ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
Country Report of Vietnam
Members should endeavour to answer the questions as fully as possible, where applicable, as a summary report will be prepared by SEAISI.Where possible/applicable, for each of the issues below, members should also include the opinion or stated position of the industry, government and/or non-government organisations as this can give a better insight into current and potential developments.
- External Influences
- Overview.
After the Environment Law in Vietnam have been published in November 29th 2005 (52/2001/QH10 dated 29th November 2005) the enforcement from Central government has increasing significantly and following by several environment inspections, audits…at steel manufacturing companies and other industries to check the compliance levels. Furthermore, the enforcement initiatives are the results of corrective actions from serious environment breaches (non-compliances) of big companies in Vietnam e.g Vedan, Sonadezi, others.
b.Government Organisations.
- Legislation.
The trend of environment legislation will be stricter and stricter in the coming years as the Vietnam government has established new enforcement resource (Environment Police) and numbers of headcounts have increased to inspect the compliance of all industries especially those who generated hazardous wastes (liquid or solid) and air emissions.
All local environmental standards (TCVNs) for waste waters and air emissions have been converted to Environmental Regulations. The changes proved the enforcement from the local government in Environment Protections. Please note that environmental standards are encouraging in Vietnam while environment regulations are mandatory.
- Guidelines/codes of practice.
BlueScope strictly its internal 12 environment standards (EMS) so there is no impact to its current operations. However for other steel manufacturers in Vietnam the enforcement from government can help them improve the environment management process which may cost them but for environment protection and product competition there is a fair and friendly environment established countrywide.
- Evaluation, monitoring and assessment.
The government organized and actively responded to the calls for environment protection worldwide e.g Earth Hours, World Environment Day, National Environment Day, Environmental Seminars organized by the local provinces to educate, communicate changes in environment regulations, decisions or terms. Inter-departmental delegations from local authorities are set up to visit all steel plants in the provinces and penalize the non-compliances. The repeated non-compliances can be reported to the provincial people’s committee and registered in the “Environmental Black Book” for further following up actions including operational permit withdrawal. Environment protection initiatives registered in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are also closely reviewed by local authorities to ensure they are strictly followed.
- Reduction measures and programmes.
The government also launched environment protection program including special loans to those who would like to invest in environment improvement projects e.g WWTP, stack incinerators…or special favors to investors to do waste disposal services.
Environment seminars also conducted to educate local companies in waste management or chemical management or air emissions…
Local government coordinated with waste disposal companies (non-hazardous or hazardous) to organize seminars, workshops introducing new technologies, services relevant to environment protections.
c. Public, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Pressure Groups.
- Overall attitude/position.
Reactions from local communities via complaints on newspapers or TVC are keys to the improvements by steel makers in Vietnam. The government will follow up and penalized the companies who breached the environment laws.
- Specific incidents.
September 2008, Vedan, seasoning powder making company was found by the environment police discharging around 5.000 m3of untreated process waste water to Thi Vai river via underground and undercover piping system causing the serious pollution to Thi Vai river.
In 2007, Song Xanh waste disposal company buried thousand tons of untreated hazardous wastes inside it boundary and was caught by Ba Ria Vung Tau Environment police. As a result of this breach, its operation permit had been withdrawn by government.
d. Surveys Studies and Forecasts.
-Emissions, burdens and impacts.
Nil
-Others.
Nil
2. In the Steelworks.
a.Overview.
Steel industry in Vietnam is heavily impacted by cheap products from China and unbalanced between Supply and Demand (Supply doubled the Demands: 200.000 tons vs 100.000 tons per annual). Several small and medium sized steel makers closed or stopped the operations due to financial shortages while big steel makers (local or multinational or joint ventures…)try to reduce cost so they may not invest in environment protection programmes or facilities at the moment which may impact the overall environment performance.
b.Process stages.
Some waste disposal companies just built their facilities countrywide which may help steel makers have more options in waste disposal services and increase the competitions among waste treatment services.
All new plants depending on its scales must submit to the DoNRE or MoNRE its EIAs as a Must before project constructions which may ensure effective process is implemented and maintained.
c.General issues.
Provide details of all major developments which relate to the environmental performance of the whole plant, including:
Launching the environment improvement initiatives via: process review, operation efficiency to save energies including electricity, water, gases…
Regular review of EMS to find gaps and improvement opportunities
Setting clear and specific targets for LAWWNE (Land/Air/Waste/Water/Noice/Energy (GHG) for each site.
3. Special Topics.
a.R+D activities.
Nil
b.Environmental strategy.
To ensure the fundamentals are in place to effectively manage environment performance and risks over the medium term.
Activities:
- Aspirational Targets: Each Business shall develop short and medium term plans, including measureable targets for LAWWNE
- Governance: Each Business to continue to roll out the revised EMS and conduct self assessments against Standards.
- Reporting and Sharing: Each business is to meet regulatory requirements and report environmental performance to BSL through the SAP EC reporting system.
- Promote information sharing from environment incidents and learnings through the Environment Learning Opportunity system.
- Each business shall develop an environment employee engagement plan.
- Finalise the roll out of the Environment eLearning package to appropriate personnel.
c.Others.
Nil