Request to collect water for treatment
On September 14, in an exchange with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, representatives of the Environmental Department, Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board and Thanh Hoa Provincial Industrial Parks said that the unit is completing a report to the Provincial People's Committee on the results of inspection and handling plans related to the situation of black water overflowing into the sea in the Nam Nghi Son specialized port area, Nghi Son ward.
Previously, after receiving feedback from people and press agencies, the inter-sectoral delegation of the province coordinated with the Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board and local authorities to conduct inspection and verification in the area where the incident occurred. Functional agencies recorded that industrial sanitation activities along with heavy rain may cause overflowing water in the coal yard area.
After verification and inspection, the Board has requested businesses to collect all this water to put into the treatment tank. The treatment plan must specifically state the volume, implementation time and related contents to report to the Provincial People's Committee" - representative of Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board said.
Previously, at the end of August and the beginning of September 2026, people in Nghi Son ward reflected on the situation of black water flowing into the sea area near Nam Nghi Son specialized port. People expressed concern about dust and noise arising at coal gathering and transshipment yards in the port area.
Upon receiving the above feedback, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with the Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board and local authorities to inspect two coal gathering and transshipment locations in the Dai Duong port and Quang Trung port areas.
Along with the field inspection, the Nghi Son Economic Zone Management Board has sent documents to Dai Duong Mineral Investment Joint Stock Company and Quang Trung Co., Ltd., requesting businesses to seriously implement regulations on environmental protection in production and business activities.
Businesses must urgently review the shortcomings and limitations in environmental protection that have been inspected and pointed out by functional agencies; fully implement remedial measures, and prevent prolonged or recurring shortcomings.
Functional agencies also require businesses to review dossiers, environmental permits and operating environmental protection works; ensure coal gathering, storage, excavation, and transshipment activities in accordance with the scale, location, capacity and requirements approved by competent authorities.
For rainwater overflowing the coal yard, businesses must inspect the collection system, reservoirs and embankments; have solutions to separate clean rainwater from water flowing through the coal storage area, not to let uncollected water escape directly into the environment, and control it.
Two businesses previously sanctioned
Not only requiring control of overflowing water, Thanh Hoa provincial functional agencies also require businesses to implement measures to limit dust, noise and vibration during operation.
For dust arising at coal yards, businesses must strengthen covering, spraying water, and suppressing dust in the excavation area and internal roads; regularly collect coal and spilled coal dust. Transport vehicles must be covered, not allowing coal to spill or spread dust to the surrounding area.
Regarding noise and vibration, businesses are required to review sources arising from machinery, equipment and transport vehicles; arrange appropriate operating hours, limit activities that cause loud noise at night and during people's rest time. In case noise and vibration parameters are detected exceeding standards, businesses must identify the cause and urgently implement remedial solutions.
Notably, this is not the first time functional agencies have inspected environmental protection work in the Nam Nghi Son specialized port area. In June 2026, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with relevant units to inspect the operations of businesses in this area.
Through inspection, functional agencies fined Dai Duong Mineral Investment Joint Stock Company 70 million VND and Quang Trung Co., Ltd. 50 million VND for improperly or incompletely implementing one of the contents of the environmental permit as prescribed.
