LookAtVietnam – A majority of NA deputies approved the investment plan for the VND32.5 trillion Lai Chau Hydro-electric Power Plant project last Saturday.

Some deputies also said that the Government should wait until the Son La Hydroelectric plant is completed to be able to better incorporate learning from that project into the Lai Chau project.

Approximately 1,330 households in Muong Te District, Lai Chau Province, will have to be removed for the project, according to a Government report.

The project would provide a large amount of electricity for the nation grid during the dry season, said Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

Hoang said that the project would take nine years to complete; electricity would not be provided by the plant until the beginning of 2016.

The deputies suggested that efficient resettlement be made a big priority of the project and look to recent projects in neighbouring Son La and Hoa Binh provinces to find the best resettlement solutions.

“Even though the number of resettled households is smaller than those involved in other projects, the resettlement can’t be neglected. Whatever the Government does should ensure a better life for those people, especially when removing them from their hometown,” said Nguyen Dang Kinh from Ha Noi.

In addition, deputies also asked the Government to have better oversight over the management of capital for resettlement.

Deputy Dinh Xuan Thao from Kien Giang Province and Nguyen Hanh Phuc from Thai Binh Province asked the Government to carefully consider the construction period and water supply for the project and report on environmental effects from the project in both upper and lower parts of the Da River.

Some deputies also said that the Government should wait until the Son La Hydroelectric plant is completed to be able to better incorporate learning from that project into the Lai Chau project.

Deputies also agreed to build the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant, which is said to be a strategic step towards developing one of the most effective energy sources of the world. Several deputies expressed concern over the safety of the project.

“It requires a long process of building up the awareness from central to local levels. Therefore, we need to well prepare for the infrastructure and the legal frames well,” said Thao from Kien Giang.

Hoang Ngoc Thai from Ninh Thuan Province suggested that the Government should establish a council with the best experts across the country to come up with the best strategies to ensure safety and proper development of the project.

Thai said that the Government should choose the newest technology of third-plus generation instead of the technology currently slated to be used.

The construction of the plant should be carefully considered so as not to affect the aquatic environment, said Thai.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News