Twenty-eight firms, including Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation and Nui Phao Joint-venture Co., Ltd., have been put under special environmental control by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation among projects put under special environmental control (photo by Tien Phong)

The move followed the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation’s toxic discharges which led to mass fish deaths in the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue last year.

According to Hoang Van Thuc, deputy head of the ministry's General Department of Environment, the list of 28 projects was made based on waste discharge supervision as well as regular or spot checks by the ministry.

Besides the 28 projects, another 300 companies have been listed for environmental supervision by localities. Localities will be responsible for ensuring the businesses conform to environmental regulations.

Thuc added that in cases where there have been significant improvements in waste treatment technology in the next 2-3 years, the monitored firm would be removed from the list. Any project could be added to the list if they showed evidence of environmental pollution.

Thuc added that Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation’s waste discharge and treatment has been tightly controlled since the mass fish deaths. The results showed that indexes meet the regulated standard. 

Formosa has also pledged to invest more than USD100 million to install equipment for waste treatment by June 2019.

dtinews