LONG AN — The southern province of Long An has assigned priority to environment-friendly technologies and strengthened environmental management to ensure sustainable operation of its industrial parks, Phan Nhân Duy, director of its Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said.

It has 28 IPs and 16 IP complexes currently in operation, with over 1,000 plants with a total investment of over US$5 billion.

All had to file reports on their environmental impacts and environmental protection commitments to get their licences. They have their own wastewater and solid waste treatment facilities.

Many of their developers have invested in modern environmental treatment systems and want environment-friendly projects in their IPs, Duy said.

Exports from these IPs and IP complexes account for over 50 per cent of the province’s annual exports of over $4 billion.

The measures taken by the province have helped it restructure its economy from agricultural to industrial, Duy said.

Lê Anh Hiếu, marketing manager of Long Hậu JSC, the developer of Long Hậu IP in Cần Đước District, said his company is focused on environmental protection.

The IP prescribes environmental protection to its tenants, he said.

Its wastewater treatment system is testament to the IP’s environmental protection efforts, he said.

The effluent treatment and water supply systems cost over VNĐ10 billion to build, he said.

Recently it increased its wastewater treatment capacity from 2,000cu.m per day to 6,500cu.m, and the treated water is used to water trees in the IP.

Long An regularly monitors surface water and air quality and does studies of the environment at places facing pollution risks.

The province has taken measures to prevent pollution and encourages the use of new technologies for clean production, ISO 14000 and green consumption, and helps polluting enterprises relocate from residential areas.

Hiếu said the province has also done a study of the waste discharged in rivers to protect them. — VNS