Vietnam Ministry Asks SOEs to Continue Reporting on Environmental Situation

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked a number of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to continue tightening control over environmental protection standards and report the situation to the ministry prior to June 30, 2017. Big enterprises include state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN), Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), and Vietnam National Coal Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin). Accordingly, Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) needs to stop the wastewater discharge at the Pho Noi B Textile Industrial Park (IP) in the northern province of Hung Yen. EVN, meanwhile, needs to keep a close watch on the operation of its big thermal projects namely Thai Binh 1, Vinh Tan 2, Vinh Tan 4, Vinh Tan 4 Extension, Duyen Hai 1, Duyen Hai 3, and Duyen Hai 3 Extension projects to control the release of fly ask and curb air pollution. Vinachem is asked to supervise DAP No.1 Co., Ltd, DAP No.2 Co., Ltd, Lam Thao Fertilizers and Chemicals JSC, and other chemicals factories to make sure that all steps are under control, especially in rainy season. PetroVietnam needs to ensure that the operation of Vung Ang 1 closely follow environmental protection requirements while Vinacomin must oversee the operation of Nhan Co-Dak Nong Aluminum project and ask it to complete environmental-impact assessment soon. The ministry’s request is in line with the government’s spirit on tightening control over environmental protection among businesses. In November, 2016, the government issued Decree 155/2016/ND-CP stipulating fines in the environment sector with the highest up to VND2 billion ($88,495). Vietnam has tightened control over environmental protection since the beginning of the new cabinet since April 2016, the time when Taiwan-invested Formosa Plastics Group began causing massive fish death. The National Centre for Socio-economic Information and Forecast (NCIF) center under Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment has said that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) may be lowered by 0.6 percentage points annually in the 2016-2020 period due to natural disasters and environmental pollution. Impacts of climate and environmental pollution will pose remarkable challenges to the economy, it said. (Baodautu.vn Jan 7, VnEconomy Jan 6)