Some investors solicit for hydropower projects

468 projects are eliminated due to lack of investment efficiency, having bad impacts on the environment and society. Photo: the internet.

Causing the pressing

The demand for electricity in Vietnam has increased sharply, especially, in the period 2011-2015, the demand for commercial electricity rises 9.5% per year, consumer electricity increases about 11% per year.

At the workshop on "Small and Medium Hydropower Planning, Renewable Energy Development: Safe, Effective and Sustainable" on October 5, 2017, Mr Tran Van Tung, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology says that, it is predicted to 2030, Vietnam and many countries in the world will face the risk of serious energy shortage. The development of hydropower and renewable energy is urgent, but it must be parallel with the environmental protection.

However, over the time, the management of hydropower planning is not synchronous, causing many shortcomings. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, after investors have the projects, they buy and sell instead of implementing as the investment certificate has been issued.

Eventually, some investors, consultants, and contractors have violated the law during the process implementation, or operation activity, not to mention the management ability to exploit, project design have not met the requirements.

This consequence, Mr. Hoang Quoc Vuong, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade says, make the quality of planning and construction in some project not meet standards, violate the regulations on operation of the plants, causing the disturbed to the public.

Thus, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has collaborated with localities to strengthen the inspection, review the planning. As a result, after reviewing, it has eliminate 468 projects due to lack of investment efficiency and negative impacts on the environment and society.

Take consideration of the environmental factors

The reason for the Ministry of Industry and Trade remove drastically 468 small hydropower projects, according to Mr. Tran Van Lương, director of the Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency, is that many hydropower dam owners have not actively applied science and technology in forecasting and calculating the volume of water flooding in the reservoirs for efficient and safe operation of these reservoirs.

These shortcomings are due to lack of regulations on the dam owners to install hydrographic monitoring equipment in the reservoir basin such as the regulations on the density, type of equipment. Therefore, there is no basis for the dam owners to install effective reservoir operation.

It is known that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has not yet considered restarting these projects.

According to Mr. Tran Dinh Thien, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, Vietnam can supplement and continue to implement small and medium hydropower projects, within the condition of changing policies, mechanisms and solutions to ensure long-term benefits, paying particular attention to environmental issues and stabilizing the life of affected people.

Therefore, in order to minimize the negative impact on the environment, Mr Do Duc Quan, deputy head of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), says the functional agencies will provide the sanctions for investors of hydropower projects in these cases: No replanting of plantation, delay payments for forest environmental services, violations of reservoir operation procedures, no guarantee of maintaining environmental discharge.

In particular, the authorities will resolutely handle cases of violation or not strictly comply with the current regulations on investment management, construction quality, commitments to ensure the environment regulated by the Law.

“In case of serious violations, in addition to the financial sanctions, the electricity activity license may be withdrawn or sanctions imposed on survey, design, supervision and contractor units. When the projects caused serious damage, it can be prosecuted”, said Mr. Quan.

Five solutions for sustainable development of small and medium hydropowers

Firstly, improving the effectiveness of reviewing and evaluating hydropower planning of hydropower plants in operation.

Secondly, strengthening the central tasks from the central departments of State to local authorities in inspecting, supervising and urging the implementation and complying with law.

Thirdly, resolutely handling cases of violation or failure to strictly comply with current regulations.

Fourthly, enhancing the coordination among ministries, branches and localities to manage the planning, investment in construction and operation well.

Fifthly, the Government, ministries and functional agencies should soon consider to supplement and amend the decrees, circulars, and institutions to respond promptly to the development of small-sized hydropower plants to ensure the efficency and sustainability; consider the attraction of invesment into small hydropower plants for foreign investors.