The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu has rejected the proposed Cai Cung thermal power plant project in a bid to protect the environment for high-tech shrimp farming. (Source: VNA) Bac Lieu (VNA) – The MeKong Delta province of Bac Lieu has rejected a projectto build Cai Cung thermal power plant, saying that it wants to become anational centre of renewable energy and a large producer of shrimp farming.
The Japanese-invested project was expected toimprove Bac Lieu’s gross domestic product (GDP) rapidly, just as existing DuyenHai thermal power plant has done in the neighboring province of Tra Vinh,experts said.
Since the Duyen Hai thermal power plant beganoperation, Tra Vinh province’s GDP has increased from 6 percent to 12 percent.
Duong Thanh Trung, Chairman of Bac Lieu province’sPeople’s Committee, said that, even with the latest technology and equipment,the plant would have caused environmental problems as it would require a bigarea for cinder dumps which would damage shrimp farming, considered key to theprovince’s economy.
The decision to reject the thermal power plantproposal has received strong support from local residents and enterprises.
With the launch last month of construction on a3.2 trillion VND (140 million USD) high-tech agricultural park specialising inshrimp, Bac Lieu is expected to become a national shrimp industry hub.
The high-tech agricultural park will cover 420 hain Bac Lieu city’s Hiep Thanh commune and serve as a centre linking institutes,schools and enterprises. The centre will use high technology in shrimpbreeding, produce breeder shrimp and other varieties for shrimp farming,exports and processing.
Its operation is expected to help realise thecountry’s shrimp export target of 10 billion in the 2021-2025 period.
Bac Lieu currently has an aquaculture area of1,290 square km, while agricultural production makes up 43 per cent of theprovince’s GDP.
Each year, the province harvests about 210,000tonnes of aquatic products including 115,000 tonnes of shrimp, of which exportturnover exceeds 527 million USD, or 13.7 per cent of the country’s total.
Late last year, Bac Lieu authorities and theRepublic of Korean’s SY Panel Group signed an agreement to develop a 450million USD solar power plant.
To be built on 400ha in Dong Hai district, theplant is designed to have a capacity of 300 MW. When it is completed in mid2019, the plant will be the country’s largest solar power plant.
Bac Lieu firms are now keen on investing 100trillion VND (4.4 billion USD) in renewable energy projects, according to localauthorities.
The province, with a 56 km-long coastline, hasgreat potential for developing wind power and sun power projects.-VNA
VNA
