Le Minh Duc, director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, said: "The province will not exchange or sacrifice the environment for the local economy”.

Local residents and enterprises have strongly supported the decision to reject the thermal power plant.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, which can make the final decision on the project, proposed building the US$5 billion thermal power plant in the province, which borders HCM City’s Can Gio District.

The project would include Long An No 1 and No 2 power plants with a total capacity of 2,800MW.

Coal supply for the two power plants would require 7.6 million tonnes per year, with 450,000 tonnes of coal slag discharged per year.

The power plants were expected to contribute one-third of the local budget revenue.

However, construction has not begun because of local residents’ objections about the affect on the environment and human health.

Many scientists have also voiced concern over the construction of new thermal power plants that could cause serious environmental damage in HCM City.

In addition, the resulting pollution woud diminish agricultural production and tourism revenues, as well as affect other fields.

In January, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu also rejected the proposed Cai Cung thermal power plant, saying that it wanted to become a national renewable energy centre and a major producer of shrimp farming. — VNS