Vietnam's massive hydropower development stirs environmental fears

Vietnam’s uncontrollable construction of hydroelectric projects had reached a crisis point that has sparked environmental fears.

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

The 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.

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.

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.