hydropower plants, according to Nguyen Sy Chien, director of the department.

However, numerous hydropower plant projects have a major impact on natural forest. They include Nam Cau Thuong hydropower plant in Bum To Commune Muong Te District with a capacity of 20 MW invested by An Viet Lai Chau Investment and Development Company; Nam Ma hydropower plant in Mu Ca Commune, Muong Te District with a capacity of 4 MW invested by Pac Ma Hydropower Company; Nam Cum 6 hydropower plant with a capacity of 7 MW in Pa U Commune invested by Muong Te Electric Development Company; Nam Xi Lung 1A with a capacity of 7.8 MW in Pa Ve Su Commune and Nam Bum 1A with a capacity of 6.6 MW in Hua Bum Commune; Ma Noi hydropower plan in Pa U with a capacity of 5 MW and Nam Nga hydropower plant with a capacity of 16.5 MW in Nam Cha invested by Hoang Nham Company.

Since 2004, Lai Chau Province has invested into hydropower construction with growing number of approved hydropower plant projects.

Endowed with a thick network of sloping rivers and streams, Lai Chau possesses a great hydroelectric potentiality.

Thus, the province has been encouraged by the Government to attract investors from all economic sectors to engage in building medium and small hydropower projects which will connect to national electricity system; ensure the supply of electricity from hydropower plants in the northwestern region to northern load, facilitating the basis for the optimal operation and flexibility in the North and nationwide electrical systems.

However, the consequences have been foreseen due to the mass development of hydropower plant in the province. Some violations have been found but they are not resolved completely.

Annually, the provincial People’s Committee has established an inter-agency inspection team to review law regulations implementation in order to achieve the goals and requirements of the state management of investment and building hydropower plant projects in the province.

Muong Kim II hydropower plant project in Muong Kim Commune, Than Uyen District was bought by Than Uyen Hydropower Company. The project was inaugurated in May, 2018.

The company encroached safety corridor or road when it was digging tunnel release water and mud through National Roald 32.

Chu Va 2 hydropower plant in Son Binh Commune, Tam Duong District has been invested by Thang Long Construction Company. It was expected to complete in the second quarter of 2019.

But when VAN’s (Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper) reporters come to the spot, it has been still a construction.

In other words, households have not allotted their land because the compensation rate given by the project owner is cheap. Plus, the project owner – Thang Long Company has had construction and mineral exploitation violations.

The provincial’s the 14th Party Congress’s resolution stresses that “it is necessary to promote small and medium hydropower plant development putting the approved projects in operation aiming at increasing total capacity of 3,200 MW.”

As a result, the province will continue focusing on hydropower plant development, said Chien.