Vietnam Bauxite Plant Finds Pipeline Containing Corrosive Chemical Broken

Workers at a bauxite factory in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Lam Dong last weekend discovered a broken pipeline that contains corrosive chemical Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), which has been leaking and could pose serious environmental threats if not controlled timely, local media reported. The broken pipeline, which is part of the Tan Rai bauxite-aluminum complex located in the province, was replaced immediately. Workers at the plant also mixed the red mud chemical with soil to prevent further harm to the surrounding environment. The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) newspaper noted that the amount of the leaked chemical is insignificant to affect the people’s livelihood. However, a representative from the Lam Dong Aluminum Company is still working closely with local authorities to track any usual circumstances. Mr. Nguyen Van Ban, a former director of the Aluminum – Titaninum Department at the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), said in an interview with the Dat Viet newspaper that the leakage is the result of poor construction along with the low quality of the pipeline, which uses Chinese technology. Long time before Vinacomin launched its bauxite projects, local experts and the public alike were voicing concern, saying that the plants would be unsafe and economically inefficient. Vietnam has some 5.5 billion tons of bauxite reserves, considered the world’s third largest behind only Guinea’s and Australia’s, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2009. (Baodatviet.vn Feb 16, Dantri.com.vn Feb 16)