VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has said that coal-fired power projects will not be approved to get off the ground unless their investors show effective plans for ash treatment.

Smoke and dust billow out of the Vinh Tan No 2 thermal power plant, caused severe pollution in Binh Thuan City – Photo: VNS

The request is a tough measure taken by the Government to deal with coal ash-triggered air pollution that threatens human health after a large number of people living in residential areas near Vinh Tan 2 thermal power plant in Binh Thuan Province voiced outcry over air pollution caused by coal ash from the facility.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade should tell operational coal-fired power plants and those under construction, including Vinh Tan 2, An Khanh 1, Vung Ang 1, Song Hau 1 and Long Phu 1, to draw up plans for handling and recycling ash into building materials for ground leveling and road construction in rural areas.

Hai also assigned the Ministry of Construction to join hands with the industry ministry to propose incentives for enterprises using ash as construction material.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will have to evaluate the impact of ash handling processes at thermal power plants on the environment and regularly inspect coal-fired power plants to ensure they meet the requirements for environmental protection.

Coal ash can be recycled for soil reinforcement, land reclamation, dyke and embankment construction, and production of construction materials including unbaked bricks, autoclaved aerated concrete blocks and ceramic tiles. Only Pha Lai thermal power plant has reportedly used coal ash to make unbaked bricks and concrete additives.

Currently, the 18 operational coal-fired power plants nationwide invested by Vietnam Electricity Group, Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) account for 40% of the total power capacity. The proportion will rise to 48% in 2020 and 53% in 2030.

Thermal power plants consume roughly 20 million tons of coal per year and discharge a total of three million tons of ash, most of it buried within their premises or transported to other places instead of being recycled.