ĐẮK NÔNG — Authorities in Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông have asked the Đắk Nông Aluminum Company to ensure that aluminum powder is not released into the environment.

This followed reports on June 28 by residents living near the Nhân Cơ Aluminum Factory to the local People’s Committee of white powder flying around their homes and the area next to the factory. The powder also covered tree leaves in their yards, about 700m from the factory.

An investigation showed residual aluminum from the hydrate firing area (aluminum is created by burning hydrate), the colour and size of which were similar to the powder stuck to the leaves.

A representative of Nhân Cơ Aluminum Factory confirmed that during aluminum processing, the metal is transmitted through a pipe. When the pipe pressure increases, the company had to release aluminum to an open water container at the hydrate firing area. Strong winds blew the aluminum powder from there.

According to a report by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the powder (AI203) scattered in the air increased dust concentrations, one of the factors causing air pollution in the area, said Nguyễn Văn Hiệp, deputy department director.

The department has asked the Đắk Nông Aluminum Company, under the National Coal and Minerals Corporation (TKV), to reclaim the aluminum remaining in the open container in the hydrate firing area, and fully cover this area and the aluminum product package area. The environmental recovery report must be submitted to the ministry no later than July 05.

The company was ordered to adhere to an environmental impact assessment report approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and report to the ministry on any further similar incidents so that timely measures can be taken to deal with them.

According to TKV, the Nhân Cơ plant has an annual capacity of 650,000 tonnes of aluminum. It is an important pilot project carried out with Politburo’s approval as a foundation to develop Việt Nam’s bauxite mining and processing industry. — VNS