VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will set up an ocean monitoring system, using compensation paid by the Taiwanese Hung Nghiep Formosa Steel Plant’s for last year’s environmental incident.

Illustrative image: A marine monitoring tool. Photo baotainguyenmoitruong.vn

A Government decision approved the building up of a system that could give pollution warnings in the ocean near the central provinces of Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Ha Tinh, the four localities hit by the Formosa toxic spill in April last year.

The system will monitor and supply daily data on air, water and sand quality.

The construction of the system will start later this year and is set for completion in 2019, with total investment of VND320 billion (US$14 million) from Formosa’s compensation.

The governmental decision said the installation of modern monitoring equipment in the four localities is requested, but effectiveness and cost-saving are also musts.

The ministry will chair the building up while the four provinces will work together in managing the system.

Last year, Formosa released toxic waste into the ocean in the four provinces, killing thousands of fish and affecting the livelihood of millions of locals. Formosa later pledged $500 million for compensation to the government. 

VNS