This is the second time the Prime Minister (PM) has worked with the leaders of Ha Tinh Province on serious marine environmental incident caused by Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Limited Company (FHS) last year.
The Prime Minister appreciated that FHS had admitted its responsibility for the incident and seriously dealt with the consequences, made a public apology to the Vietnamese government and people, paid US$500 million in compensation, and taken steps to correct environmental violations.
“FHS must consider environment as a vital factor in carrying out its large-scale steel project and this will be an unforgettable lesson," he said.
"Vietnamese Government will facilitate operation of investors to do business successfully in the country. However, if FHS repeats violations of local laws on environmental and water resource protection, it will be permanently closed,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
The PM has visited the newly-constructed wastewater treatment facilities of FHS, including waste stabilization pond systems - one of the important items for testing the safety of the industrial wastewater before pouring into the sea.
As reported, the wastewater of the plant produced from the operation of blast furnace No.01 has been treated and carried into a stabilization pond. Species of fish sensitive to environmental conditions, such as tilapia and hawthorn are all alive.
For over a year, FHS has spent US$350 million improving the production technology and environmental protection equipment. 15 out of 20 chimneys of the steel plant have been equipped with automatic monitoring equipment.
Ha Tinh Province’s leader said that FHS strictly complies with environmental regulations as committed to the Government. Up to now, FHS has overcome 52 out of 53 breaches.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Tran Hong Ha said that FHS fully takes control of the sources of pollution for environmental safety in accordance with international standards as committed to the Vietnamese Government. The marine environment in the four central provinces including Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien – Hue has been safe for beaches, underwater sports, aquatic breeding and preservation, the Minister affirmed.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health officially announced that the deep-sea creatures from 20km back to shore in in the four central provinces are safe now; however, Son Duong island in Ky Loi communes should be considered further for final conclusion.
