Calling on businesses to invest in hydropower
Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan - Chairman of Kon Tum Provincial People's Committee - said that the province has added a list of projects to attract investment in the 2021-2025 period, including 11 small and medium-scale hydropower projects with a total investment capital of 100 to 700 billion VND.
These projects are mainly concentrated in districts with steep terrain and many rivers and streams such as Sa Thay, Tu Mo Rong, Kon Plong and Dak Glei. Some notable projects include: Thuong Dak Psi 1 Hydropower Plant (Dak Ha) - capacity of 7.2MW, total investment capital of 273 billion VND; Tan Lap Hydropower Plant ( Kon Ray) - capacity of 5.2MW, investment capital of 189 billion VND; Nuoc Tre Hydropower Plant ( Kon Plong) - capacity of 17MW, total investment capital of 705 billion VND...
In addition to calling for investment, Kon Tum province is also determined to eliminate small and medium-sized hydropower projects that negatively affect the environment, such as deforestation and increasing the risk of flooding. The Provincial People's Committee has sent a document requesting the Ministry of Industry and Trade to remove four projects from the planning due to many shortcomings, especially affecting natural forest areas and unsecured resettlement work. The projects proposed to be eliminated include: Dak Ruoi 1 Hydropower Plant (Dak Glei) - 7MW capacity; Dak Man Hydropower Plant (Dak Glei) - 6MW capacity...
The review and adjustment of hydropower planning is considered necessary to balance economic development and environmental protection, ensuring sustainable development of the province. Currently, Kon Tum has 30 hydropower projects completed and put into operation with a total capacity of 348MW.
Removing obstacles for many wind power projects
Mr. Le Nhu Nhat - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Kon Tum province - said that the province has proposed and coordinated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to soon put the Tan Tan Nhat wind power project in Dak Glei and Ngoc Hoi districts into operation.
However, due to the failure to complete procedures for changing land use purposes and leasing land, this wind power project with a total investment of thousands of billions of VND is still stalled. The project is invested by Tan Tan Nhat Joint Stock Company, with a capacity of 50MW and a total investment of VND 1,890.2 billion.
Approved by the Provincial People's Committee for investment policy from September 2020, by December 2021, the project has completed 18/18 wind turbines, 63/63 power poles and nearly 20km of transmission lines. However, for more than 4 years, the project has not been able to be commercially operated due to problems with legal procedures.
According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Kon Tum Province, the project is waiting for additional approval to the plan to implement the VIII Electricity Plan (phase 2). To be able to go into operation, the steps to be completed include: extension of investment policies to carry out procedures for changing land use purpose and land lease; Submit the report on completion of the work to the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade) for inspection and acceptance.
Investors must also apply for a power operation license from the Electricity Regulatory Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade) before signing a power purchase contract with Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN).
Solving these problems soon not only helps avoid wasting resources for investors but also contributes significantly to the local budget through tax revenue - Mr. Le Nhu Nhat emphasized.
