VietNamNet Bridge - Several car importers have warned that they will not allow car imports through Cai Lan Port if local authorities cannot settle environmental problems there.

The representatives of car import companies, at a meeting with Quang Ninh province’s leaders, asked to take action to settle existing problems to create favorable conditions for import activities. 

One of the problems is dust from cement and clinker plants located at Cua Luc riverhead. This kind of dust will spoil car paint if it mixes with rainwater.

According to the Quang Ninh provincial Customs Agency, in the first six months of the year, the amount of imported cars with under 16 seats going through the Cai Lan Port reached 7,620, worth $166.35 million. 

The imports brought VND3.296 trillion worth of tax to the local budget. The amount of money accounts for 75 percent of the total tax collected from imports/exports through the port.

One of the problems is dust from cement and clinker plants located at Cua Luc riverhead. This kind of dust will spoil car paint if it mixes with rainwater.

The Cai Lan International Port is one of five seaports in the country through which car imports can pass.

The number of importers and cars going through the port has been increasing steadily year after year. 

However, many car importers plan to import cars through other ports instead of Cai Lan because of problems in transport infrastructure, tax policies, and dust from cement and clinker plants.

A car importer said that the thick dust from the Ha Long and Thang Long Cement Plants in the area has been spoiling the paint of cars stored at the Quang Ninh Port. Cement and clinker dust on cars’ surface cannot be taken off, and it ruins the color

According to Bui Quang Dao, general director of the Cai Lan Port, putting cars into store houses or covering cars with canvas are not feasible solutions.

Nearly 1,000 cars are imported each time, and cars placed on the ground for easier examination and administration procedures. 

It takes importers 10-12 days on average to follow necessary procedures, long enough for cement and clinker dust to spoil the cars’ color and cover the interior with dust.

Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy chair of Quang Ninh province, said he has instructed the provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment to examine the pollution level caused by the cement and clinker plants to find reasonable solutions.

The area has been polluted by cement and clinker dust for many years. The managers of the plants, facing complaints by locals, have many times promised to stop the pollution. 

Lao Dong