Impersonated doctor talks about project to dump 1 million cubic meters of sludge into the sea

Dr. Nguyen Tac An - former Director of Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, former Chairman of the National Committee of the Intergovernmental Oceanography Program of Vietnam shared with the press his views on the case of dumping sludge into the sea in Binh Thuan that has attracted public attention.

Reporter: What is your opinion when the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Binh Thuan provincial government plan to plan a 300-hectare sea surface area to dump sludge from the Vinh Tan thermal power plant cluster, and have initially granted permission for Vinh Tan 1 thermal power plant to dump 1 million cubic meters of sludge in the province's sea area?

Dr. Nguyen Tac An:This issue is very important, so it is necessary to have time to research and carefully consider the legal basis, academic and socio-economic conditions in Vinh Tan sea area, from there, on the principle of comparing all benefits in terms of development, environment, people's benefits... From there, the competent authorities can make reasonable decisions to create opportunities for everyone to develop together, especially creating a safe environment for future generations.

Dr. Nguyen Tac An

- It is known that the licensed location to dump nearly 1 million m3 of waste sludge into the sea is 8km from the core of Hon Cau island, only 3km from the protected boundary of Hon Cau marine reserve. In your opinion, how will the Hon Cau marine reserve be affected? How will the marine environment around the dumping site be affected?

It will be heavily impacted by the biophysical mechanism because of the turbidity of the submerged mud and sand, changing the geomorphology of the seabed, changing the dynamic processes of the seabed and disturbing the entire seabed ecosystem. This can lead to local ecological disasters.

- Have you ever learned about Hon Cau Marine Reserve? What is the marine biodiversity in this area?

There are many published documents. Even the name of the area, "Hon Cau Marine Reserve", speaks of its important position and rich biological resources. Protecting biodiversity, it is the ecological basis for fisheries, for natural landscapes and the root of life for people living along the coast of Binh Thuan.

- What do you think when Binh Thuan proposes to adjust the planning, roughly understood as cutting 1,060 hectares out of the total 12,500 hectares of Hon Cau marine reserve to serve thermal power plants?

I can't understand such adjustments.

Cu Lao Cau, also known as Hon Cau Island, is still pristine. This sea area was once known as the center of shrimp, fish, and seafood of the whole region.

- When planning the project, Vinh Tan 1 Thermal Power Plant mentioned that when the sludge is dumped under the sea, it will be surrounded by nets, and the sludge will be fixed. Meanwhile, ocean currents are not fixed, and the seabed is never peaceful. In your opinion, is this plan feasible?

In my opinion, there is no scientific and practical basis to convince that the barrier net can fix up to nearly 1 million m3 of mud and sand in the coastal sea, not to mention that this is an area affected by the very strong dynamic process of the upwelling sea...

- It is known that the Vinh Tan thermal power plant cluster dredged the sea near Vinh Tan commune, Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province, to serve the construction of the factory, the wharves and will dredge to build a shipping channel from the sea to the shore. According to your assessment, how will this dredging affect the marine ecosystem? How will it affect the marine environment?

Coastal dredging is an activity that has a negative impact on coastal areas, especially on biodiversity, coastal fisheries, and all local economic and social activities. Therefore, the world is very cautious and conducts in-depth research by surveying, investigating, and comprehensively assessing the benefits and harms of all aspects in the area, conducting experimental, theoretical, and modeling research to test and have an accepted impact report before allowing dredging.

It is worth mentioning that we are only discussing the impact of dredging and silting, but in fact the impact of thermal power is even more worrying, due to the wastewater, coal slag and gas emissions. The problem of managing and minimizing the impact of the above 3 processes is very difficult and there will be many other problems, making society very insecure...

Thank you!

According to VNN