VietNamNet Bridge – The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in Quang Ngai Province has said the 15 million cubic metres of dredged sand and soil recently dumped into the sea area was a legal activity and had not caused pollution.

15 million cubic metres of dredged sand and soil recently dumped into the sea area was a legal activity and had not caused pollution. Photo: VNA

Director of the department Do Minh Hai said the province had allowed Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC to dump roughly 15 million cu.m of sand and soil after dredging work on Hoa Phat Sea Port.

The material had only been moved from one area to another, he said.

Hai was responding to public outcry about the decision to allow the company to dump the material at sea, which was dredged from 11 ports at the Hoa Phat Integrated Steel Complex.

The company dumped the material off the coast of Dung Quat, about 28km to the east of Ly Son Island.

Hai said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment had invited leading environmental experts to work with consultancy units and investors to survey the area.

A meeting was held to announce the results of the survey, which found the area had no coral or seaweed.

The area was also regularly used to dump sand and soil from nearby ports, which was licensed by authorised agencies.

Hai said the decision would hit local fishermen, but only for a short time because they operated four to five nautical miles from the coast.

The department would coordinate with the management board of Dung Quat Economic Zone and local authorities to notify fishermen to avoid any damage.

Hai also said the company had committed to using modern dredgers to minimise the risk of sand and soil dispersion and pollution.

Dung Quat Port can only receive vessels with a capacity of 100,000 DWT. Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC has decided to increase the capacity to 200,000 DWT. The project was approved by the Ministry of Transport.

After being dredged, the port will be one of the largest in the country.

On October 26, the ministry held a meeting with provincial authorities to find a solution for the sand and soil.

On November 7, the provincial National Assembly delegation asked the ministry and other relevant units to license the dumping of dredged sand and soil.

The construction of Hoa Phat Integrated Steel Complex was approved by the Government last January covering 366 hectares.

The project is expected to create more than 8,000 jobs and increase local budget revenue to VND4-5 trillion ($172-215 million) per year.

Source: VNS