A corner of Vinh Son Village, Quang Dong Commune. The area is part of the planned site for the Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant in Quang Binh Province. — Photo vov.vn

Quang Trach 1 Thermal Power Plant, a component project of the Quang Trach Power Centre, started construction in 2011. Covering 199ha in Quang Dong Commune, Quang Trach District, the plant was expected to have a total capacity of 1,200MW and provide 8.4 billion kWh per year.

At present, contractors are building infrastructure for the plant. However, a number of households in Vinh Son Village have encroached on the land allocated for the project. They illegally built houses, slaughterhouse and fences to delineate cultivation land. Some families have received compensation but not yet handed over land, the Voice of Vietnam reported.

"Local authorities are calling on people to quickly hand over land to the project. We will take tougher measures to deal with this problem," said Nguyen Duc Hien, chairman of Quang Dong Commune People's Committee.

In 2017, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) replaced the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) as the developer of Quang Trach 1 Thermoelectric Plant due to the slow implementation by the former developer, according to a decision issued by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

EVN has completed compensation and support for 427 out of 434 households affected by the project.

Vice chairman of provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Quang said the local government needed to publicise all information related to the plant's operation as well as compensation policies and support for resettlement in order to receive support from local residents.

“People in Vinh Son Village and Quang Dong Commune support the project to be implemented as scheduled. This is an important project, ensuring energy security,” Quang said.

The resettlement aims to minimise the negative impact as the plant comes into operation. The investor has committed to apply advanced technology to minimise emissions.

People have repeatedly hindered the construction due to the investor's delay in compensation for site clearance and concerns that the plant will cause pollution when it comes into operation. — VNS

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