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| A corner of Hạ Long Bay. - VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyết |
Viet Nam News
QUẢNG NINH — Authorities have rejected an investor’s proposal to build a chemical factory near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hạ Long Bay in the northern province of Quảng Ninh.
The project was proposed by Tân Tiến trading business and production limited company, which is headquartered in Hà Nội.
The economic zone management committee of Quảng Ninh Province’s People’s Committee rejcted the construction of the factory which was projected to annually manufacture 20,000 tonnes of Sodium hydroxide along with 20,000 tonnes of powder Poly Aluminium Chloride (PAC) and 3,600 tonnes of Javen (Natri hypochlorit) bleach.
The project was proposed to be located near Cửa Lục River which flows into Hạ Long Bay. Tourism agencies and planning, environmental experts have been worried that environmental incidents might occur and hurt the province’s tourism and service sector.
The committee will carry out investment procedures at another location if the company is still willing to invest in the factory.
The decision was made after the provincial economic zone management committee worked with the project’s investor, the ministries of natural resources, environment, industry and trade, scientists and local authorities.
Since 2013, Tân Tiến has operated a chemical and coal dust manufacturing factory at Việt Hưng industrial zone in Quảng Ninh Province. In 2015, it submitted a proposal to construct a factory to make Sodium hydroxide and other commercial products.
In May 2016, economic zone management committee of Quảng Ninh Province’s People’s Committee granted a certificate of investment registration for the project.
In March 2017, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment approved a report assessing the environmental impacts of the project.
The provincial economic zone management committee met with Tân Tiến about the project’s pollution risks. The two sides agreed to retrieve the investment registration certificate.
The company then applied for a new factory project manufacturing Sodium hydroxide, PAC and Javen, the project authorities have rejected. — VNS
