Nghe An Provincial Party Standing Committee reaffirms policy of not licensing new hydropower projects

On the morning of November 26, the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee held its regular meeting for November 2020, listening to and giving opinions on many important issues. Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee chaired the meeting.

Attending the meeting were comrades: Nguyen Van Thong - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Cao Thi Hien - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; representatives of leaders of a number of Central Party Committees, members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and leaders of a number of departments, agencies and branches.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Provincial Party Standing Committee listened to reports and gave opinions on thermal power plant projects in Quynh Lap commune (Hoang Mai town); Overall planning, planning management, construction investment, operation and exploitation of hydropower projects and planning, exploitation, processing and use of minerals in the province.

Currently, in Nghe An province, there are 32 projects approved for hydropower development planning with a total capacity of 1,378.9 MW and 21 projects are currently operating with a total capacity of 930.9 MW. There are 3 projects under construction with a total capacity of 276 MW, namely Tien Phong, Nam Mo 1 and My Ly; 3 projects have not yet been assigned to investors with a total capacity of 67 MW, namely Ban Pung, Song Quang and Thac Muoi Water Resources - Hydropower; 2 projects have had their investment certificates revoked, namely Xop Coc (4 MW) and Yen Thang (1 MW).

Hydropower plant projects in the province have been invested in construction and put into operation, generating electricity annually with an average output of nearly 3 billion kWh, contributing nearly 600 billion VND/year to the provincial budget. In addition to the benefits, the impacts of hydropower, as well as solving post-hydropower problems in resettlement areas, are also issues.

Comrade Bui Thanh An - Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Commission expressed his opinion on the issue of hydropower. Photo: Thanh Duy

The Provincial Party Standing Committee discussed and gave opinions on the proposal to adjust and supplement the planning of some hydropower plants, and proposed to conduct research and surveys to apply the hydropower exploitation model of irrigation reservoirs. Accordingly, the viewpoint of the comrades in the Provincial Party Standing Committee agreed not to supplement the new hydropower planning in the province.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung commented: Although the number of hydropower projects planned and completed and put into operation is not large, the risks from hydropower plants are real, the impact of hydropower is very clear. Therefore, the viewpoint is that in the current period, we must definitely stop adding new planning for hydropower projects, because the issues related to the environment and safety for the people have not been clarified. Projects in the planning that request to consider adjusting the planning also need to be considered very carefully and thoroughly.

Concluding this content, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy affirmed that since 2015, the Provincial Party Standing Committee has had a policy of not considering adding hydropower planning. In August 2019, the province also agreed to hire a consultant to comprehensively assess the overall impact of hydropower in the province.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee concluded the content on hydropower. Photo: Thanh Duy

The province's viewpoint when considering hydropower projects is to consider the people's legitimate rights and aspirations as paramount; thereby having high political determination, unity of thought and action.

Specifically, for projects included in the planning proposal for planning adjustment, the Provincial Party Secretary agreed with the opinion of the Provincial Party Standing Committee that planning adjustment is allowed but the project capacity cannot be increased. As for the 10 projects proposed to be added to the planning, the head of the Provincial Party Committee clearly stated that it is necessary to respond to investors that the province's viewpoint is to stop all projects and not allow additions. Only when there are results of the scientific research topic will it be considered again, but if it still affects the lives, activities, thoughts and aspirations of the people, the province will still not agree to the hydropower project.

As for previously approved projects that are in operation, the Provincial Party Secretary requested to focus on monitoring the operation process well; if the process is found to be disadvantageous to the people, then propose to the Government to adjust the operating mechanism process. As for the factories under construction, the progress needs to be accelerated. As for the 3 projects that have not been assigned to investors, the viewpoint is that if the investors have not spent money for survey, they should stop.

Ban Ve Hydropower Plant in Tuong Duong district. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Regarding the research plan for exploiting hydropower projects on irrigation lakes, it is necessary to study and evaluate objectively and fully; it must ensure that it does not affect people's lives and property before agreeing to implement it; otherwise, it must be stopped.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy also requested relevant levels and sectors to strengthen direction and coordinate well with investors and projects to handle hydropower backlogs.

The Provincial Party Standing Committee agreed on the GRDP growth target for 2021 to reach 7.5 - 8.5%

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of November 26, the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee held a regular meeting in November 2020 to listen to and give opinions on many important contents.

At the meeting, the Provincial Party Standing Committee unanimously proposed that the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade stop the implementation of the Quynh Lap Thermal Power Center (including Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant and Quynh Lap 2 Thermal Power Plant) and remove it from the draft Power Plan VIII; prioritize land funds to attract investment in processing and manufacturing industries with high scientific content, high technology application and environmental friendliness, develop Hoang Mai town into a coastal urban area, associated with clean industry and tourism, services and trade.

The Provincial Party Standing Committee also listened to and commented on the overall report on planning, exploitation and use of minerals in the province. Accordingly, the viewpoint of the Provincial Party Standing Committee is to remove from the planning, not to add to the planning of exploitation of minerals such as gold, tin, zinc, white stone... only allowing planning of common materials for construction and infrastructure development. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen control, strictly manage the process of exploitation and transportation and attach responsibility to local authorities for licensed mineral mines.