At the press conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City metroproject has already disbursed more than 13.6 trillion VND (584.8 million USD) outof the 17.3 trillion VND (743.9 million USD) of its planned funding to date,according to Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung.
The official cited the numbers in response toreporters’ queries regarding the metro project, especially Japanese Ambassadorto Vietnam Umeda Kunio’s letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, warning of theslow progress of the project, at the Government’s regular press conference inHanoi on December 3.
He further explained that following consultation,the city has now adjusted the project’s funding to more than 47.3 trillion VND(2 billion USD).
The Transport Minister reported issues relating tothe project listed among the specially important projects to the Politburo onNovember 5 as requested by the Prime Minister and is waiting for the response,Dung said.
At the conference, Deputy Transport Minister NguyenNhat cleared up reporters’ questions about budget carrier Vietjet Air’s landingproblems at Buon Ma Thuot airport inthe Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on November 29.
He said the incident occurred after the carrierreceived the aircraft on November 15, noting that the ministry has set up aninvestigation group to coordinate with the aircraft’s producer Airbus to checkits black box and assess relevant issues.
Vietjet Air’s newAirbus A321 plane operated flight VJ356 from Ho Chi Minh City on November 29and encountered a landing problem at Buon Ma Thuot airport.
Its nose wheels remained in place after touchingthe runway, but later burst while the aircraft was still moving. The landing gearwas without wheels and ploughed into the surface of the runway, causing somelight damage.
The plane managed to come to a safe halt, theCivil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said, adding that the cabin crew carriedout emergency procedures to help all 207 passengers exit the aircraft.
Some passengers suffering from minor injurieswere immediately brought to a nearby hospital for examination. They weredischarged in stable conditions.
Also at the press conference, Deputy Minister ofIndustry and Trade Do Thang Hai affirmed that there will not be a shortage ofelectricity in 2019.
He said the Ministry of Industry and Trade willreport the power price scenario for 2019 to the the Steering Committee on PriceManagement in December 2018 and then send it on to the Government.
Regarding concerns over coal for thermo-electricity,Hai cited reports by the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group(Vinacomin) and Dong Bac Coal Corporation which said that in 2018, Vinacominsupplied 28.9 million tonnes of coal, up 22 percent against 2017, while DongBac provided 5.8 million tonnes. –VNA
VNA
