A subsidiary of the state-run Vietnamese utility giant Vietnam Electricity (EVN) will seek permission to dump a large amount of mud and sand into sea water off the south-central province of Binh Thuan.
Tran Le Trung Hieu, from EVN-run power generation corporation EVN GENCO 3, confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday they are completing paperwork to seek consent from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to dump approximately 2.4 million cubic meters of after-dredging ‘matter,’ or mud and sand, into Vinh Tan Sea in Tuy Phong District.
Dredging activity to clear the way for 100-metric-ton freighters to carry coal into the port is estimated to produce the above-mentioned volume of mud and sand, he explained.
The coal is needed to operate three thermal power plants, namely Vinh Tan 3, Vinh Tan 4 and the expanded Vinh Tan 4, run by Vinh Tan Thermal Electricity Center.
The ditching site is approximately five kilometers from where Vinh Tan 1 Thermal Power Plant, operated by Vinh Tan 1 Co. Ltd., was granted the permit to dispose of around one million cubic meters of mud and sand in late June, and 10 kilometers from Cau Islet, Hieu added.
The Vinh Tan 4 and the expanded Vinh Tan 4 plants are developed by EVN, with EVN GENCO 3 representing the developer.
Hieu assured the company will strictly comply with environmental protection procedures.
Nguyen Linh Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said on the same afternoon his ministry has yet to receive the company’s application.
Concerns have been raised over the ministry’s decision to allow Vinh Tan 1 to dump nearly one million cubic meters of mud and sand into the sea in Vinh Tan Commune, Tuy Phong District in late June.
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