Binh Dinh proposes to the Prime Minister about the specialized port of Long Son Steel Plant

SGGPO 05/27/2023 15:49

On May 27, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province sent a document requesting the Ministry of Planning and Investment to synthesize a report to the Prime Minister to approve the investment policy and investor of the specialized port of Long Son Iron and Steel Complex, phase 1 in Hoai My commune, Hoai Nhon town (Binh Dinh) with a total capital of about 6,800 billion VND.

According to the Provincial People's Committee, the Long Son Iron and Steel Complex's dedicated port (phase 1) has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee for investment by Long Son Iron and Steel Joint Stock Company. The port has a scale of 10 wharves/2,525m, receiving ships of 250,000DWT, cargo handling volume from 21 - 23 million tons/year; the port's usable area is 496.9ha, of which 23ha is mainland, the remaining sea surface and 0.47ha of land belongs to the protection forest planning.

Lo Dieu sea area - the place expected to make way for Long Son steel complex

The report of the Provincial People's Committee raised a number of requirements and the suitability of the specialized port project and the Long Son Iron and Steel Complex in terms of national planning, provincial planning, land, economic efficiency, etc. In particular, considering the national planning, Phu My port area has been classified as group 3 seaport and type I seaport serving economic and industrial zones. In terms of scale and investment objectives, they are all consistent with the overall planning of the Vietnamese seaport system.

Regarding the use of the sea area and ensuring the coastal protection corridor, through the review, the project has overlapped with the coastal protection corridor boundary in Hoai My. Specifically, the overlap is located at section 9 (Hoai My commune) from point D09-4 to point D09-10, about 2km long, the corridor width is about 80.2 to over 287m.

Regarding this content, the People's Committee of Binh Dinh province said that when the project is approved by the Prime Minister in principle for investment, the adjustment of the coastal protection corridor boundary will be submitted by the province to competent authorities for consideration and adjustment according to regulations...

The specialized port area, Long Son Iron and Steel Complex covers the Lo Dieu sea area, with 566 households having to be relocated.

In addition, the project uses sea areas according to Decree 11/2021/ND-CP (dated February 10, 2021) of the Government on assigning sea areas to organizations and individuals for exploitation and use of marine resources. Therefore, the authority to assign sea areas will belong to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment when the Government approves the project policy...

Assessing the socio-economic efficiency of the phase 1 specialized port project and Long Son Iron and Steel Complex, according to the Binh Dinh provincial government, the project will create a new stage for the province in developing the marine economy associated with logistics, industrial development, supporting industry, and seaport services; creating momentum to promote the international maritime industry combined with the development of the export iron and steel industry, creating budget sources and jobs for the people...

The project chain promises to create jobs for more than 7,500 people when completed, contributing an estimated VND 4,926 billion to the budget, and when fully operational, the project will contribute about VND 10,395 billion; contributing a total local product of over VND 20,500 billion...

However, the above project will cover the entire population of Lo Dieu village (Hoai My commune), and is expected to relocate 566 households along the coast. In addition, 1 project area overlaps the survey area, investment research area of ​​the offshore wind farm project in Hon Trau sea of ​​PNE Group (Germany). Regarding this content, the parties agreed to reduce the overlapping area from the survey area of ​​PNE's wind farm project...

Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee proposed that the Ministry of Planning and Investment synthesize and report to the Prime Minister for approval of the investment policy and at the same time approve the project investor. During the implementation process, the investor must ensure the harmonious interests between the community and enterprises, prioritize the use of local labor; regularly monitor project activities and promptly handle environmental, land and labor issues; fully comply with land laws, environmental impact assessments, etc.

The People's Committee of Binh Dinh province also proposed that the Ministry of Planning and Investment consult with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the location, boundaries, coordinates, and area of ​​the sea area where the project will be implemented. It is recommended that the investor coordinate with the ministries, especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to study and soon supplement the project during the period when the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is developing the National Marine Spatial Planning 2021 - 2030...

Many concerns in the project area

Meeting with SGGP reporters, many people in Lo Dieu village (Hoai My commune) expressed their interest in the Long Son Steel Plant project. Although the project was formed quite a long time ago, Binh Dinh once allowed investors to survey the coastal areas of My An and My Tho communes (Phu My district) and then moved to Lo Dieu beach. However, up to now, all the information people have received has only been on social networks and through press channels...

It is expected that 566 households will have to move to make way for the Long Son Steel Plant project.

Some households in Hamlet 2, Lo Dieu village said that although they had heard about the steel factory project, what worried them was having to relocate elsewhere, losing their livelihoods, and worrying about the marine environment.

“We have settled here, where we were born and raised and where our ancestors’ graves are, so now when we hear about the steel factory project, we are very worried! Because Lo Dieu beach is beautiful, the sea water is clear, surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the fish is the most delicious in the sea of ​​Hoai Nhon town. Why not do a tourism project instead of a steel factory, forcing people to relocate, and there is also the risk of polluting the marine environment,” Ms. Ho Thi Luu (42 years old, hamlet 2, Lo Dieu village) expressed her wish.

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen The Vien (45 years old, hamlet 2) worried: “Here, we have a stable business with many jobs, from fishing, farming, planting forests... There are days when the sea catches fish, squid, and baby lobsters, earning several million to several tens of million VND, and on average, 500,000 VND per day. Now we know that the project is to develop the local economy, but people are still worried that the steel factory will affect the coastal environment when it comes into operation.”

Peaceful scenery in Lo Dieu fishing village

Contacting Mr. Nguyen Le Anh Tuan, Secretary and Chairman of Hoai My Commune People's Committee, to schedule a meeting, he promised to provide specific information to the press in June. According to Mr. Tuan, on May 30, Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee will officially announce information about the Long Son Iron and Steel Complex project for the people and public to know.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/binh-dinh-kien-nghi-thu-tuong-ve-cang-chuyen-dung-nha-may-thep-long-son-post691378.html