Resolute in pollution prevention and control

Sharing about solutions for pollution prevention, control and promoting sustainable development of chemical industry enterprises, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Department of Industrial Environment, Department of Industrial Safety and Environment Techniques (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said: The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been focusing on implementing many tasks and solutions to promote sustainable development of the industry; strengthening support, implementing pollution prevention and control for the chemical industry; promoting recycling and reuse of gypsum waste.

In the process of implementing the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister in Decision 1375/QD-TTg dated September 8, 2020 on approving the Environmental Protection Plan of the Industry and Trade sector for the period 2020-2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has also focused on implementing many specific tasks and solutions to promote the industry in general, towards the goal of sustainable development, especially the chemical industry.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Department of Industrial Environment, Department of Industrial Safety and Environment Techniques (Ministry of Industry and Trade). Photo: V.Anh

One of the specific tasks and solutions that the Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented is: Firstly, tasks related to investigating and assessing waste sources of industries, including the chemical industry.

Second, inventory the use and emissions of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the chemical and fertilizer industries.

Third, from identifying risks in preventing and responding to environmental incidents from the chemical industry.

Fourth, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has implemented projects such as applying green chemistry in Vietnam to support green growth and reduce emissions that cause environmental pollution.

“ Regarding the content of recycling and reusing industrial waste related to the chemical industry, we also know that there is gypsum waste generated from the production process of the chemical and fertilizer industries. With this content, implementing Decision No. 452/QD-TTg dated April 12, 2017 of the Prime Minister on strengthening the treatment and consumption of gypsum ash and slag from thermal power plants, fertilizers, and chemicals, the Ministry of Industry and Trade annually organizes inspections and supervision of units in the chemical and fertilizer industries, ” said Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong.

According to the representative of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment, through the inspection and supervision process, it was found that some chemical factories currently have gypsum waste products (GYPS) generated from the production process that have been standardized and certified as construction materials. In addition, through the inspection and supervision work, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has also closely directed units to focus on promoting projects to recycle gypsum waste into construction materials, and implement them as soon as possible.

At the same time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade also directed units to strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to research projects to process gypsum waste into raw materials for the fertilizer industry...

Towards the goal of greening the industry

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong said that in the coming time, all industries, Industry and Trade in general and the chemical industry in particular, to promote greening in the industry, businesses should focus on the following basic contents:

Fully and correctly implement regulations on environmental protection, climate change response, greenhouse gas emission reduction, etc. Enterprises themselves must research and calculate options for emission reduction and energy saving to find out production cost problems.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been focusing on implementing many tasks and solutions to promote sustainable industrial development. Photo: TL

“ Because each different option will have different results and by providing solutions corresponding to cleaner production solutions, businesses will have clear implementation results. When there are pilot models, businesses will choose the most optimal solution, ” Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong noted.

Regarding green projects, according to a representative of the Department of Industrial Safety and Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is currently drafting a decision to submit to the Prime Minister for approval on environmental criteria for investment projects related to green projects so that businesses can access support sources from state policies related to green credit and green bonds.

“ There is no other way but for businesses to research and access new information to find solutions to access investment sources and implement projects ,” Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phuong stated.

At COP26, Vietnam pledged to develop and implement strong greenhouse gas emission reduction measures using its own resources, along with the cooperation and support of the international community to strive to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This commitment is both an advantage and a challenge for the entire industry/sector in general and the chemical industry in particular to achieve the country's common goal.

In the coming time, to promote greening of industries in general and the chemical industry in particular, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will focus on the following specific contents:

Continue to direct and implement key tasks assigned in the Law on Environmental Protection and documents detailing and guiding the Law: contents on the development of the environmental industry, response to climate change in the Industry and Trade sector, prevention and response to environmental incidents, management of persistent pollutants, development of the circular economy and other state management tasks on environmental protection.

At the same time, continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the process of reviewing and amending legal regulations on environmental protection to ensure feasibility and suitability with reality during implementation.

Focus on developing the environmental industry: Implementing the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP on the development of the environmental industry, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has developed and submitted to the Prime Minister for promulgation Decision No. 980/QD-TTg dated August 22, 2023 on the specific list of technologies, equipment and products of the environmental industry to meet environmental protection requirements.

In addition, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is also coordinating with ministries, branches, and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to develop, complete, and submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Environmental Industry Development Program for the coming period, including the content of continuing to develop standards, regulations, and criteria for products and goods in the environmental industry, helping to improve the quality of products and goods, meeting the increasing demand for environmental protection in our country.

Focus on developing and implementing the Green Industry Project for the period up to 2030: On February 28, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 165/QD-TTg approving the Project on restructuring the Industry and Trade sector for the period up to 2030 and assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to develop the "Green Industry Project for the period up to 2030" with the specific task of "Greening industries, ensuring economical and efficient use of resources and energy in industries".