Workers face difficulties because wind power investors delay debt repayment

Wind power investors delay debt repayment

The large-scale wind power field worth thousands of billions of VND in Kong Chro district, Gia Lai province has been completed and has been in operation for more than a year.

To open the way to this project, Gia Lai Wind Power Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (investor of Hung Hai Gia Lai wind power plant) signed a contract with a number of contractors to build concrete roads.

For example, in 2023, the investor of Hung Hai Gia Lai wind power plant signed an economic contract with Luan Hai One Member Co., Ltd. (located in Pleiku city, Gia Lai province) to construct and renovate the roads of Chieu Lieu, Lang O, and Lang Bro villages near the wind power area.

After deducting the advances, the wind power investor still owes the contractor nearly 1 billion VND in wages but has not paid.

Mr. Hoang Van Hai - Director of Luan Hai LLC said: "Although we have contacted and called the investor many times to collect the debt, the debt is still delayed. The company does not have money to pay the workers' salaries and materials, so we have to borrow money from outside. Some other businesses are in the same situation...".

A construction worker said that when the road project was completed, wages were hard to collect. The workers waited for their wages but never received them. The wind power project owner made promises over and over again.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Van Dung - Head of Kong Chro District Police said that when there is information, the unit will receive it and have a direction to handle it to ensure security and order in the area.

A large-scale wind power project in Gia Lai province. Photo: Nguyen Thanh Tuan — A large-scale wind power project in Gia Lai province. Photo: Thanh Tuan

Transfer of violation records to the police

Regarding the controversy surrounding the Hung Hai Gia Lai wind power project, in August 2024, the Government Inspectorate issued a conclusion (No. 263/KL-TTCP), clearly stating violations regarding land and labor.

The Hung Hai Gia Lai wind power plant project is being built in Kong Chro district, with a total investment of 3,700 billion VND. Part of the project is being built on land without an energy plan and without permission from the Government.

In addition, there are more than 26 hectares of land without land lease confirmation but the project investor still implemented construction, violating the 2013 Land Law.

The Government Inspectorate has transferred all wind power project documents to the Ministry of Public Security for review and handling according to regulations for violations in investor selection, land management, project implementation, etc.

Previously, Gia Lai Provincial Inspectorate also determined that the natural forest area that was destroyed and encroached upon was due to wind power towers built on natural forest land in Kong Chro district.

At the foundation pillars: 22, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. The total area of natural forest lost due to the construction of wind power towers is 3.3 hectares.

Gia Lai Provincial Inspectorate also recommended that Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee transfer the case file to the Provincial Police Department to investigate the violations.

Gia Lai province has 17 wind power projects with an investment capital of over 43,197 billion VND. The implementation of the National Power Development Plan for the period 2011 - 2020, considering 2030 in Gia Lai still has shortcomings such as: The method of supplementing the planning of each wind power project is still separate, not comprehensive and synchronous.

The shortcomings and limitations need to be overcome soon to better complete the upcoming Power Plan VIII.

Source: https://laodong.vn/kinh-doanh/nguoi-lao-dong-kho-khan-vi-nha-dau-tu-dien-gio-tray-y-tra-no-1387399.ldo