Vietnam Mekong Delta Provinces Hesitate to Choose Thermal Power Projects

Vietnam’s Mekong delta provinces find it hard to choose either to promote the paddy and fruit granaries or to develop thermal power projects which will pose negative impacts on the environment. Authorities in Can Tho, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Long An, Kien Giang, and Hau Giang are under pressure of developing power to ensure enough electricity for socio-economic growth of the southern region which consumes 50% of the country’s total power output. Local authorities have not decided to choose thermal power projects as they fear for air pollution and harming to crops. So far, only Bac Lieu has refused to license a thermal power project for fear of environmental pollution. Under the government’s Power Master Plan VII by 2020 and vision to 2030, the Mekong delta will develop 14 thermal power projects, mostly located along Hau and Tien rivers – the major rivers enrich soil for the delta. Most of coal-fired power projects have been pledged to receive investment by foreign companies, including India-based Tata Group, Malaysia’s Janakuasa Sdn. Bhd, South Korea’s Posco Energy, Samsung, and Daewoo E&C. Vietnam plans to increase coal-fired power capacity to 49% by 2020 and 55% by 2025 from current 33%. Coal-fired power plants are among air polluters, causing huge economic losses, through the cost of health care, medical care, loss of time due to illness in humans, crop damages, the quality of construction and materials, and tourism, according to the United National Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam. (Thoibaonganhang.vn Oct 31)