The Block B - O Mon gas pipeline project requires the consent of the local people.

The land clearance progress for the Block B - O Mon gas pipeline project has reached over 98%, but some obstacles still affect the entire route. For this strategic project to be completed on schedule, the consensus of the people is essential.

The construction unit, in coordination with the contractor, is surveying the site along the route passing through Dong Thai commune. Photo: BAO TRAN

Many localities finished ahead of schedule.

The Block B - O Mon gas pipeline project is a component of the Block B Gas-Power project chain, aiming to transport gas from offshore to onshore to supply power plants in the Southwest region of Vietnam. The project spans approximately 430km, passing through Ca Mau province, An Giang province, and Can Tho city. The pipeline section within An Giang province alone is nearly 70km long, affecting 1,332 households in eight communes: Tan Thanh, Dong Hoa, Dong Thai, An Bien, Binh An, Chau Thanh, Giong Rieng, and Thanh Hung. By December 2025, the province has completed over 98% of the compensation, support, and resettlement work, with land handed over. Localities through which the project passes have handed over more than 52km of cleared land to the main contractor for construction.

The communes that achieved 100% land handover progress are Dong Hoa, Dong Thai, An Bien, and Thanh Hung. Notably, Dong Thai commune, with over 100 households affected by the project, completed land clearance three months ahead of schedule. Mr. Tran Thanh Dien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Thai commune, said: “The commune coordinated with relevant units to organize 8 payment rounds, with a total budget of over 26.6 billion VND. Support policies were publicly posted; officials in charge directly visited each household to explain any remaining concerns. The People's Committee of the commune established a mobilization team, regularly informing and disseminating information to each household to expedite the dismantling and relocation of houses… When people understood, the land handover proceeded very smoothly.”

An Bien commune also maintains the principle of being close to the people, combining propaganda and direct dialogue to resolve difficulties for each household. Nearly 200 cases in the commune are affected by the project, with a total compensation cost of over 37.5 billion VND. The commune People's Committee, in coordination with the consulting unit and the investor, reviewed each file and organized numerous dialogue meetings to clearly and detailedly explain the compensation, support, and resettlement policies in accordance with regulations. Thanks to this systematic approach, many households that initially disagreed later agreed and handed over the land.

Urgently remove bottlenecks.

Besides the advantages, the project also faces some difficulties, as 22 households in the four communes of Tan Thanh, Binh An, Chau Thanh, and Giong Rieng have not yet agreed to hand over the land for construction. According to local leaders, the main obstacles stem from land disputes, incomplete legal documents, and expectations of higher compensation. Some households have internal disputes or have not yet completed their land use right certificates, thus preventing them from having compensation files prepared. This group represents a small percentage but requires significant time to process as it must be resolved step-by-step according to legal procedures.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Binh An commune, said that the commune has 138 affected cases, with a total compensation cost of over 22 billion VND. To date, the locality has paid nearly 20 billion VND to 125 cases. Currently, there is still 1 case where the compensation plan has not been agreed upon and 6 cases where the land has been handed over but the money cannot be received due to legal obstacles. “We are urgently focusing our efforts, intensifying dialogue and persuasion; at the same time, coordinating with relevant departments to resolve all obstacles. For households that do not accept the compensation plan, the authorities will have to apply coercive measures to protect construction and ensure the progress of the national project,” Mr. Luan said.

According to Mr. Tran Thanh Hai, General Director of the Southwest Pipeline Operating Company (SWPOC), compensation, support, and resettlement are carried out in accordance with current price frameworks and regulations, ensuring transparency and consistency; they cannot be adjusted based on market price expectations or comparisons with other projects. The pipeline's unique characteristic is its underground design, which is straight to meet safety requirements, gas pressure, and construction techniques. Therefore, the progress of land clearance is crucial to ensuring continuous construction and adherence to the overall design. Any delay would affect the progress of the entire project chain, while the Prime Minister 's directive requires the project to be completed and receive the first gas flow by August 2027.

Given the strategic importance of the project, the early agreement of each household not only contributes to ensuring the project's progress but also helps create momentum for the development of the entire Southwest region. Once the final bottlenecks are removed, the Lot B - O Mon pipeline will move closer to its completion goal, bringing long-term benefits to the locality and the nation.

BAO TRAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/du-an-duong-ong-dan-khi-lo-bo-mon-can-su-dong-thuan-cua-nguoi-dan-a470622.html