Nghe An removes 14/46 small-scale, low-efficiency hydropower projects from planning

(Baonghean.vn)-Voters reported that many small, fragmented hydropower projects are currently concentrated in mountainous districts but are not very effective, affecting the lives and production of the people. They requested the Provincial People's Committee and investors to have a mechanism to support the mountainous people to stabilize their lives and production due to the impact of hydropower projects.

This issue is the responsibility of the relevant authorities.answer as follows:

In Nghe An province, there are 46 projects with a capacity of 1,403.6 MW approved for planning. During the planning review process, the Provincial People's Committee submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade to remove from the planning 14 hydropower projects (35.15 MW) with small scale and low project efficiency. Thus, currently in the province, there are 32 projects with a total capacity of 1,372.45 MW.

For medium and small hydropower projects that have been in operation and are under construction, there is little resettlement, so there is little impact on people's lives and production. Compensation for site clearance is carried out in accordance with regulations. Only 3 large projects have a relatively large number of resettlement with 5,009 households having to relocate (Ban Ve: 3,022 households, Hua Na: 1,402 households, Khe Bo: 585 households).

Hua Na Hydropower Plant seen from the lake. Photo courtesy

Among the 11 power generation projects that have brought about results:

- Supplying electricity to the national power system. Electricity output from hydroelectric plants is about 2.1 billion kWh/year. Up to now, the total electricity output from hydroelectric plants to the system is 11.251 billion kWh;

- Providing energy to serve production in the province; contributing to job creation for local workers (nearly 600 direct workers are engineers and technical workers); contributing an important part to the budget; (annual tax collection of about 396 billion VND).

- Investing in hydropower projects contributes to economic restructuring, developing fisheries, developing agriculture, providing water for production and daily life, improving climate, developing tourism, etc.

- Investing in upgrading and building new traffic works, electricity and water supply to serve the construction of hydropower projects also contributes to improving technical infrastructure and promoting local socio-economic development.

For resettlement projects: Newly built resettlement areas with synchronous infrastructure systems: electricity, traffic, irrigation systems, domestic water systems, clinics, schools, community centers... are better than the old places of residence, creating positive changes in access to information and public services for resettled people, contributing significantly to promoting local socio-economic development; public works to contribute to stabilizing the population, improving cultural life, education, health care and spirit for ethnic minorities; Some people who moved to new places of residence soon adapted to production, gradually stabilized, and approached the production methods of new places of residence.

* Regarding the proposal to have a support mechanism for mountainous people to stabilize their lives and production due to the impact of hydropower projects:

In addition to the compensation and support policies that resettled people of hydropower projects enjoy according to state regulations, recently, the Provincial People's Committee has directed investors, levels, sectors, and local authorities to pay attention to supporting mountainous people to stabilize their lives and production due to the impact of hydropower projects, specifically:

At Ban Ve Hydropower Project:

- Financial support to resolve existing problems such as repairing domestic water, supporting well digging, repairing people's houses, and degraded public works.

- The Provincial People's Committee proposed the Prime Minister to support food for 36 months from the date of arrival at the new residence, 30kg/month per person. Support an additional 24 months of food for the people according to the direction of the Prime Minister in Document No. 627/TTg-KN dated May 11, 2012.

Ban Ve Hydroelectric Reservoir. Photo courtesy

- The Provincial People's Committee has directed all levels and sectors to integrate projects and programs on industrial, agricultural, and fishery promotion, the 30A program, and apply new production models to develop production and increase income for people in resettlement areas. As a result, the following items have been implemented: Raising wild pigs, growing ginger under the forest canopy, growing aromatic roots, growing green vegetables, and growing grafted canarium trees. Up to now, the models have initially shown effectiveness, raising pigs has given birth, growing vegetables, and growing aromatic roots have produced products, and initial assessments indicate that the project is likely to be successful.

Project "Investment in developing tea in the resettlement area of ​​Ban Ve Hydropower Plant" in Thanh Chuong district. Total approved capital is 922 million VND with an area of ​​556 hectares. Up to now, 250 hectares have been planted, have developed well and initially created steady income for households. When the project is put into operation, it will create jobs, stabilize and improve the lives of the resettlement people.

- Support vocational training to send workers in hydropower resettlement areas to work abroad.

At Hua Na Hydropower Plant:

- Regarding production stabilization support: The Compensation Council is implementing the distribution of plant and animal breeds to the people, the total value implemented is 21.63 billion VND / 29.98 billion VND approved;

- Regarding food support to stabilize life: Provide rice support to people in resettlement areas. Up to now, 15/16 batches have been implemented (equivalent to 45/48 months).

At Khe Bo Hydropower Plant:

Implement the support mechanism for mountainous people to stabilize their lives and production according to Decision 4027/QD-UBND.CNXD dated August 18, 2009 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, including food support, electricity usage support, seedling purchase support, relocation support,... like other hydropower projects. In addition, according to the provisions of Decision 4027/QD-UBND.CNXD, the Investor also supports poor households at the rate of 5,760,000 VND/person in rural areas; 3,600,000 VND/person in towns. For households resettled by Khe Bo Hydropower Plant, the regulation of support mechanism for people's lives and production is basically guaranteed.

Dinh Tien resettlement village in Tam Dinh commune, Tuong Duong. Photo courtesy

Recently, the Provincial People's Committee has submitted a report to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct ministries, branches, and investors of hydropower projects to resolve existing problems to stabilize the lives and production of resettled people.

In the coming time, the Provincial People's Committee will continue to direct and request investors, departments and localities to thoroughly resolve existing problems related to work, compensation, support and resettlement of the Ban Ve hydropower project.

Gia Huy

( Synthetic)