Two tin mines in Nghe An were fined 420 million VND for discharging waste directly into the environment.

On January 6, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district issued a decision to administratively fine Hong Luong Company Limited a total of VND210 million for violations related to the environment. This is a company licensed to exploit and process tin ore in the Hung Noi area (Chau Hong commune, Quy Hop).

However, through inspection, this mine had 2 violations. The first violation was that the company did not properly and fully implement one of the contents of the decision approving the results of the environmental impact assessment report appraisal according to regulations. Specifically, during the production process, the company did not regularly dredge the settling pits, so the sludge filled the settling pits, there were no more partitions between the settling pits, in fact there was only 1 settling pit, and the wastewater during the ore selection process overflowed.

Location of the mine discharging untreated waste into the environment. Photo: TH

Second, the company has the act of constructing, installing equipment, pipes or other discharge lines to discharge untreated waste into the environment. Specifically, the company has installed a pump to pump wastewater in the ore-processing wastewater treatment tank to discharge directly into the Karst cave.

In addition to the fine, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district forced Hong Luong Company Ltd. to dismantle the pump and pipeline system used to pump and discharge untreated wastewater into the environment within 5 days from receiving the penalty decision.

On the same day, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district also issued a decision to administratively fine Ha Cuong Company Limited 210 million VND for similar violations. This is a licensed enterprise to exploit, select tin ore and exploit marble as accompanying materials in the Thung Xen area (Chau Tien commune, Quy Hop district).

Accordingly, the first act is that the company did not properly or fully implement one of the contents of the decision approving the results of the environmental impact assessment report appraisal as prescribed. Specifically, during the production process, the embankment of a settling pit was broken due to heavy rain and floods, but the company had not yet reinforced or repaired it. The sludge and soil discharged during the production process was deposited in the waste ponds, causing water to overflow into the environment.

Wastewater is discharged through pipes into the environment at a mine. Photo: TH

The second act is that the company has the act of constructing, installing equipment, pipes or other discharge lines to discharge untreated waste into the environment. Specifically, the company has installed 2 pumps to pump wastewater from the ore-processing wastewater treatment tank directly into the Karst cave.

In addition to the total fine of VND210 million for the two violations, the People's Committee of Quy Hop district also suspended construction activities that generated waste for 2 months to correct the violations. It forced Ha Cuong Company Ltd. to dismantle the pump and pipeline system used to pump and discharge untreated wastewater into the environment./.