On the occasion of the 4th National Environment Conference, Vietnam Business Forum had an interview with Mr Ngo Dai Quang, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Chemical Group (VINACHEM) about the environmental protection task that the group has been doing. Le Sang reports.
In recent years, what “green” actions have VINACHEM and its subsidiaries taken?
In order to grow following the strategy for sustainable development, in recent years, VINACHEM and the subsidiaries have been paying more attention to the issues of pollution and environmental protection. The group has set up a plan and had it implemented across the system with contents as follows.
Promoting advocacy to raise awareness on environmental protection among all staffs and employees of the group. Actively coordinating with unions and local authorities to encourage the community to get involve in environmental protection activities. Strengthening environmental management. Perfecting the machine of environmental protection. Linking business and production goals to the objectives of environmental protection as well as the control and implementation of solutions to improve the environment.
Promoting activities of intensive investment, technological innovation towards modernity, advancement and high automation, joining production with investment into environmental treatment techniques. Lowering material and energy consumption quotas, reducing waste, improving the environment as well as ensuring industrial hygiene and safety for workers.
In new investment projects as well as investment projects of innovation and expansion, the group ensures the formulation of technical solutions and the construction of waste treatment infrastructure (solid, liquid and gas) are up to regulatory standards. The group and the subsidiaries also have stepped up investment in scientific research in the fields of environmental protection and green chemistry.
In terms of manufacturing fertiliser and other chemicals that produce a large amount of emissions, risking causing environmental pollution and chemical incidents, in recent years, most of the subsidiaries have been making changes, improvements and technology innovation in order to save energy, water and raw materials, reduce toxic waste released into the environment and improve product quality.
Together with the subsidiaries, the group has actively taken social responsible care, save energy programmes, clean production programmes in order to improve the liability of the enterprise for environmental protection practice and the community; help improve environmental quality, enhancing health protection and work safety for workers, as well as the whole community.
What are VINACHEM’s commitments on sustainable and green growth?
Implementing the restructuring scheme of the group approved by the Prime Minister, following strategic directions and aiming towards the goals of sustainable and green growth of the group for the coming time, we are committed to implementing the main contents as follows:
First, focusing on developing new technologies, modern and environmentally friendly; Developing waste treatment and recycling technologies.
Second, focusing on training managers and employees in preventing and responding to chemical and environmental incidents.
Third, prioritising the building and development of a relatively complete product structure, maintaining the company’s forefront position in chemical fertiliser production, playing a pivotal role in the development of chemical, electrochemical, rubber, detergents. Joining the development of coal gasification and pharmaceutical chemistry to increase the value in the product linkage chains with other businesses in the country, the region as well as the world.
Fourth, enhancing capital accumulation, continuing to build and develop human resources having necessary qualifications to serve the industry development and to accelerate integration with the regional and global chemical industry.
On this occasion of the 4th National Environment Conference, what proposals do you have as a representative of VINACHEM?
From practice it can be seen that the cause of chemical incidents is mainly violation of safety regulations on production, sales and use of chemicals. Therefore, to minimize the occurrence of these incidents, to ensure work safety for workers and the people as well as to protect the environment, I have some proposals as follows:
For the state specialised management agencies: to strengthen the guidance of environmental protection and chemical safety practice provided for businesses; at the same time keep a close check and promptly handle any units with proven intentional violations within its jurisdiction.
For businesses: to review and check on the implementation of regulations on environmental protection and work safety such as chemical factories and warehouses conditions; facilities management; transportation of chemicals; regulations on fire prevention and firefighting, as well as preventive measures and response to chemical incidents; implementation of regulations on environmental protection.
To improve the availability and capacity to respond to environmental and chemical incidents; to improve the coordination between relevant forces such as fire preventing and fighting police, health teams and chemical prevention teams as well as supervise coordination between these forces. Local authorities and enterprises to strengthen propaganda to the people to help them better understand the chemical industry, that chemical production does not equal environmental pollution.
Vietnamese
