People are upset about pollution
Reflecting to reporters, many households in Ngoc Reo commune (Quang Ngai province) said that for many years they have had to live with dust, the burning smell and the noise from coffee drying kilns in residential areas.
Although people have repeatedly submitted petitions, the authorities have inspected, fined and requested to temporarily suspend operations, however, some facilities are still blatantly operating, causing public outrage.
According to the people's reflection, the coffee purchasing, grinding and drying area in village 7 was invested by Tien Hung Thanh One Member Co., Ltd. since 2012. By 2016, this enterprise had built an additional warehouse, workshop and 4 agricultural drying kilns.
In 2023, the company dissolved and all infrastructure was transferred to Mr. Nguyen Tien Trong to continue business. After taking over, Mr. Trong expanded operations, building 12 new drying kilns on an area of about 3,000 m2, close to residential areas. Hand-burning coffee with fuel causes thick smoke and dust, covering the entire area.
Mr. L.M.V, a household living near the drying kiln, said that his family has been suffering from the dusty smoke and burning smell all day and night for many years. "Every coffee season comes, my family has to close the doors but still can't stand it," Mr. V. said indignantly.
Not only affecting health, coffee drying activities also cause direct damage to agricultural production. "My family has more than 1 hectare of coffee. Previously, nearly 30 tons were harvested each year, but this year it is only about 7 tons, down more than 20 tons. Coffee trees are covered with dust and grow poorly. People here have both a bad harvest and have to inhale smoke and dust every day," said Mr. Huynh Van Ky (residing in village 7) in a grown-up tone.
Commune People's Committee directs final handling
After a long period of frustration, many households have continuously submitted petitions and complaints to local authorities, hoping to soon end the pollution situation. In response to the strong reflection of the people, in November 2024, the local government organized an inspection and determined that Mr. Nguyen Tien Trong's coffee drying facility violated many regulations on land use and environment.
On January 7, 2025, the People's Committee of Ngon Wang commune (old) issued a decision to sanction administrative violations, and at the same time requested this facility to temporarily suspend operations and take remedial measures. However, according to local residents, just a short time later, the drying kilns resumed operation, even with a higher frequency when entering the coffee harvest season.
Faced with the recurrence, Ngoc Reo commune has established an interdisciplinary inspection team to review all coffee purchasing, drying and grinding facilities in the area. The results showed that Mr. Trong's facility had not complied with the remedial measures according to the previous penalty decision, and continued to install and operate the drying kiln on agricultural land, which was not in accordance with the purpose of use.
After that, the People's Committee of Ngoc Reo commune issued a document requesting Mr. Nguyen Tien Trong to temporarily suspend coffee drying activities for unused construction furnaces from December 5, 2025 until all procedures on land, construction and environment are fully completed.
However, according to the people and reporters, the drying kilns still defied regulations and operated continuously day and night. On December 21, people in the area filmed a video recording the scene of coffee drying, grinding and processing furnaces still operating, spreading dust, noise and a burning smell to residential areas.
Mr. A Tuan - Secretary of the Party Committee of Ngoc Reo commune (Quang Ngai province) said that there are currently 7 coffee purchasing, drying and blending facilities operating spontaneously in the commune, not ensuring regulations on land and environment. In particular, Mr. Nguyen Tien Trong's facility was identified as a "hot spot", causing prolonged frustration for the people.
"The commune's viewpoint is not to ignore environmental pollution for economic development. The Party Committee will direct the People's Committee of the commune to handle it thoroughly, handling it as far as possible. If it exceeds the authority, the commune will report to the superiors to have a direction for strict handling," said Mr. Tuan.
