Environment
Catalogue of violations at country's largest mining project
  • | tp, dtinews.vn | July 19, 2017 10:03 AM
Various environmental violations have been found in the Nui Phao mining project in the northern province of Thai Nguyen.

  

Many violations found in Nui Phao mining project


Nui Phao Company was given a permit by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in 2004 to exploit wolfram, fluoride, bismuth, copper and gold in the 921-hectare mine for 30 years. It aimed to become the world's biggest wolfram supplier, providing 36% of global wolfram output.

During the recent inspection, it is found out that the company didn't report to the authorities that they had discovered unlisted minerals at the mine. The company illegally sold a large amount of rock and surface soil.

After checking the 7,000 cubic metres of wasted rock, the inspectors had found remarkably high iron content. The inspectors said the company had violated Resolution 41 when it didn't report about the discovery of iron at the mine.

There are violations in field surveys and waste discharge. In addition, they haven't built any plan to restore and renovate the environment.

Nui Phao Company hasn't even completed ground clearance and compensation. Many households are still living in areas at risks of being negatively impacted by the mine. Meanwhile, it is discovered that the company is illegally using land not allocated to them.

There was no local water waste treatment system and their tailing ponds were deemed inadequate. Solvent emissions also leaked during the operation. Nui Phao also doesn't have the environmental protection work completion certificate for the operation in phase 2 and 3 nor had it installed a monitoring system.

Nui Phao was fined VND510m (USD22,400) and ordered to halt the project to deal with all violations.

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