Hanoi (VNA) - The Nui Phao mining project, Vietnam’sbiggest polymetallic operation, has seriously violated regulations onenvironmental protection, mining, and use of land and water resources,according to the results of an inspection conducted last year by the Ministryof Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).

The Nui Phao Mine Exploitation and ProcessCompany Ltd, the project investor, will have to pay a fine of 510 million VND (22,000 USD) for its violations.

The MNRE conducted a 45-day inspection of the NuiPhao mine, a large polymetallic project located in the northern mountainousprovince of Thai Nguyen, after receiving complaints from local residents aboutthe project’s environmental impact.

Under the investment license granted by Thai Nguyen province, the Nui Phao project was permitted to exploit and processtungsten, fluorspar, bismuth and copper for 30 years, starting from 2004.

In terms of land use, the company was found tohave taken lands not planned for the project. The company had not processedland leasing procedures with State agencies and did not use the land accordingto the registered purpose. Compensation and resettlement assistance to localresidents dislocated by the project has been slow against the approvedschedule.

After 13 years of operation, the Nui Phao Company had still notcompleted ground clearance and the move of households in areas of high risk ofenvironmental impact.

The company violated mining exploitation regulations and had notdrawn up plans for restoring the mined land as required in the mining licence.The inspection activity also found many violations on collecting and processingindustrial waste in reservoirs inside the project’s land.

The company did not install automatic monitoring systems ofwaste water and air emissions as per regulations. During the mine exploitationand process, the factory emitted toxic solvents to environment.

In terms of water resource use, the company dug 120m deep forunderground water without permission.

The MoNRE has ordered Nui Phao Company to stop its violationsand to control air, smell and chemical pollution affecting nearby residentialareas.

To solve the negative pollution impact, the company will alsohave to take environmental protection measures and submit them to the MoNRE forapproval.

The company is also required to present a road map for reducingits factory operation capacity and ensuring adherence to waste processing andenvironment protection demands.

During operation, the company must totally control toxicsubstances such as arsenic, cyanide, and beryllium(alkaline earth metal). Especially, thecompany needed to comprehensively study and evaluate beryllium’s impact on theenvironment and health of people working in the factory and living nearby.-VNA