Issue of sustainability in hydropower planning and development in Vietnam

Abstract

     Vietnam has relatively rich potential for hydropower development. To date there is nearly 5,000 MW of the hydropower developed, accounting for nearly 50% of the installed gereration capacity of the country. Rapid development of the hydropower during the last decades has made strong contribution to the development of clean energy for the country, however this development is not free from some shortcommings which need to be addressed. Based on the concept of sustainable development, this article provides analysis and assessment of those aspects of the hydropower development which are yet to meet sustainability requirements in practice of project implementation. It then gives some opinions on how to address identiied shortcommings gradually to ensure sustainability of hydropower development.