HO CHI MINH CITY, March 14 (Xinhua) -- A thermoelectricity complex with an investment of some 5 billion U.S. dollars will be built in Vietnam's southern Long An Province near Ho Chi Minh City.

The Long An Electricity Center, which will consist of at least two coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 2,800 megawatts, is expected to be operational in 2024 to solve power shortage in Vietnam's southern region, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said Tuesday.

The center is estimated to consume nearly 10 million tons of coal a year. Coal will be imported from Australia and Indonesia.

Since the planned location of the thermoelectricity complex is adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City, many officials and residents of the city are afraid that it will cause serious problems like environmental pollution.