Continue to handle higher-ranking officials for causing delays in Long Thanh airport project

(NLDO)- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested to remove those who discussed the delay and handle those who lacked responsibility in the Long Thanh airport project.

On the morning of January 25, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for important national projects and works, key to the transport sector (Steering Committee), chaired a meeting on the implementation of the Long Thanh International Airport Project.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a concluding speech at a meeting on the implementation of the Long Thanh International Airport Project. Photo: Nhat Bac

The conference was held directly at the Government headquarters, connecting online to Dong Nai province. Also attending were Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee; leaders of ministries, branches, localities; representatives of project management boards, investors, domestic and foreign contractors.

Previously, in early December 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inspected the progress of the Long Thanh airport project for the fifth time.

Long Thanh International Airport Project includes 4 component projects: Component project 1 (headquarters of state agencies); Component project 2 (works serving flight management); Component project 3 (essential works); Component project 4 (ground service works).

The Prime Minister directed a number of specific tasks at the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac

Many difficulties and problems need to be solved

At the meeting, ministries, agencies, investors and contractors spoke about ensuring project progress and quality according to the direction of the Prime Minister.

Reports and opinions at the meeting assessed that with the strong and close direction of the Prime Minister, the efforts and active implementation of items and bid packages of ministries, branches, localities and related agencies, up to now, the work of site clearance and handover of the entire project has been basically completed. The basic construction items have been deployed simultaneously.

Besides the achieved results, there are still some slow, unimproved or incomplete tasks related to site clearance; many difficulties and obstacles need to be resolved.

Minister of Transport Tran Hong Minh reports on the progress of the Long Thanh International Airport project. Photo: Nhat Bac

In component project 1, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has not yet allocated capital and has not completed the procedures for approving the investment policy for the animal/plant quarantine agency headquarters.

In component project 3, the most important component project, the total value of output has reached 36% so far, but the construction package for the runway, taxiway, and apron has not increased much compared to the previous reporting period. After the National Assembly approved the project, the construction of runway 2 has not been implemented yet.

In particular, in the construction and installation package of the passenger terminal - the heart of the project, many equipment must be specially designed and imported from abroad, so the implementation progress depends a lot on the production progress of specialized equipment from other countries.

Chairman of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) Vu The Phiet reports on the implementation of the Long Thanh International Airport project. Photo: Nhat Bac

Component project 4, some bidding packages have not selected investors, are behind schedule, and may affect the operation of the entire airport.

Only desk, no back desk

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the Long Thanh International Airport project is an important national project, the largest airport project in our country, of great significance, and must be done urgently because if we want double-digit growth in the coming years, traffic must be smooth.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies to review, clarify responsibilities and handle officials responsible for the delay in allocating capital for the construction of the animal/plant quarantine station headquarters in component project 1.

The Prime Minister stated that the Ministry of Transport has disciplined a number of officials, but the Ministry must continue to clarify and immediately handle those with higher responsibility for the delayed work, and urgently report to the Prime Minister.

Representatives of leaders of ministries and branches attended the meeting. Photo: Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister stated that the goal has not changed compared to previous instructions, which is to basically complete Long Thanh airport by the end of 2025. This is the direction of the Government and is also the content that has just been concluded by the Central Committee.

To achieve this goal, the Prime Minister requested relevant agencies and individuals to promote the highest responsibility, "only discuss doing, not retreat", "not say no, not say difficult, not say yes but not do"; mobilize the total strength of agencies and forces; whoever retreats, whoever cannot do it, should stand aside so that others can do it, not let irresponsible people get in the way; consider time, intelligence and decisiveness as decisive factors for success; if there are difficulties, problems and if people, money, mechanisms, or other things are needed, report to the Government and the Prime Minister.

Mobilize both police and military forces if necessary.

Regarding some specific tasks, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to urgently and more strongly implement the project of animal/plant quarantine station headquarters under component project 1 (other agencies have completed it).

With component project 2, currently basically being implemented on schedule, Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV) and relevant agencies must complete it before April 30, 2025.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the most difficult part is currently the project component 3, especially the scanning equipment and conveyor belts that must be ordered abroad. Therefore, for the construction and installation part, it is necessary to review the work, assign tasks more specifically, inspect more closely, reorganize the construction, deploy simultaneously to speed up further, 3 shifts, 4 teams, work through holidays, Tet, and holidays, "eat quickly, sleep quickly", "overcome the sun, overcome the rain, not lose to storms", to regain the delayed progress, work in a row, finish the rough part then do the interior immediately.

The Prime Minister noted the need to leverage experience in implementing the 500kV line 3 project, increase subcontractors, including contractors who have done well at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports, and add more manpower, if necessary, mobilizing police and military forces... for tasks that can be done manually. For equipment that is in difficulty, ACV and contractors need to go to the supplier's factory abroad to work and promote.

For component project 4, the Ministry of Transport is responsible for all related work and must complete the remaining procedures before February 15.

Similarly, the Prime Minister requested that agencies complete procedures to implement the construction of runway number 2 before February 15; regarding capital for this runway, ACV will implement it according to its authority.

Regarding the connecting transport infrastructure, with the requirement to basically complete it by 2025, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Transport and relevant agencies to urgently implement procedures; the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to urgently balance and allocate capital.

Regarding raw materials, the Prime Minister requested Dong Nai province to comply with the Law on Minerals and resolutions of the National Assembly and the Government, directly hand over raw material mines to contractors for construction, without intermediaries, review everything, if found to be doing things incorrectly and if necessary, reclaim the mines, and strictly handle according to the law. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will coordinate with Dong Nai province to handle this issue.

Praising Dong Nai province for its great efforts in site clearance for the Long Thanh airport project, the Prime Minister also noted that the province needs to learn from experience and quickly implement other transport infrastructure projects.

The Prime Minister assigned the Government Office to continue to monitor and urge, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to continue to directly direct and regularly inspect the project to promote this project, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc to continue to directly direct the work related to capital for the project.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thu-tuong-tiep-tuc-xu-ly-can-bo-cao-hon-vi-gay-cham-tre-du-an-san-bay-long-thanh-196250125174038453.htm