The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has ordered an investigation into a local titanium exploiter in Binh Thuan Province after a waste reservoir broke allowing huge amounts of toxic red mud to flood residential areas.

Red mud floods the street

The Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam and the Vietnam Environment Administration were asked to halt the operation of Tan Quang Cuong Trading Co. Ltd and investigation the disaster.

The authorities may withdraw the firm’s mining permit if violations are detected and apply stricter punishment if Tan Quang Cuong Company is found to have committed severe violations.

Operation at Tan Quang Cuong Company has been halted for investigation.

The Tan Quang Cuong Company 3,000 square-metre waste reservoir was suddenly breached on June 16. Hundreds of cubic metres of wastewater and red mud flooded the streets, houses, tourism areas and Thuan Quy Beach.

The route from Phan Thiet to Ham Thuan Nam was temporarily blocked and traffic was affected for hours.

Tan Quang Cuong is also working with environmental agencies to deal with the aftermath and promised to compensate people.

Locals claim the Tan Quang Cuong Company admitted that the reservoir was located on sandy terrain, and its walls and foundation might have been worn thin.

It is estimated that Binh Thuan Province has 600 million tonnes of titanium, and has so far exploited one million tonnes.

However, since 2011, at least three waste reservoirs at titanium mining sites have broken in Binh Thuan Province, revealing chronically poor safety standards and inspections.

Dtinews