VietNamNet Bridge - Binh Thuan provincial authorities have written to the General Department of Vietnam Seas and Islands, stating their opposition to the Vinh Tan 1 thermal power company’s plan on sinking 1.5 million cubic meters of waste.

The huge volume of waste, according to Ho Lam, director of the Binh Thuan provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, comprises mud, soil and sand from the dredging of the passage and waters before the harbor dedicated for the Vinh Tan 1 thermal power plant.

Treating the huge volume of waste on the mainland is not feasible for Vinh Tan because it will require a large land area. The terrain conditions in Tuy Phong district are not good enough as well. 

Besides, experts have warned that the discharge of waste on the mainland would cause salinity intrusion and pollution. That is why Vinh Tan wants to bury the waste at sea. 

The waters where Vinh Tan 1 plans to pour the waste cover an area of 30 hectares, about three miles away from the mainland and near the Hon Cau Marine Protected Area (MPA), one of Vietnam’s 16 MPAs. 

Binh Thuan provincial authorities have written to the General Department of Vietnam Seas and Islands, stating their opposition to the Vinh Tan 1 thermal power company’s plan on sinking 1.5 million cubic meters of waste.

The Binh Thuan provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, anticipating the serious impact on the Hon Cau MPA to be caused by the waste discharge, has asked the investor to find another solution. 

According to Huynh Quang Huy, head of the provincial Fisheries Sub-department, Hon Cau is a small island, about 10 kilometers from the mainland. The MPA covers an area of 12,500 hectares.

However, since the Vinh Tan Power Center and Vinh Tan Specialized Port, receiving the ships with the tonnage of 30,000-200,000 tons build a reclamation area, which overlaps the MPA by 1,000 hectares, the Binh Thuan provincial authorities in September 2016 asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to narrow the MPA’s area by 1,000 hectares.

“The dumping of such a big waste volume in the place just three miles away from the mainland will kill coral reefs and other aquatic creatures. As a result, the Hon Cau MPA will be eliminated,” he said.

In principle, the fisheries sub-department should have been informed about the waste discharge plan because the move will affect the Hon Cau MPA. 

However, the MPA’s management board has not received any official information about the plan.

The site for the waste to be sunk is located on a coastal shipping route, which would affect the sea transport route from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan.

Luong Bang