Rent-A-Port Group’s managing director Marc Stordiau last week met with Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Vo Tuan Nhan, expressing the firm’s wish to carry out a project to clean up Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh. They also discussed a project to install a system of small-scale wind-powered plants used for irrigation activities in the Mekong Delta region.
The total investment capital for the two projects was not revealed. However, according to a source from Quang Ninh’s Economic Zone Authority, these are multi-million dollar projects, with some support coming from the Belgian government.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), concerning the first project, Rent-A-Port Group is completing a feasibility study and assessing the pollution of the bay. The study will be submitted to the Quang Ninh People’s Committee at the end of August 2016.
“After the committee appraises the quality of the study, the next steps will be taken and the project is expected to begin in early next year,” said a source from the province’s Investment Promotion Division.
The study is focusing on floating oil and solid debris in the bay. The collection process will include offshore activities to collect oil and floating debris, and onshore activities to separate waste and transform it into electricity.
According to the Belgian team and the Tokyo-based Construction Consultation Joint Stock Company for Maritime Building, who conduct the study, the existing oil pollution in the bay could be treated for $130 million within ten years.
The team will also assess the likely rise in pollution over the next ten years and firm up the budget for the entire project.
According to the MoNRE, regarding the second project, some pilot models will be deployed in the Mekong Delta region. If well implemented, this project will be applied on a wider scale, with clean water supplied to residents at cheap prices.
Commending Rent-A-Port’s projects, Nhan said “We support both projects and will create the best conditions for them because the MoNRE is very interested in the protection of Ha Long Bay’s environment and cares deeply about providing sufficient fresh water to the Mekong Delta region.”
At present, Rent-A-Port is building the South Dinh Vu Industrial Zone II, Deep C II and the Gateway Commercial and Logistics Business Centre CDC Haiphong at South Dinh Vu Industrial Zone, in Haiphong.
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