VietNamNet Bridge – Though he paid special attention to bauxite mining in the Central Highlands and sent a letter to the National Assembly Chair on this issue, deputy Duong Trung Quoc didn’t question Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang about bauxite projects in the Q&A session on November 22.

Quoc talked with the press on the sideline of the meeting the same day.

What do you think about Minister Vu Huy Hoang’s answers about bauxite projects?

Bauxite is a complex issue but we divide it into different parts. The Ministry of Industry and Trade only covers business issues or how to use bauxite profitably. Meanwhile, the outstanding issue is environment so the Minister of Industry and Trade couldn’t answer that question thoroughly.

Therefore, he had to ask for delay for deputy Lan Dung’s question and we have to understand that.

Bauxite mining is also related to defence and security or transport and society. All of these areas/aspects are not covered by the Ministry of Industry and Trade so the Minister of Industry and Trade couldn’t answer.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen still confirmed the safety of bauxite projects. Do you think that his confirmation will make people feel assured about environmental issues?

I think his answer is not new. Perhaps his determination is new, the solution is not new.

It is clearly to see the contrary between the safety and the economic effect of bauxite projects. Personally, I think that the questions about bauxite projects should be raised to the Prime Minister.

With many worries over the bauxite projects, you sent questions to the National Assembly Chair. Why didn’t you question the Minister of Industry and Trade?

I sent a question to him but that question is very technical, which came from an expert in the province that I represent (Dong Nai province). I’ve received the written answer from Minister Hoang. I will send the answer to the expert in my province.

However, I would like to repeat that bauxite mining in the Central Highlands is not only the issue of environment or business but it is a complex issues that touches many other areas.

People’s worries also vary. The question that must be answered is whether we need to pay such a high cost? It is normal to mine bauxite in the Central Highlands but the selection of locations, the mode of investment is problematic so it attracts people’s attention.

What do you think about the fact that these projects are still implemented?

Is the economic effectiveness earned from these projects worth the efforts and the worries of so many people? At this moment, we can confirm in theory that they are safe but the incident in Hungary is a clear evidence that proves otherwise.

I believe that the investor carefully researched the safety of these projects. However, though they are proved to be safe now, there are risks in the future that we can’t predict.

Additionally, if it is proved that bauxite plants are more effective and safe if located in Binh Thuan, why don’t we built the plants in Binh Thuan. After that, the state can transfer? economic benefits? from BinhThuan to the Central Highlands.

PV