Despite economic difficulties in 2012, Vietnam National Mineral and Coal Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) still paid special attention to environmental protection. In 2012, the group used VND1 trillion to build environmental constructions and recover the environment in old mines.
Improving the environment, minimising the impact and building constructions to protect the environment are social responsibilities for enterprises in their development process. Being aware of this, over the past years, Vinacomin has taken serious measures to protect the environment. A series of new techniques and hi-tech approaches have been applied by its member companies.
To minimise the impact of sewage water released from coal mines on the surrounding environment, since 2009, Vinacomin has assigned the task of building treatment stations to one of its member companies- an environment company.
Vinacomin has invested about VND700 billion every year, accounting for one percent of its revenues, in environmental protection operations. Its member companies also use environmental funds of about 0.5 percent of their revenues for regular environmental protection operations.
After 3 years of implementation, 30 water treatment stations have been put into operation with an average capacity of 12,000 m3 per hour. With these facilities, 80 percent of contaminated water released from Vinacomin’s mines is now treated.
In addition, the companies make regular reports on the impacts of their operations on the environment, and carry out impact assessments. Vinacomin members are improving specialised routes for coal transportation instead of transporting them by road, to minimise the noise and dust in residential areas. They are also carrying out a series of solutions to improve environmental conditions such as upgrading drain systems in Khe Cham - Duong Huy coal mines and environmental conditions around the Vang Danh River in Uong Bi town; using stratification measures and growing Vetiver grass to stabilise the sides of dumping grounds; building dikes to prevent soil and stones from filling streams and rivers; and growing trees and levelling ground to restore environmental conditions in mining areas.
One of Vinacomin's priorities in their environmental protection operations is to treat waste water. In recent years, Vinacomin has invested in 32 projects to build waste water treatment stations which met the QCVN 24:2009/BTNMT standards such as the station at Mao Khe Coal Mine with capacity of 1,200m3 per hour, the Coc Sau Station and the +41 Lo Tri Station at Thong Nhat Coal Mine with capacity of 300m3 per hour.
In general, the major results achieved by Vinacomin in recent years were attributed to the courageous application of technical solutions and advanced and effective technologies. Dealing with environmental issues in the field of mineral exploitation is a new task which requires specific technical solutions and technologies. Consequently, technology renovation in Vietnam needs a long-term and continuous process to ensure the sustainable development of the country's industrial sector.
In 2013, Vinacomin will use VND1 trillion for environmental work. This plan reflects the change in determination from hot growth into green growth by Vinacomin.
Huong Ly
Vietnamese
