Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project is not eligible to continue implementation!

1. INFORMATION FROM ELECTIVE BODIES
   

Based on the reflection of Nghe An Newspaper and the opinions and recommendations of voters, recently, in the document summarizing the responses to the opinions and recommendations of voters before and after the 4th session of the 18th Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Council informed the resolution of the Provincial People's Committee on the proposal "Revocation of the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward because it has been prolonged for many years but not implemented" by voters of Vinh Tan Ward.

Nearly 15 hectares of agricultural land along the Vinh River, in Vinh Tan ward, has been fallow for many years. Photo: Nhat Lan

The content of the response to the petition of Vinh Tan ward voters was answered by the Provincial People's Committee as follows: "On August 25, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 6179/UBND-CN on the inspection and handling of slow-progressing projects in Nghe An province. The interdisciplinary team chaired by the Department of Construction inspected the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan ward. The inspection team issued Report No. 667/SXD-BC dated March 1, 2022 on the results of the project inspection.

On April 20, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 2790/UBND-CN on handling delayed projects in the housing sector in Nghe An province. For the Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward (Vinh City) invested by Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company: Assign the Department of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with the Departments of Construction, Natural Resources and Environment, Vinh City People's Committee and relevant agencies to review the conditions for approval of investment policy, change of land use purpose and other related conditions to consider continuing to implement the project in accordance with the provisions of law.

In case of ineligibility, advise the Provincial People's Committee to cancel the project planning and handle related contents in accordance with current regulations.

Panoramic view of Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project in Vinh Tan ward (Vinh city). Photo: Thanh Cuong

From the above information, further investigation shows that the implementation of the direction of the Provincial People's Committee in Official Dispatch No. 2790/UBND-CN has been carried out by the Department of Planning and Investment. On June 3, 2022, the Department of Planning and Investment issued Official Dispatch No. 2052/SKHDT-DN on "Reviewing the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City, invested by Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company" to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Vinh City People's Committee and relevant agencies.

NOT ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION!

This is the opinion of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Official Dispatch No. 3609/STNMT-QLDD dated June 22, 2022. After this department reviewed the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward (Vinh City), at the request of the Department of Planning and Investment in Official Dispatch No. 5052/SKHDT-DN.

Official dispatch No. 3609/STNMT-QLDD has the following content:

Official dispatch No. 3609/STNMT-QLDD dated June 22, 2022 of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment affirmed that the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project "does not meet the conditions to continue implementing the project". Photo: Nhat Lan

“After reviewing the documents and based on legal regulations, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has the following opinions:

1. Regarding the project's legal documents:

The Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward (Vinh City) by Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company was permitted by the Provincial People's Committee to survey and select the location in Decision No. 1064/QD-UBND.Cn dated March 9, 2010, approving the detailed planning in Decision No. 5343/QD.UBND-DT dated November 5, 2010, accordingly, the project implementation progress: Complete related procedures to start construction within 12 months and complete construction investment and put into use within 24 months from the effective date of the decision. In case the above progress is not ensured, the planning approved in this Decision will be canceled and Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company will not be reimbursed for the costs incurred related to the project.

On July 18, 2016, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 5124/UBND-CN on directing the results of inspection and advising on handling investment projects (phase 1), in which, it agreed to extend the project implementation period to July 30, 2018 at the latest to complete the project.

2. Project's conformity with planning and land use plan:

Currently, Vinh City People's Committee is planning land use for the period 2021 - 2030, in which the above land has been identified for residential purposes.

The Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City is not included in the list of project works of the 2021 Land Use Plan and the draft 2022 Land Use Plan of Vinh City.

Detailed planning drawing of Nghe An Oil and Gas Urban Area project in 2010. Photo: Nhat Lan

3. Opinion of Department of Natural Resources and Environment:

The Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City, invested by Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company, was approved by the Provincial People's Committee for a 1/500 planning; after more than 10 years, the investor has not yet completed the legal procedures to implement the project, which is too slow according to the province's requirements; in accordance with the land use planning scheme until 2030 that Vinh City is submitting to the competent authority for approval; not included in the 2021 Land Use Plan, the draft 2022 Land Use Plan of Vinh City.

Therefore, based on Point b, Clause 1, Article 99, Decree No. 43/ND-CP dated May 15, 2014 of the Government, the above project "Does not meet the conditions to continue implementing the project".

RECOMMENDATION FOR CONSIDERATION AND STRICT HANDLING

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, since August 2020, Nghe An Newspaper has an article "There is a project to "enclose land" on the southern bank of Vinh River.", reflecting the current situation of the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project that has not been implemented for 10 years, the land is abandoned, and people are upset.

By March 2022, when the Department of Construction issued Report No. 667/SXD-BC reporting the results of inspection and handling of 22 projects in the field of housing development behind schedule in the area to the Provincial People's Committee (including the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project), after investigation, on April 13, 2022, Nghe An Newspaper published a series of 2 articles "Consider extending the progress of Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project”.

Cover of articles about Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project on Nghe An Electronic Newspaper.

The reason for continuing to write this series of articles is, in addition to meeting the wishes of voters, also realizing that the detailed construction planning of the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project is no longer suitable. The reason is that at present, the Vinh River renovation and upgrade project (a component of the Project "Priority infrastructure and urban development adapting to climate change in Vinh city, Nghe An") has become a reality and will soon be implemented. This is a large project with many extremely important goals for Vinh city, not only contributing to creating urban landscapes and improving the environment but also helping the city develop strongly to the South. Therefore, all projects using land on both sides of the Vinh River need to be compatible with the detailed construction planning of the Vinh River renovation and upgrade project. Particularly for the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project, the detailed construction planning was approved 12 years ago (in 2010), with a fairly large length of the Vinh River dike; have impacts on adjacent residential areas (Tan An block, Yen Giang block and Chau Hung). Therefore, in this series of articles, Nghe An Newspaper has accurately reflected the current situation, to recommend that the competent provincial authority, if considering extending the progress, must first re-evaluate the planning of this project.

Now, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, based on the provisions of Point b, Clause 1, Article 99, Decree No. 43/ND-CP dated May 15, 2014 of the Government, affirms that the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project "Does not meet the conditions to continue implementing the project". In addition, the investor has twice failed to fulfill its commitments, violated the regulations specifically stated in the Decisions related to the project issued by the Provincial People's Committee, and has not implemented the project for more than 10 years, causing frustration among officials and people of Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City. Therefore, it is recommended to consider strict handling!

On the southern bank of the Vinh River, there was an urban project that damaged the landscape and affected the flow of water. Photo: Nhat Lan