By staff reporter Wang Yichao and intern reporter Kang Xin

(Caijing.com.cn) China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has suspended approval for two hydropower projects along the middle reaches of Jinsha River owned by China's biggest power producers, citing environmental concerns.

The suspended projects are Huadian Group-owned Ludila hydropower station, with capacity of 2.2 million kilowatts and planned investment of 17.8 billion yuan; and Huaneng Group's Longkaikou hydropower station, with capacity of 1.7 million kilowatts and planned investment of 11.8 billion. Both projects are located in Lijiang, Yunnan province.

Tao Detian, a spokesman for the ministry, told a news briefing on June 11 that both projects had blocked the flow of the Jinsha River for the construction effort in January without obtaining permits from the ministry.

The ministry ordered construction halted and delayed approvals pending additional environmental evaluations.

The ministry also said it would further debate the environmental and ecological risks of building hydropower stations along the river.

The ministry earlier suspended a coal-fired power project owned by Huaneng Group, while halting approvals for all steel construction projects in eastern China’s Shandong province, after Rizhao Iron & Steel Group and Weifang Iron & Steel Group began building without getting clearance from the ministry. 

China has tightened environmental checks on industrial projects since the creation of the ministry in March last year.  

The ministry has halted 29 petrochemical, steel and coal-fired power projects between November and the end of May. The projects involved combined investment of 146.7 billion yuan, according to Zhang Lijun, a deputy minister.

1 yuan = 14 U.S.cents

Full article in Chinese: http://www.caijing.com.cn/2009-06-11/110183082.html