National Focus

Formosa steel and Nui Phao mineral mining firms put under special environmental control

By Trung Ngoc November 28, 2017 | 08:17 AM GMT+7

Twenty eight firms, including Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS) and Nui Phao Joint-venture Co., Ltd., are subject to special environmental control under the scheme on special environment control implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).

A view of Formosa's plant

Hoang Van Thuc, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Environment Administration (under MONRE), affirmed that the scheme on special environment control is applied to firms which possibly cause serious environmental pollution.

The scheme is implemented in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 25/CT-TTg dated August 31, 2016 regarding a number of urgent tasks and solutions for environmental protection after serious environmental incidents were caused by Formosa. The scheme aims to control environmental pollution positively.

Hung said that the scheme identified six types of firms at high risks of causing serious environmental pollution including firms involved in sectors of cement, thermal power, mineral mining…

In addition, the scheme also defines a set of criteria to identify types of factors generating pollutant emissions, namely the scale and capacity, the location of the project, production technology, the control work of the project... 

Moreover, there are also criteria for reviewing the projects from the stages of investment licensing, environmental impact assessment ... to prevent pollution.

24 environmental control standards related to waste discharge applicable to Formosa and three regulations on the steel industry (gas, wastewater, bottom sediment) are proposed to be revised, Hung added.

Last year, the marine environmental disaster was caused by FHS. FHS had admitted its responsibility for the incident and seriously dealt with the consequences. FHS paid US$500 million in compensation and took steps to correct environmental violations.

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