An estimated VND 124 trillion (US$7.4 billion) is needed to eliminate industrial pollution, a new Industrial Policy and Strategy Institute (IPSI) study shows.
But IPSI director Phan Dang Tuat says such a massive investment could create a beneficial environmental-protection industry.The research lists 18 economic sectors with the potential to cause serious pollution.Of these, five key industries need investment of more than VND 10 trillion (USD 595 million) to eliminate pollution.The oil and petroleum industry would have to spend about VND 23.4 trillion (USD 1.4 billion) to treat waste from exploration and winning of oil and gas.The seafood industry would have to spend VND 16 trillion (USD 952 million); the steel industry VND 12.8 trillion (USD 762 million); electricity generation, which relies heavily upon coal, VND 12.4 trillion (USD 738 million); and mineral and coal mining VND 10.8 trillion (USD 643 million).The textile and garment, chemicals, paper, health, cement and beverage industries would need VND 2 trillion (USD 119 million) to VND 9 trillion (USD 535.7 million).Tuat says the economic growth that has accompanied industrialisation together with the exploitation of natural resources has harmed living conditions.Almost 80 per cent of factories and industrial zones do not have standard waste-treatment systems.In addition, Viet Nam now hosts a great variety of industries and many use dirty technology and waste natural resources.Steel is an example.Viet Nam welcomes investment in steel projects although the industry is a heavy consumer of natural resources, including water, and this both damages the environment and harms workers.Cement is similar.Numerous cement factories have opened and these use the natural filter of underground water – limestone.The IPSI director quotes scientists as forecasting that pollution would be four to five times higher than now within 12 years if action is delayed.The loss to Gross Domestic Product would be 1 per cent compared with the prevailing 0.3 per cent.The cost of repairing the damage will be much greater than the cost to protect it.Governments and industries throughout the word are targeting environment-friendly products to ensure sustainable development, improve their competitiveness and promote their image, he says.The pressure for industries to become more competitive became heavier and the requirement for environment protection more urgent when Viet Nam joined the World Trade Organisation.Developing an environment industry is an obvious and long-term strategy that would profit not only enterprises but also the community, he says.The Industry and Trade Ministry’s Industrial Safety Techniques and Environment Agency deputy director, Nguyen Van Thanh, says only three of Ha Noi’s nine industrial zones have waste-water treatment systems.The air in the city is filled with toxic substances, he says.The deputy director warns that without the enactment of immediate measures, rising sea levels, anticipated with climate change, will endanger life."Coastal provinces and cities will sink and bridges and ports will become useless," he says.
Party sets targets
The Viet Nam Communist Party’s resolution dealing with sustainable socio-economic development till 2010, stipulates that all newly-established factories must use clean technology or install waste treatment equipment.All industrial and processing zones must have waste treatment systems.The Government has preferential policies to encourage technology transfer, tax incentives and investment support to help meet the targets.
