Tired of the thermal power plant project not being implemented.

The people are waiting impatiently.

Upon arriving at Tan Minh village in Quynh Lap commune, the first thing we encountered was a dilapidated, illegible sign advertising the thermal power plant project. The site designated as the plant's administrative area remains an empty plot of land, with many areas used by residents for shrimp farming and vegetable cultivation. Hundreds of households in three villages of Quynh Lap commune, Hoang Mai town, are currently in a difficult situation, unable to move and unable to stay.
During interviews with villagers, many expressed frustration at not knowing when the project would be implemented, which significantly impacted their lives. Ms. Tran Thi Phuong, a resident of Tan Minh village, commented: “Because of the project's planning restrictions, we are facing difficulties in renovating our houses and separating households; our children's education is also not guaranteed, with a shortage of classrooms and having to study in rooms with corrugated iron walls… The wish of most people affected by the project is to know exactly whether we will stay or leave, and when the project will be implemented.”

The sign announcing the Quỳnh Lập 1 thermal power plant project plan is tattered. Photo: Thu Huyền

According to residents, after the grand groundbreaking ceremony (October 1, 2015), the investor has shown almost no further action, and the land clearance process is still incomplete. The "billion-dollar" thermal power plant, which was highly anticipated by the people, has remained stalled for a long time; in the densely populated coastal area, many households want to build houses and separate land titles for their children but are facing obstacles.

We arrived at Mr. Hoang Van Na's house while he and his wife were cleaning their dilapidated kitchen. Mr. Na explained that the house was over 20 years old, and the kitchen was severely degraded, lacking adequate lighting, hygiene, and was damp and cramped. However, due to zoning regulations, they couldn't renovate or upgrade it. His family has three married sons, but they haven't been able to separate their land titles, and four households are living together on the family's old plot of land.

Mr. Hoang Van Dong, head of Tan Minh village in Quynh Lap commune, said: Currently, the village has 310 households with approximately 1,250 people (compared to only 200 households and 1,000 people in 2010). Because the village is included in the plan for the construction of two coal-fired power plants, but the projects are slow or only partially implemented, it has affected the lives of the people in terms of upgrading and repairing houses, schools, and other facilities.

The kindergarten in Tan Minh village had to be built with corrugated iron because it is located within a planned project area. Mr. Hoang Van Na in Tan Minh village, Quynh Lap commune, is renovating his dilapidated kitchen because it cannot be upgraded or rebuilt. Land is scarce and the population is large, but many families in Tan Minh village, Quynh Lap commune, cannot separate their households or obtain land titles because they are affected by a planned project. Photo: Thu Huyen

Mr. Nguyen Van Nho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Lap commune, added: "When we received information about the project investing in the area, the local government and people were very confident and excited, hoping that the project, once operational, would not only create jobs and contribute hundreds of billions of dong to the local budget but also help ensure national energy security."

However, since the groundbreaking ceremony, the project has remained stalled, with no further progress. The resettlement area is also in a state of disarray and incompleteness, and with the current population and number of households, it cannot meet the needs. The three villages included in the project plan – Dong Minh, Dong Thanh, and Tan Minh – face numerous difficulties regarding transportation, schools, and house construction and renovation. We request that relevant authorities find a definitive solution to help the people stabilize their lives.

It is known that for nearly 10 years, since the thermal power plant project was planned, people living in the planned area have been unable to separate their land titles, convert garden land to residential land, and face difficulties in separating households. From the beginning of 2019 until now, to facilitate the people, Hoang Mai town has "relaxed" the regulations, allowing people to separate their households if they own houses...

How long do we have to wait?

The Quynh Lap Thermal Power Center's site plan was approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Decision No. 1359/QD-BCT dated March 20, 2009; the planned area is 283 hectares, with a capacity of 2,400 MW. The project is being invested in two phases: Quynh Lap Thermal Power Plant 1: 2*600 MW and Quynh Lap Thermal Power Plant 2: 2*600 MW.

According to Decision No. 1208/QD-TTg dated July 21, 2011, of the Prime Minister approving the National Power Development Plan for the period 2011-2020, with consideration up to 2030, the Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant will be operational in 2022.
The Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant project, with a total registered capital of approximately US$2.2 billion and a capacity of 1,200MW, was assigned by the Government to the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group (TKV) as the investor and its detailed planning, covering a total area of ​​143.54 hectares, was approved by the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board.

This is a crucial project in the power development strategy of the coal and mineral sector in particular and the national power plan in general. It is expected that after completion and commissioning, the Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant will supply approximately 6.6 billion kWh/year to the national power grid, contributing to economic development to adapt to the projected high growth rate from now until 2030 in the North Central region in general and Nghe An province in particular.

According to a report by the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group, the feasibility study report for the project has been reviewed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and submitted to the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group for approval. The environmental impact assessment report has been approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; and the detailed construction plan has been approved by the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board.

The resettlement area for the Quỳnh Lập thermal power plant project is unfinished, with many lighting and electrical systems still incomplete. Photo: Thu Huyền

Regarding the progress of land compensation and site clearance, after the detailed plan was approved, Vinacomin Project Management Consulting Company contracted to carry out cadastral map extraction and surveying and signed implementation contracts... However, due to difficulties in funding, the project has not yet been implemented; Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group is considering a joint venture with other investors to submit to the competent authority for consideration of the policy to continue implementation in the near future.

Regarding the Quynh Lap 2 Thermal Power Plant Project, on May 4, 2017, the Government issued a document assigning Posco Energy (a company belonging to the Posco Group of South Korea) to research and develop the Quynh Lap 2 BOT thermal power plant project. On November 2, 2017, Posco Energy and the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade) signed a memorandum of cooperation to research and develop the Quynh Lap 2 Thermal Power Plant project. The investor, together with consulting units, has carried out topographic and geological surveys and is currently submitting a pre-feasibility study report to the competent authorities for approval, but the time for implementation is still unknown.

The head of Tan Minh village shared the difficulties faced by the villagers. Photo: Thu Huyen.

Regarding public concerns about the project's delay, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Duc, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Investment, stated that the construction of large-capacity thermal power plants (such as Quynh Lap 1 and Quynh Lap 2) requires extensive paperwork and procedures, and a significant amount of time to complete and bring the project into operation in accordance with the National Power Development Plan approved by the Prime Minister. Currently, the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone and the People's Committee of Hoang Mai town are coordinating with relevant units and localities to guide residents in the area to develop reasonable and effective plans for upgrading and repairing their houses and constructing other social facilities to ensure their current livelihoods while relocation and resettlement are not yet possible.

Because the thermal power project committed to investing in Nghe An has not been built and put into operation as planned, it has greatly affected the revenue collection targets set in the Resolution of the 18th Provincial Party Congress.

Recently, the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone proposed to the Provincial People's Committee to request the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group to report to the Prime Minister on the development of a project implementation plan that ensures feasibility, progress, and efficiency, and to arrange investment methods with suitable partners for continued implementation, with a firm commitment to a specific implementation schedule and no delays.

After receiving approval from the Prime Minister, the corporation is requested to expedite the implementation of the investment project and allocate sufficient funds for land clearance. Nghe An province will accelerate the land clearance process for the project and hand over the project site to the construction unit within 24 months…

Voters requested information on the construction progress of the Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant.

(Baonghean.vn) - Voters in Hoang Mai town have requested the Provincial People's Committee to provide information on the construction progress of the Quynh Lap 1 Thermal Power Plant so that people can confidently invest in production, develop the economy, and stabilize their lives.