Coal-fired thermal power plants in Vietnam release about 16.4 million tonnes of ash and cinder each year and are forecasted to discharge about 20.5 million tonnes by 2020, a report of the National Assembly (NA)’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment has revealed.
A worker at a thermal power plant in the south-central province of Binh Thuan sprays water on a cinder dumping ground to reduce dust (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Coal-firedthermal power plants in Vietnam release about 16.4 million tonnes of ash andcinder each year and are forecasted to discharge about 20.5 million tonnes by2020, a report of the National Assembly (NA)’s Committee on Science,Technology and Environment has revealed.
As many as 422 millions tonnesof ash and cinder will remain by 2030 not to mention a large amount of gypsum,a soft sulfate mineral.
Without proper plans in placeto recycle, the resources will be wasted and pose risks of land, water and airpollution, NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien told the committee’s recent meetingon the matter.
According to the report, theuse and consumption of ash, cinder and plaster in Vietnam are slow. The wastecan be recycled to making cement, concrete and other construction materials.
Elsewhere in the world, somecountries use the waste to build roads and make construction materials, whichhelps reduce expenses and make structures more solid.
However, in Vietnam, ash andcinder released by a number of plants has not been classified separately tobecome construction materials.
Truong Duy Nghia, Chairman ofthe Vietnam Thermal Science and Technology Association, said authorisedagencies need to soon complete standards of using ash and cinder.
“Ash and cinder released byplants that use domestic coal have high level of carbon. In the future, we needto ensure the quality of ash and cinder released by coal-fired thermal powerplants so that the resources can be used as construction materials,” he said.
Members of the committee agreedat the meeting that coal power plants need to look for partners to recycle.Authorised agencies must launch policies of ash, cinder and gypsum consumptionto encourage businesses to treat and recycle the waste.
“Ash and cinder are not onlywaste but should be regarded as a source of raw materials. We need solutions toeffectively use them and make them become a commodity and resource,” Hien said.
Hien required the completion ofstandards of using ash, cinder and gypsum while reviewing technology of coalpower plants, fertiliser and chemical plants to make use of the waste.-VNS/VNA
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A worker at a thermal power plant in the south-central province of Binh Thuan sprays water on a cinder dumping ground to reduce dust (Source: VNA) 
