China Huaneng Group (CHNG), the nation's largest power producer, halted two projects Wednesday after they failed to pass all environmental impact assessments, the company said.

Work on the Long Kaikou hydropower station and the coal-fired Yimin power plant was suspended after the Ministry of Environmental Protection halted the assessments on the construction applications on June 11.

The company has set up a work group to investigate the projects and seek ways to correct the situation.

Work started on the hydropower station without environmental approval. Because of its location, in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, its operation could affect people living downstream. Therefore, it requires an environmental assessment.

Work on the coal plant started with an environmental approval but was halted because the plant did not meet subsequent inspections, the ministry said on June 11.

The company has asked the plants' designers to reassess their environmental impact.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2009)