Flood of hydropower plant fears

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Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nghiem Vu Khai said it was time the rapid development of hydropower projects in Vietnam was reviewed.

“These projects are often said to generate clean energy. But, many countries have opposed these types of projects,” he said.

Shana Udvardy, director of Flood Management Policy at American Rivers - which is the United States’ leading conservation organisation fighting to protect and restore US rivers, said no hydroelectric projects and dams were now allowed to be developed in the US.

“Each country has its own characteristics. But, I think it is a good example for Vietnam to understand environmental disasters and forest destruction,” Udvardy said.

The US’ hydropower dams rose from 2,503 in 1900 to over 20,000 in the 1960s. However, the government trimmed the figure to 6,000 at present due to environmental and forest destruction issues, she said.

According to Nguyen Ty Nien, a local expert with 50 years’ experience working for the local water sector, Vietnam’s uncontrollable construction of hydroelectric projects had reached a crisis point.

“Forest destruction and environmental pollution can be seen in almost areas home to hydroelectric projects, which have changed water courses and badly affected biological systems,” Nien said.

For instance, central Quang Nam province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported that the province’s 43 hydroelectric projects had encroached on 10,000 hectares of forests. Specifically, Song Tranh 2 (190 megawatts) and 3 (62MW) hydroelectric plants had eaten some 2,600ha of forests, while 210MW A Vuong hydroelectric plant had used 1,000ha of forests.

In another case, arguments can be seen in two under-discussion hydroelectric projects 135MW Dong Nai 6 and 106MW Dong Nai 6A, which will use over 500ha of southern Vietnam’s 71,920ha Cat Tien National Park, also the world’s Biosphere Reserve.

Khai said while Vietnam urgently needed power, it had to rely on hydropower projects.

“But, it is unacceptable to develop these projects without understanding environmental and forest protection,” he said.

In June this year, the Minister of Industry and Trade (MoIT) Vu Huy Hoang stressed that the MoIT would continue working with local relevant agencies to revise Vietnam’s hydroelectric project planning, with big scrutiny laid on small-scaled hydroelectric projects, in 2011.

The number of approved small-scaled hydroelectric projects in Vietnam has risen from 340 in 2005 to over 880 now, with total capacity of over 5,880MW. But, many plants only operated half of their capacity due lack of water. Most of the plants are located in Lao Cai, Son La, Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces.

Vietnam boasted potential for 30,000MW of power generated by hydroelectric plants, the MoIT said.

However, Udvardy said: “Leaders need to be equipped with a stronger environmental ethic, so that construction of these projects can be limited.”