Nine hydro power projects cancelled

THUA THIEN HUE - A total of nine hydro power plants planned for the provincial centre of Thua Thien Hue have been scrapped after experts deemed them unfeasible.

The plants, which were among 21 planned for the area by 2020, were cancelled following a meeting of the provincial People's Committee.

Six of the axed projects were annulled while the remaining three power plants had their licences withrawn.

The annulled projects are Ta Linh, Vi Linh, Rao La, O Lau I, O Lau II and O Lau III while the withdrawn ones are Song Bo I, Song Bo 2 and Ta Luong.

According to People's Committee vice chairman Le Truong Luu, the reasons for the annulment of the six projects was their low economic potential and the high probability of sloppy infrastructure and transport which could have negative impacts on the environment if they were allowed to operate.

He said land in the province is forecast to become severely flooded if the six hydro power plants are not annulled.

He also explained the reason for the licence withdrawal of the three projects.

"All of them are in slow progress due to lack of money and management. Meanwhile, investors and owners have not found any solutions, " said Luu.

Luu said the province will plant trees in the area of Huong and Bo rivers to avoid erosion upstream and to recover forest threatened by hydro power plants.

The intitial target of the 21 hydro power project was to produce 357 megawatts by 2020. - VNS