Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project is included in the inspection list.

On August 13, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 6134/UBND-CN on adding to the list of projects behind schedule. According to Official Dispatch No. 6134/UBND-CN, dated August 3, 2022, the consortium of Hanviland Joint Stock Company and Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company (investor)Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Projectin Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city) has Document No. 22/LD-HVL-PVIT explaining this project.

Current status of the land along Vinh River, in Vinh Tan Ward, Vinh City, where in 2010 the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project was planned. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Considering the proposal of the Consortium of Hanviland Joint Stock Company and Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and branches to add the project to the list of slow-progress projects and inspect and report to the Provincial People's Committee according to regulations.

The Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project was approved by the Provincial People's Committee for detailed construction planning at a scale of 1/500 in Decision No. 5349/QD-UBND.DT dated November 5, 2010, with a total planned land area of ​​147,660.0 m².

Regarding the project implementation progress, Decision No. 5349/QD-UBND.DT clearly states that the investor, Nghe An Petroleum Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company, must complete relevant procedures to start construction within 12 months and complete construction 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. However, in July 2016, after inspection, the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project was allowed by the Provincial People's Committee to be extended until July 30, 2018.

Master plan map of land use of Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project in 2010. Photo: Nhat Lan

In August 2021, the Provincial People's Committee directed the inspection and handling of slow-progressing projects in the province. The Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project was on the list of projects to be inspected. On March 1, 2022, the Interdisciplinary Team chaired by the Department of Construction submitted Report No. 667/SXD-BC reporting the inspection results to the Provincial People's Committee.

Regarding the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project, up to the time of inspection, compensation and site clearance had not been made; land had not been allocated or leased; and construction of project items had not been carried out according to the planning. The responsibility for the project's delay rests entirely with the investor.

According to the Department of Construction, along with the subjective reason that the investor has not been proactive in implementation, the slow progress also has objective reasons. The Department of Construction reported to the Provincial People's Committee: "Currently, the procedures related to the issue of converting land use purposes and land recovery have not been guided or responded to by competent authorities, so the investor is having trouble implementing the project. The investor has deposited a deposit to ensure the implementation of the investment project of 12 billion VND. In addition, the investor requested a 24-month extension and committed to implementing the project."

Vinh River dike, on the left is the land area planned for the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project at present. Photo: Nhat Lan

The Department of Construction recommends the Provincial People's Committee: "Assign the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and Vinh City People's Committee to review and advise on procedures for converting land use purposes in accordance with the law; Assign the Department of Planning and Investment to handle and sanction administrative violations (if any) in the field of planning and investment for acts of delaying project completion progress; review and guide investors to carry out investment procedures in accordance with the law; Request investors to proactively coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Planning and Investment, relevant departments and Vinh City People's Committee to carry out project investment and construction procedures in accordance with the law".

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 the province. For the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project, the Provincial People's Committee assigned 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 approving investment policies, changing land use purposes and other relevant 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" - the Provincial People's Committee emphasized in Official Dispatch No. 2790/UBND-CN.

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, after reviewing, on June 22, 2022, in Official Dispatch No. 3609/STNMT-QLDD, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment commented on the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project as follows: "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 detailed planning 1/500 in 2010. Up to now, more than 10 years have passed but the investor has not 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 is not eligible to continue implementing the project".

Article about Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area project in Nghe An Newspaper on April 13, 2022. Photo: Nhat Lan

Recently, the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project has also been reported by Nghe An Newspaper in a number of articles: "Considering the extension of the progress of the Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project" (April 13, 2022); "The Nghe An Petroleum Urban Area Project is not eligible to continue implementation!" (July 7, 2022).

Nhat Lan