Vietnam: The Ministry of Construction has asked the Prime Minister to halt the Thanh Son Cement cement plant project in the province of Thanh Hóa over planning conflicts, defence safety restrictions and local opposition, according to local media.
The project was originally designed to produce 2500t/day of clinker, sufficient for 0.9Mt/yr of cement. The company had later planned to increase its capacity to 6000t/day of clinker (2.2Mt/yr of cement), but failed to secure funding for implementation.
The project has faced delays since it was announced in 2013. Authorities in Thanh Hoa repeatedly proposed halting it, and the ministry now says it no longer aligns with the province’s 2021 – 2030 development plan. The project site falls within the safety perimeter of a defence facility. The limestone and clay deposits intended to supply raw materials are also in an area where mineral extraction is prohibited.
Local opposition is another major obstacle. Of 717 households surveyed across five nearby villages, 715 opposed the project over concerns about pollution and health impacts.