Equipment at Tân Rai bauxite-alumina complex in the Central Highlands and equipment at some environmental treatment systems has deteriorated after nine years of operation. – Photo tuoitre.vn

LÂM ĐỒNG – Equipment at Tân Rai bauxite-alumina complex in the Central Highlands and equipment at some environmental treatment systems has deteriorated after nine years of operation.

The equipment’s life expectancy was not as long as expected, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has reported.

The information was released as part of analysis on the economic efficiency of Nhân Cơ Alumina Plant and Tân Rai bauxite-alumina complex in the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng sent to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In the analysis, the ministry said Chinese contractors had the capacity and experience to carry out the bauxite-alumina project in Lâm Đồng Province. However, the two project’s investor, Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, and the Ministry of Science and Technology should pay attention to the quality of equipment provided by contractors, including equipment for environmental protection.

In the past nine years, under the supervision of the ministry’s environmental monitoring group, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group made great efforts to overcome environmental protection shortcomings.

But the mining and processing of bauxite in the two plants always had a risk of environmental pollution. Three environmental incidents occurred in Tân Rai bauxite-alumina complex and four incidents occurred in Nhân Cơ Alumina Plant.

The ministry also reported that the delay of the projects, which were two years behind schedule, caused the delay of environmental protection work.

For example, the red mud reservoir of Tân Rai bauxite-alumina complex had completed construction of the third chamber, but it has not been put into use.

The ministry said that it would inspect the environmental protection and water sources of the two projects at least three times per year.

It also asked the two projects to address environmental items, such as the completion of the construction of mining areas, ore sorting, ore processing plant, red mud reservoir, power plant and coal gasification plant for both plants.

The ministry requested Đắk Nông Province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment to continue monitoring the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group’s ability to remedy the situation and monitor the water around the plants, especially in the downstream areas where the plants’ discharge gates are located.

It also asked the investor to continue setting up plans to prevent and respond to environmental incidents. They were required to carry out prescribed legal procedures for the ministry to issue certificates of completion of environmental protection works for the projects.

The Tân Rai bauxite-alumina complex, which extracts the soft clay-like substance to produce aluminium, has total investment value of more than US$805 million with capacity of 650,000 tonnes per year. It was put into operation in late 2013.

The Nhân Cơ Alumina Plant has total investment value of over US$814 million with capacity of 650,000 tonnes per year. It went into operation late last year. – VNS