As a major corporation operating in Quang Ninh with the determination to transform economic growth from “brown” to “green”, Vinacomin has carried out various measures to align its production with environmental protection.
Quang Ninh’s great determination
At a recent meeting of the provincial People’s Council, Quang Ninh Party Secretary Nguyen Xuan Ky stressed that amid difficulties and challenges, Quang Ninh has been consistent in its target of sustainable, green and inclusive growth on the basis of maximising its potentials and strengths to transition from a coal-based economy to green growth.
In addition, the bold measures in economic restructuring, especially in industry, services and public investment, have helped the province overcome the challenges, manage risks effectively and maintain double-digit economic growth for seven consecutive years (2016-2022).
The Quang Ninh Party Secretary’s statement shows the province’s strong determination in transforming its economic development from “brown” to “green”, especially in the coal mining industry.
Compared to a mini-scale version of Vietnam, Quang Ninh is one of the few localities endowed with rich natural resources. According to the Quang Ninh Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the province currently has over 240 mines in production, producing 40 million tonnes of coal, 1.4 million cubic metres of building materials, 6.5 million tonnes of limestone, and 1.3 million tonnes of clay annually.
Prior to 2011, industry accounted for as much as 59% of Quang Ninh’s economic output, with revenue from coal making up about two thirds of its domestic revenue.
Quang Ninh is blessed by Mother Nature with beautiful natural landscapes such as Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. During its development process, Quang Ninh has gradually realised the challenge and conflict between coal mining — which has contributed to ensuring national energy security — and heavy industry development against tourism and service development in the same area; between unlocking potential strengths and development space against limited mechanisms and policies; and between the reform of the political system that is not compatible with the economic reform against the current situation. Quang Ninh is determined to transform from a brown to a green economy towards sustainable development, especially in the coal industry.
Quang Ninh is determined to transform its ECONOMIC MODEL from “BROWN” to “GREEN” towards sustainable development, especially in the coal industry.
In Resolution 236/NQ-HDND, issued by the Provincial People's Council on December 12, 2015, on policies and solutions to strengthen environmental protection in the locality in the 2016-2020 period, Quang Ninh has issued a set of local criteria for conditions and actors in the province. In which, the work of environmental management focuses on seven tasks: managing water environment, air quality, solid waste, and forest; biodiversity conservation; climate change adaptation; and environmental monitoring.
Accordingly, every year, the province spends no less than 3% of the total local budget expenditure on the environmental issues to realise the above-mentioned tasks. In 2018 alone, the percentage reached 5.6%, focusing mainly on the tasks of collecting and treating waste, dredging sewers, cleaning the environment, and implementing environmental projects.
The provincial authorities have also strengthened instructions for coal mining units operating in the locality to allocate proper funding for environmental protection.
Quang Ninh province’s coal industry gets involved in environmental protection
As one of the largest corporations in Quang Ninh Province, in its sustainable development strategy, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group – Vinacomin has focused on two groups of action that request its production development to be associated with environmental protection and in harmony with the environment, the locality, and the community, in order to contribute to the local economic development.
Dang Thanh Hai, General Director of Vinacomin said that the coal industry continues to implement environmental commitments with localities and allocates resources to planting trees and improving and restoring the environment. At the same time, the group focuses on implementing plans to cope with climate change, while investing in renovating production technology to become more environmentally friendly.
General Director of Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) Dang Thanh Hai.
General Director of Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) Dang Thanh Hai.
In 2019, Vinacomin completed works on the project of environmental assurance in the coal industry in Quang Ninh Province (in the 2016-2020 period), planted trees to cover more than 1,000 ha of landfill, and installed 38 automatic environmental monitoring systems. In addition, the group put into operation 45 mine wastewater treatment stations, with a capacity of more than 120 million m3 per year, ensuring that all mine wastewater is treated according to standards. Units under Vinacomin also invest in high-pressure dust suppression misting machines, to increase dust prevention efficiency and apply coal transportation solutions, using conveyor belts to minimise the effects of dust and noise on residential and urban areas.
Notably, Vinacomin has moved many workshops and coal factories out of centres, contributing to improving the landscape and urban development of the mining area. For example, in mid-2019, Vinacomin terminated the operation of the Nam Cau Trang Coal Plant (nearly 33 ha), ensuring environmental safety in the production area.
In the context of coal mining decline, Vinacomin has promoted investment in technology to improve the efficiency of underground coal mining. Specifically, Vinacomin invests in a mechanised longwall system, applied in many different production areas. From the first mechanised longwall mining applied at Khe Cham Coal Company in 2015, the group has expanded to 10 mechanised lines at Ha Lam, Vang Danh, Khe Cham, and others.
Vinacomin spends over 1.3 trillion VND per year on environmental protection, including 1.1 trillion VND in Quang Ninh alone.
Vinacomin spends over 1.3 trillion VND per year on environmental protection, including 1.1 trillion VND in Quang Ninh alone. From this funding source, many environmental projects and works have been invested in and put into operation, to effectively serve environmental protection during Vinacomin’s production process.
Besides promoting production and business, Vinacomin also pays great attention to environmental protection, including the environment of the Quang Ninh coal region, contributing to the sustainable development of the group, as well as Quang Ninh Province. In particular, Vinacomin has recently developed and implemented a project on protecting the environment in the Quang Ninh coal region until 2025, with a vision to 2030, and a master plan to improve and restore the environment of Quang Ninh coal region until 2025, with a vision to 2030.
Coal enterprises are determined to associate production with environmental protection
Sharing about the difficulties and advantages in the process of "greening" coal mining units, Nguyen Hoang Huan, Deputy Director of Vinacomin Informatics, Technology and Environment Joint Stock Company (VITE) — the unit providing development strategy consulting for Vinacomin Group, noted that that in the process of implementing greener and cleaner production policies, it is very difficult for coal enterprises because there is a historical factor. The coal industry has gone through a very long process, some mines have been in operation for decades, even approaching a hundred years. Therefore, implementing a new policy on an object that has been implemented for a long time cannot avoid difficulties.
However, “greening” coal mining enterprises also has its own advantages. One of the greatest advantages in the implementation process is synchronisation, that is, the Group has synchronisation of staff, especially environmental staff; synchronisation from the Group to its units; and a management process which also follows a synchronised system.
Therefore, when implementing solutions as well as related plans to improve greener and cleaner production, it is quite convenient, because there is connection as well as exchange, learning and drawing experiences from each other. That is advantageous.
Vinacomin’s wastewater treatment system
Vinacomin’s wastewater treatment system
“In addition, to date, legal documents as well as State instructions related to environmental protection work have been quite clear. Therefore, it is a very easy legal corridor for units to implement," Nguyen Hoang Huan affirmed.
At Ha Lam Coal, Vinacomin has invested in a synchronous mechanised longwall furnace with the largest capacity (1.2 million tonnes of coal/year). Investing in mechanisation also helps minimise the amount of waste after the production process.
With these advantages, coal enterprises have made efforts to invest in environmental protection projects. At Ha Lam, TKV has invested in a synchronous mechanised longwall furnace with the largest capacity (1.2 million tons of coal/year). According to the assessment of Vinacomin leaders, mechanised longwall furnaces increase labour productivity by 2-5 times compared to normal longwall furnaces. On average, mechanised coal mining output can reach 11-14% of total underground coal output each year. Investing in mechanisation also helps minimise the amount of waste after the production process.
The project to exploit and reclaim mining waste to serve the levelling of civil and industrial works in the Suoi Lai area is Vinacomin's first project licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Reusing soil and rock at mining waste sites as backfilling material will bring dual benefits to the coal industry, including reducing pressure on waste dumping, limiting impact on the environment and circularly increasing economic efficiency. This is also a major policy and the right direction for Quang Ninh Province, in the context that civil and industrial projects and works in the locality need large quantities of levelling materials. Instead of levelling hills to get land for backfilling activities, projects can use mine waste soil and rock as suitable and effective replacement materials.
In addition, Quang Ninh Coal Processing Company has invested in nine water trucks to suppress dust in the port warehouse areas in Cam Pha, Ha Long, Uong Bi and Mao Khe, along with a water spray system, to suppress dust in the coal processing line areas, locations at the beginning of coal pouring troughs, coal warehouses, and transportation routes.
The company has recently continued to invest in three high-pressure mist sprayers to suppress dust, with a total value of more than 7 billion VND, as well as improved the internal road system, drainage system, organised surface water collection, settled pits, and covered coal warehouses with tarpaulins, to protect coal and prevent dust dispersion. The company has conducted environmental monitoring to ensure monthly and quarterly environmental regulations.
The Vinacomin – Environment Company Limited is a specialised unit in environmental work, making great efforts to reduce environmental pollution caused by coal and mineral mining activities. The company is managing and operating 45 mine wastewater treatment stations in Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen and Lang Son Provinces.
High-pressure mist sprayer system to suppress dust at Quang Ninh Coal Processing Company
High-pressure mist sprayer system to suppress dust at Quang Ninh Coal Processing Company
The stations are equipped with automatic monitoring systems, to monitor the quality of treated water, eligible for discharge into the environment. The company is managing and operating two conveyor belts, transporting coal from the production site to the consumption site and minimising dust dispersion into the environment as before. Every year, the Hazardous Industrial Waste Treatment Plant collects and processes thousands of tonnes of solid waste of all kinds, manages and regularly maintains 32 kilometres of inter-mine transport roads and uses daily tanker trucks to spray water to suppress dust. In addition, the company has grown thousands of hectares of trees to green the post-mining fields and waste dumps. Dozens of kilometres of embankments and anti-landslide dams have been repaired and constructed per year.
In the coming time, Vinacomin will implement a policy on reuse of mine wastewater; renovating and environmental restoration of the 917 open-cast mine operated by the Hon Gai Coal Company, transferring the 917 open-cast mine for use as a fresh water reserve lake with a capacity of 20 million m3; and implementing the goal of "Developing a circulatory economy model, enhancing Vinacomin's mineral exploitation value chain".
Dang Thanh Hai emphasised that in the coming time, Vinacomin will continue to implement overall environmental protection plans according to the cluster model at the units; maintain effective operation of invested environmental works; and continue to invest in new environmental projects, especially projects to improve the landscape environment of production premises and working environment.
At the same time, Vinacomin will implement a policy on reuse of mine wastewater; renovating and environmental restoration of the 917 open-cast mine operated by the Hon Gai Coal Company, transferring the 917 open-cast mine to use as a fresh water reserve lake with a capacity of 20 million m3; and implementing the goal of "Developing a circulatory economy model, enhancing Vinacomin's mineral exploitation value chain".
To date, with the strong participation of businesses in Quang Ninh Province, Quang Ninh has completed the environmental targets set out in the Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress, term 2015-2020, as follows:
Forest coverage rate reaches 53-54%; the rate of collected household solid waste reached over 92%; the rate of medical waste collected and treated reached 100%; the proportion of urban residents using clean water is over 98%; and the proportion of rural residents using hygienic water is over 98%.
Basic environmental monitoring parameters are all within allowable limits.
To date, with the strong participation of businesses in Quang Ninh Province, Quang Ninh has completed the environmental targets set out in the Resolution of the 14th Provincial Party Congress, term 2015-2020, as follows: Forest coverage rate reaches 53-54%; The rate of collected household solid waste reached over 92%; the rate of medical waste collected and treated reached 100%; the proportion of urban residents using clean water is over 98%; and the proportion of rural residents using hygienic water is over 98%. Basic environmental monitoring parameters are all within allowable limits. Basic environmental monitoring parameters are all within allowable limits. It can be said that Quang Ninh Province's strong determination and policies have been bringing positive results while creating momentum for greater efforts in the future.
Published: October 2023
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