National Assembly Standing Committee concerned about the scale of Long Thanh airport project

On the morning of February 26, continuing the 35th session, the National Assembly Standing Committee discussed the investment policy for the construction of the Long Thanh International Airport project.

Perspective of Long Thanh airport.

At the 8th session of the 13th National Assembly, based on the Government's Submission and the Economic Committee's Verification Report, the National Assembly discussed in groups and the Hall the Long Thanh International Airport Construction Investment Project.

To further clarify some contents of the project, the Economic Committee organized a working group to conduct a field survey of Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Bien Hoa Military Airport and the planned location of Long Thanh International Airport, Dong Nai; worked with Division 370, Air Defense - Air Force (the unit managing defense land at Tan Son Nhat Airport and Bien Hoa Military Airport), Vietnam Airports Corporation, Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee and listened to expert opinions...

The Economic Committee's report on a number of major issues with many opinions on the Long Thanh International Airport construction investment project submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee stated that the investment in the construction of Long Thanh International Airport is necessary.

Investment to meet the requirements of socio-economic development of the country, Long Thanh's location is favorable in many aspects for construction, especially the connecting traffic system has been and is being invested, in which the main traffic axis of Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway has just been put into operation.

However, the Economic Committee proposed to review and recalculate the area of ​​the Project to see if it is necessary to use up to 5,000 hectares of land because a large part of the area not directly related to the project is 2,250 hectares, including 1,050 hectares of land for national defense and 1,200 hectares of land for auxiliary items and investment in the construction of an aviation industrial park.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee Phung Quoc Hien speaks at the meeting. Photo: VNA

Through discussion, many opinions in the National Assembly Standing Committee basically agreed with the assessments and recommendations of the National Assembly Economic Committee. However, to ensure sufficient basis and convince the National Assembly, the Long Thanh International Airport Construction Investment Project needs to focus on completing and clarifying some specific contents.

Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee Phung Quoc Hien proposed reviewing the scale and passenger forecast to determine the purpose of building Long Thanh International Airport as a transit airport. The delegate cited expert opinions that Long Thanh International Airport will find it difficult to promote its transit role because when Long Thanh International Airport is put into use, it can only serve as a transit airport for three countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia.

However, Indonesia and the Philippines are very close to Long Thanh, so it is difficult to exploit the transit function, so Long Thanh International Airport can only transit for Australia. Clarifying this content to confirm the necessity of the project - Chairman Phung Quoc Hien emphasized.

Regarding the total investment, capital mobilization plan, and investment phases, the Government has reviewed the unit price and investment level. The review shows that the total investment in phase 1 of the Project is 5,236 million USD, a decrease of about 2,601.6 million USD compared to the estimate submitted to the National Assembly with the capital structure being: ODA 1,389.4 million USD (accounting for 26.53%), State budget capital 578.3 million USD (accounting for 11.05%), enterprise capital, shares, PPP... 3,268.8 million USD (62.42%).

Discussing this content, some opinions in the National Assembly Standing Committee suggested continuing to review and ensure the accuracy of the total investment capital of the entire project (3 phases), avoiding large investment costs during implementation; having a feasible capital mobilization plan based on the balance of the state budget and public debt issues...

Even in reducing the unit price and investment level of phase 1, it is necessary to explain specifically the reason for the reduction... Chairman of the Law Committee Phan Trung Ly and some other opinions suggested that the report should clarify more about the capital recovery mechanism of the Project...

At the meeting, the National Assembly Standing Committee discussed and gave specific opinions on the following contents: compensation, support and resettlement, ensuring livelihoods for people after migration; overlapping airspace; completing the environmental impact assessment report of the project...

According to Vietnam+