The Đắk Mi hydropower joint stock company did not have any plans to deal with the risk of dam collapse and other safety issues. — Photo news.zing.vn

HÀ NỘI (VNS) — Đắk Mi hydropower joint stock company has been fined VNĐ810 million (US$36,000), following a recent decision made by inspectors of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).

On March 14, inspectors of the ministry’s Department of Water Resources Management conducted a surprise check at the Đắk Mi 4 hydropower reservoir in the central Quảng Nam Province.

According to the inspectors, the company did not have any plans to deal with the risk of dam collapse and other hazards. The firm was fined VNĐ400 million ($17,800) for this lapse.

Another failure, for which the firm has been fined VNĐ140 million ($6,200), was the absence of plans to manage water in reservoirs and to announce water management plans to people’s committees in all areas that have reservoirs and reservoir lowlands.

The company has also been fined VNĐ270 million ($12,000) for not ensuring a minimum flow in the lower section of the Vu Gia River in line with reservoir operating rules.

The Đắk Mi 4 hydropower plant, built by the Việt Nam Urban and Industrial Zone Development Investment Corporation, has a 190MW capacity and annually generates 752 million kW per hour on average.

In a related report, MONRE inspectors also fined the Buôn Đôn hydropower joint stock company VNĐ66 million ($2,930) for failing to follow regulations on the exploitation and use of water resources. — VNS