Monitoring and resolving environmental hotspots in Vinh Tan

Recently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Binh Thuan has presided over and coordinated with departments, branches and localities to closely monitor, inspect and supervise environmental hotspots. In particular, it has strengthened the inspection and supervision of environmental protection implementation at Vinh Tan Power Center, focusing on regular and close monitoring of Vinh Tan Thermal Power Center.

Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture and Environment said that in recent times, the monitoring of environmental protection implementation for projects at Vinh Tan Power Center and Vinh Tan International Port has always been maintained by Working Group 218 (established by the Provincial People's Committee). The monitoring results show that most investors pay great attention to environmental protection, regularly operate waste treatment facilities that meet environmental technical standards; implement measures to minimize dust and noise generated at sources, promote solutions to consume ash, slag, etc. However, during the Northeast monsoon (from November to April of the following year) with strong gusts, swirling winds, dust (black dust) still appears and spreads into the houses of some households living near the area bordering Vinh Tan Power Center (this problem occurs annually) and potentially causes insecurity and disorder in the locality.

Ash dump in Vinh Tan (documentary photo).

For example, in the first quarter of 2025, in Vinh Phuc village, Vinh Tan commune, dust (black dust) appeared and spread into the houses of some households living in the area adjacent to Vinh Tan Power Center. The authorities received the most recent feedback from the people on March 3, 2025. Accordingly, the Party Committee, the People's Committee, the Fatherland Front and mass organizations of Vinh Tan commune organized to grasp public opinion and propagate and mobilize people to stabilize the situation. The Department of Agriculture and Environment presided over and coordinated with relevant agencies and units to promptly grasp the feedback information, organize work and survey the actual implementation of environmental protection work of the projects. At the same time, 3 rounds of measurement and sampling of ambient air and noise levels were organized in the area of ​​adjacent households at different times of the day with the number of samples taken being 18 ambient air samples and 21 noise measurements. Analysis results show that most of the measured and analyzed indicators are within the allowable limits.

The provincial National Assembly delegation on an environmental monitoring occasion in Vinh Tan. Photo: KH

On the other hand, in order to ensure good implementation of environmental protection work so as not to cause impacts and affect the lives and activities of people in the border area and to ensure stability of security and order in the locality, the Provincial People's Committee has issued an official dispatch requesting to strengthen environmental protection of thermal power plants at Vinh Tan Power Center.

Operating machinery at the ash and slag processing plant in Vinh Tan (photo K. H)

In which, the investor of thermal power plants at Vinh Tan Power Center and Vinh Tan International Port Joint Stock Company are required to take measures to handle and minimize pollution to thoroughly resolve the emission of dust and coal dust; stop unloading coal, using pile-breaking machines when there is strong wind and urgently complete the investment in covering the entire coal warehouse, especially open coal warehouses to prevent dust and coal dust from being emitted into the surrounding environment.... The Department of Agriculture and Environment is also focusing on organizing sampling in the next batches and collecting information, data, and scientific data on the environment to have data to assess the level of environmental impact and impacts from Vinh Tan Power Center and propose solutions to minimize negative impacts on the living environment, ensuring a stable life for people.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/giam-sat-va-giai-quyet-cac-diem-nong-moi-truong-o-vinh-tan-130554.html