VietNamNet Bridge - Under the direction of the Prime Minister, the central province of Quang Nam is considering to remove and suspend 20 hydropower projects.

Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant.

At the ongoing meeting, the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Council is considering eliminating two hydropower projects - Ha Ra in the town of Thanh My, Nam Giang district and Bong Mieu in Tam Lanh commune, Phu Ninh district – from the provinces’ small and medium hydropower planning.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Thu, Director of the Quang Nam Department of Trade and Industry, the Prime Minister has agreed with Quang Nam in rejecting Ha Ra (1MW) and Bong Mieu (0.6 MW) projects and halting 18 others including: A Vuong 3, A Vuong 4, A Vuong 5, Nuoc Buou, Nuoc Xa, A Banh, Dak Pring, Cha Val, Song Bung 3A, Nuoc Bieu, Dak Di 1, Dak Di 2, Dak Di 4, Nuoc Che, Song Bung 3, Tra Linh 2, Dak Pring 2 and Tam Phuc.

According to the Quang Nam Department of Trade and Industry, the province has 44 approved hydroelectric projects, with a total capacity of over 1,584 MW, generating over 6.2 billion kWh / year.

The rampant development of hydropower in the province has made great impacts on the ecological environment, natural resources and the lives of local people. The 33 hydroelectric projects that have been implemented have affected 3,270 households with 14,850 inhabitants. To serve the Song Tranh 2 project, up to 1,000 households had to remove.

Thu said that most of the households in the resettlement areas of hydropower projects lack agricultural land. In addition, the houses in resettlement areas provided by hydropower investors are of poor quality. Most of them have been degraded after a short period of time.

The resettlement of projects of poor quality investments, people lacking production land, together with water stimulating earthquakes made frantic people in Bac Tra My district urgent, confused , and worried. Photo: Tri Tin.

One July 3, the central authorities inspected the resettlement area of the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant in Bac Tra My district, Quang Nam province.

Regarding the impact of the earthquakes in the Song Tranh 2 hydropower region, the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) said they had hired foreign consultants to make a comprehensive assessment of this issue and the official results would be reported to the Government on August 30, 2013.

Nam Son