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From: David Marr
Date: Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Has the massive project to mine bauxite in the Central Highlands received much press attention in Vietnam or overseas? I notice that Gen. Giap's letter to Nguyen Tan Dung opposing the project has just been reprinted in `Tuan le Viet Nam'. This could be the first time that the party-state's commitment to environmental sustainability is seriously tested...
David Marr
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From: To Xuan Phuc
Date: 2009/1/14
Hi all,
Actually the first time would be the Tam Dao II project when a 300 million dollar project proposed by a Haiwaii-based company and provincial authority of Vinh Phuc was turned down at the end of 2007/early 2008 by the central government owing to the pressure from the public.
Phuc Xuan To
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From: Jonathan Haughton
Date: Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 6:39 PM
Hello all,
Late last year the Prime Minister turned down a $10 billion proposal by
POSCO - the South Korean steelmaker - to build a large steel mill in Van
Phong Bay, which is about 60 km. north of Nha Trang. Apparently there was
strong local resistance, on environmental grounds; but nothing is quite so
pure - the steel mill would also have clashed with plans for a major
deepwater container port.
I believe that Danang rejected large projects for a pulp mill, and for a
steel mill, on environmental grounds.
My take is that as incomes are rising in Vietnam we are seeing the
emergence of a group that has the luxury to begin to worry about the
environmental costs of rushed development, and enough clout to be heard,
at least in the most egregious cases. In this, Vietnam is following a
well-trodden path.
That said, I would be very surprised if bauxite mining in Vietnam does not
take off over the coming decade; it is believed to have the world's third
largest reserves (after Australia and Guinea-Conakry). In mid-December
permission was granted to Cao Bang province (in the north) to negotiate
with foreign partners to set up bauxite mining ventures; this is quite
apart from the projects in the Central Highlands.
All the best
Jonathan
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From: Thomas Jandl
Date: 2009/1/14
Another possible reason for the rejection of the POSCO project is that in Nha Trang, tourism employs more people and pays better than POSCO would. Thus, there was simply more lobbying power in that industry.
If a region with a less developed tourism industry had rejected the project on purely environmental grounds would be interesting, and I for one woulkd doubt it.
_________________________________
Thomas Jandl
School of International Service
American University
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From: Bill Hayton
Date: Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 3:23 PM
There's been quite an active discussion about the bauxite mine on the
website: www.diendan.org Nguyen Ngoc and others have been complaining
about it.
One of the lines of argument is that a Chinese company is involved and
the 'miners' are really soldiers in disguise. It doesn't sound very
plausible but it's the kind of thing guaranteed to get people heated.
Bill
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From: Jeanie Glaspell
Date: Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 9:39 AM
David, I have been working on a book about the influence of French business interests on French and American foreign policy (1945-75). Spent several days in the Central Highlands surveying past economic activity (2006). I was a pilot in the area in 66-67. Do you know the location of the existing (purposed) bauxite mine? I remember several mine sites in 66 but they were mainly exploratory (Plei ku and Ban Me Touit areas). Most of the French activity in the area in 66 was tea. Evidence of small rubber plantations that were abandoned. Mostly coffee now! Thanks,
Brian Glaspell
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