Review all hydropower planning in the country

To promptly overcome the shortcomings and defects of a number of hydropower projects, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested relevant ministries, agencies and localities to urgently review all hydropower planning in the country.

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The Prime Minister requested to review all existing hydropower projects, focusing on checking whether the dams are safe or not, and immediately repair and reinforce any defects. If they are not safe, they cannot be operated.

At the same time, we must review the resettlement and see how people actually live. If it does not meet the requirements set forth by the Party and the State, we must propose policy mechanisms, including specific policies, so that our people can have better living conditions.

At the same time, it is necessary to review the requirements for investors to replant forests as prescribed and committed, including collecting money to replant lost forest areas elsewhere. The operating procedures of hydroelectric reservoirs must also be reviewed.

The Prime Minister noted that if there are many hydroelectric dams on a river, there must be an inter-reservoir operation process that must ensure the set criteria, especially the requirements for contributing to flood control, preventing salinity, regulating water for production and people's lives... Any reservoir operation process that is not good must be supplemented and adjusted to be suitable and effective.

The Prime Minister also requested strict management of the construction of new hydropower projects. Hydropower projects already in the planning must be closely assessed before investment decisions are made.

Dong Nai 6 and 6A hydropower projects must be seriously appraised.

Dong Nai 6 and 6A hydropower projects have a fairly large power generation capacity and have been included in the planning, but must be seriously appraised in accordance with legal regulations. If they do not meet the above requirements, they will not be allowed to decide on investment and construction.

Competent appraisal agencies must be responsible for their appraisal results.

The competent authority deciding to permit construction investment must ensure compliance with legal provisions and requirements set forth by the Government and must be responsible for its permitting decision.

Recently, according to the report of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, after 2 times of reviewing the hydropower planning, 107 projects were removed from the planning. However, the Prime Minister requested the relevant ministries and localities to continue reviewing, adjusting, supplementing and perfecting the hydropower planning nationwide in 2013.

According to (Chinhphu.vn) - LT