The Ministry of Industry and
Trade (MOIT) is consulting with Long An and HCMC local authorities about the
location for the Long An Power Center, which HCM City opposes. The
representative from Long An provincial People’s Committee, at a recent meeting
with MOIT, said Phuoc Vinh Dong commune in Can Giuoc district is the best
choice for the center. The opinion has received sympathy from MOIT, the
Ministry of Transport and General Directorate of Energy. However, the HCMC
People’s Committee has expressed its disagreement about the plan. Besides, the
existence of a thermopower plant on the right bank of Soai Rap River, just next
to HCMC, is feared to cause pollution to the city. Le Huy Ba, former head of
the Institute of HCMC Industry University’s Science, Technology and
Environmental Management, said HCMC authorities have every reason to worry about
this. Ba said the risks of pollution always exist in every thermopower plant.
China is now rethinking its strategy on thermal power development because of
high pollution levels. Meanwhile, Japan, though having modern technology, now
focuses on developing clean renewable energy. Ba agrees that it is necessary to
thoroughly consider the plan to set up a thermal power plant in the area close
to HCMC. “The area is very near to HCMC. If the southeasterly wind blows, all
the smoke and dust of the plant in Long An province will be brought to the
districts 7, 8, 5 and the central area of HCMC,” he warned. “Under the plan to
develop thermal power in Mekong Delta, there would be power plants in every
province. If there is one more plant in the Long An – HCMC area, the
consequences would be serious,” he said. Viet Nam has been warned that it would
be one of the most polluted countries, just after China. If it continues
developing thermalpower plants, the danger would be more visible. “The
pollution level in Viet Nam may be even higher than China,” he warned, adding
that Viet Nam needs to be very cautious with the thermal power development. Sharing
the same view, Phung Chi Sy, deputy director of the Institute of Tropical
Technology and Environmental Protection, said though thermopower plants are
usually put in coastal areas, the risks to the environment still exist. Though
Vinh Tan 2 and Vinh Tan 4 Plants are put under strict control, locals still
complain about dust from them. Ba raised a question about the technology to be
used at the new plant in Long An province. He warned that if Chinese technology
is applied, the risk would be very high.
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