Company fined $25,000 for building wind farms on protection forest land

Inspectors from the central province's Department of Natural Resources and the Environment on Dec. 21 said they fined Tan Hoan Cau company, the main investor of the Huong Linh 1 and 2 wind farms, VND608 million (US$25,000) for building infrastructure on unapproved land.

The Huong Linh 1 wind farm finished construction in 2019, where the main investor built five turbines on 1.19 ha of protected forest land under the management of the Huong Hoa-Dakrong protection forest management committee.

It also built nine other turbines on agricultural and production forest land without approval.

Huong Linh 2 wind farm was completed in 2017, with the main investor building turbines and other infrastructure on protected forest land under the management of the Huong Hoa-Dakrong protection forest management committee, as well as other types of land, without approval.

Besides the fine, inspectors from the environment department has requested the company to complete land renting procedures per existing regulations.

Quang Tri Province has over 30 active and to-be-active wind farms, including 19 active projects for commercial use. Once all farms enter operation, Quang Tri is expected to gain VND600 billion every year.