The environment ministry has reported the results of an investigation into Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company’s efforts to tackle the environmental incident it caused in four central provinces.
A view of Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company (Photo: laodong.com.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has reported the results of an investigation into Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company’s efforts to tackle the environmental incident it caus𝓡ed in four central provinces.
According to the MONRE report released on November 10, Formosa transferred 500 million USD in compensation to the Vietnamese Government. The company has implemented temporary and long-term measures in production technology transformation as required by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha.
Formosa has constructed nine liquid waste systems for its cast iron and steel complex. Treatment stations for domestic, bio-chemical and industrial liquid waste and air treatment system are also operating up to technical standards, the MONRE said.
To improve Formosa’s capacity to deal with environmental incidents, Minister Ha asked the company to work with scientific and technological agencies and domestics and foreign experts to upgrade environmental protection infrastructure and finish the upgrades before March 31, 2017.
According to the MONRE, Formosa is applying wet coke quenching technology instead of coke drying quenching (CDQ) as required.
To fulfill its pledge with the Vietnamese Government, the MONRE said that Formosa would transform technology from wet method to dry from March 31, 2017 and cease using the CDQ system by June 30, 2019.
Formosa will also study clean technologies for production, especially in its power plants.
According to the MONRE report, Formosa has stopped transferring nontoxic and toxic solid waste to unauthorized units for treatment.
However, the company still stores about 711.5 tonnes of toxic mud. The amount rises by 97 tonnes per month. Part of this mud has been moved to Ha Tinh Industrial Waste Processing Limited Company for transport and treatment.
Up to October 29, 125 tonnes of bio-chemical waste mud were transferred.
The MONRE assigned the Vietnam General Administration of Environment, the Ha Tinh provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ha Tinh economic zone management board to inspect the company’s environmental protection efforts.
Centres of Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality and the Vietnam General Administration of Environment will take samples of the waste.
The MONRE will consider allowing Formosa to resume operations only when it finishes waste treatment supervision.
Earlier in June, Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh accepted responsibility for causing an environmental incident in the central Vietnam, which caused mass fish deaths in four provinces of Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri, and Quang Binh.
Formosa pledged to deal with shortcomings in waste and wastewater treatment, improve its production technologies to ensure waste is completely treated before being discharged and not to repeat such an incident.-VNA
The Government along with the Prime Minister, ministries and localities have proactively got engaged in the settlement of Formosa-caused maritime environmental incident in the four central provinces.
The central province of Quang Tri has begun distributing compensation money to those affected by the marine pollution incident caused by Taiwan’s Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation.
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh urged the People’s Committees of the four central provinces affected by the environmental incident earlier this year to award compensation transparently.
The Government is preparing a financial support plan for traders and fishermen who could not sell frozen fish due to the toxic spill from the Formosa steel plant off the coast of four Central province
Ministry officials discussed offering supplementary assistance to victims in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, who have been hit by Formosa-caused sea environmental incident.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
A view of Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company (Photo: laodong.com.vn)
