Power projects mired in land-use discord
Several contentious issues are dogging implementation of key projects managed by the Southern Power Management Board, contradictory regulations and land evaluation and compensation rules that residents are not ready to accept. The board currently manages investments in 79 power projects that are designed to meet energy demands of 23 provinces and municipalities in the Southern region in the year 2016 and beyond. Also, the National Power Transmission Corporation, under the state-owned Việt Nam Electricity, has assigned SPBM the management of 220kV/550kV projects in the period 2016-2020 periods. Đoàn Tấn Phong, Director of SPMB, said the most persistent obstacle in the projects’ progress was land clearance and compensation issues, especially the delayed valuation of needed land in HCM City and Southeastern provinces.
