VietNamNet Bridge - Though Formosa Ha Tinh has fixed 85 percent of the problems, experts are still worried about its coke-quenching technology and undersea discharge system.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and Ha Tinh provincial authorities have confirmed that Formosa Ha Tinh has fixed 45 out of 53 problems and that the company’s process has been going as fast as committed.

Of the eight existing problems, there are two serious ones – the change from wet coke-quenching into dry coke-quenching technology and the adaptation to oil spills.

To treat the waste water before discharging it to the environment, Formosa has been asked to build additional works, including biological reservoirs as requested by MONRE.

Vu Dinh Dap former deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Aquaculture Research Institute III, said: “Honestly speaking, I don’t really believe that 85 percent of workload has been done. In principle, it will take years to change some items in factories, because it is necessary to destroy existing works and build new ones."

The expert said it would be an important step to shift from wet coke quenching technology to dry friendly technology. It will be necessary to strictly supervise implementation of the work.

Though Formosa Ha Tinh has fixed 85 percent of the problems, experts are still worried about its coke-quenching technology and undersea discharge system.

“The thing we can do now is examine the waste water before it is linked into the tubes to be brought to the environment,” he said, adding that Formosa has to check and provide inspectors with water samples before discharging.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Tac An, deputy chair of the Vietnam Association of Marine Science and Technology, former Director of the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, said that even if Formosa can change the wet coke-quenching technology, the risk of pollution will still be very high.

“Steel production is a polluting industry. Developed countries have been trying to transfer steel production technique to developing countries, including Vietnam,” An said.

“There is no perfect technology which avoids the greenhouse effect and the bad impact on the environment, no matter if it is wet or dry coke quenching technology,” he said.

Dap, while highly appreciating Formosa’s efforts to fix problems, said these were just initial steps and that supervising Formosa’s operation is most important. However, a question has been raised if the supervisors are objective and capable.  

Dat Viet