The Vĩnh Tân Thermal Power Plant 2. Up to 27 projects of seven State corporations are listed in a Ministry of Industry and Trade’s directive as being liable to cause environmental pollution. — Photo baohaiquan.vn

HÀ NỘI — Up to 27 projects of seven State corporations are listed in a Ministry of Industry and Trade’s directive as being liable to cause environmental pollution.

In the directive on strengthening environmental protection issued this week, Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh requested all relevant corporations to review and report their findings, as well as suggest measures for environmental protection in 2016-17.

The Electricity of Việt Nam (EVN) topped the list with eight projects, namely Thái Bình Thermal Power Plant 1, Vĩnh Tân Thermal Power Plant 2, Vĩnh Tân Thermal Power Plant 4 and its expanded project, Duyên Hải 1, Duyên Hải 3 and its expanded project, and the Quảng Ninh Thermal Power Company.

The Việt Nam Oil and Gas Group was second with six projects, including Vũng Áng 1 Power Plant, Long Phú 1 Thermal Power Plant, Thái Bình 2, Sông Hậu 1 Thermal Power Plant, Nghi Sơn Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex and the Cà Mau Gas Processing Plant.

Projects of Việt Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group - Nhân Cơ-Đắk Nông Alumina Plant, Lâm Đồng Aluminum Company, Thạch Khê iron mine project and Sin Quyền copper mining and processing project - were also named.

Other listed projects belong to the Việt Nam National Chemical Group, the Việt Nam Textile and Garment Group, the Việt Nam Steel Corporation and the Việt Nam Paper Corporation.

Minister Anh asked the ministry’s Industrial Techniques and Environment Agency to closely monitor, inspect and report on the projects which are likely to cause pollution.

"The agency will co-ordinate with other departments of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to organise special monitoring on such projects," he stressed.

Also in this directive, Anh requested a specialised review and evaluation of production technology in the fields of thermal power generation, chemicals, mining, mineral processing and textiles.

In the case of EVN’s projects, Anh required the General Directorate of Energy in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the EVN to review and evaluate the overall impact on the environment of the Vĩnh Tân and Duyên Hải power centres in 2017 and continue with other power centres afterwards.

For investors in coal-fired power projects, the minister asked for the development and implementation of appropriate ash treatment so that no ash can be released into the environment.

"All State groups and corporations should resolutely refuse to invest in projects with potential risks of affecting the environment. They also need to gradually innovate the technologies to reduce emissions into the environment," Anh said. — VNS