Quang Ninh

Green growth is placed at the centre of national development policies of many regions around the world to achieve sustainable development. In Vietnam, this has also been reflected in the country's strategy, which can be seen in the Socio-Economic Development Strategy for the 2011-2020 period, the Vietnam Sustainable Development Strategy, and the National Green Growth Strategy in the 2011-2020 period with a vision to 2050. 

Consistent with the goal of green growth, Quang Ninh province has thoroughly grasped the goals, tasks, and solutions set in these strategies, integrating the implementation of the strategies with the building and development of the province's socio-economics, by setting out key solutions for all levels, sectors and people.

The province issued a plan to implement the National Green Growth Strategy for the 2014-2020 period, focussing on facilitating rapid and sustainable economic development; transitioning towards a green economy; controlling environmental pollution; improving climate change adaptation capacity, towards building a low-carbon economy, reducing emissions and increasing greenhouse gas absorption. Green growth is also identified as a central and regular task, with a long-term vision in the province’s important plans, especially the provincial master plan for socio-economic development, and the provincial master plan for environmental protection.

At the 11^th and 14th Provincial Party Congresses for the 2010-2015 and 2015-2020 tenures, Quang Ninh was steadfast with the goal of growth from "brown" to "green". In particular, the province is determined to develop into a locality with a service and industrial economic structure, a high-quality tourism centre of the region, and one of the economic growth poles of the North, with synchronous socio-economic infrastructure and urban technical infrastructure. Quang Ninh also strives to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people, reduce poverty sustainably, protect and significantly improve the ecological environment, preserve and promote cultural identity and the strength of great unity of peoples, preserve and sustainably promote the values of the Heritage and World Natural Wonder of Ha Long Bay and other scenic areas and historical relic sites.

In Resolution No.236/NQ-HDND issued by the Provincial People's Council, on December 12, 2015, featuring policies and solutions to strengthen environmental protection in the province, during the 2016-2020 period, Quang Ninh has issued a set of local regulations in line with the conditions and subjects throughout the province. In particular, environmental management focuses on seven tasks, which include water environment management, air quality management, solid waste management, forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and environmental monitoring.

Acting Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee Cao Tuong Huy affirmed, that after 5 years of implementing Resolution No. 236 of the Provincial People's Council, the environmental protection management has been recognised and carried out drastically by the party committees, authorities and the entire political system, at all levels. The awareness and sense of responsibility for environmental protection among local people, organisations and businesses have been significantly increased. The environment of the province has been generally improved and the environmental pollution in many areas has been controlled. The movements to reduce plastic waste have received both agreements and positive responses from people, agencies and businesses.

Quang Ninh authorities also directed coal mining units in the province to set aside funding for environmental protection. At Vinacomin, the total annual budget for environmental protection is more than one trillion VND (41 million USD), half of which goes to environmental protection facilities while the other half is for regular environmental protection activities.

According to the Quang Ninh Department of Industry and Trade, the province has also fine-tuned its mechanisms and policies to support and accelerate the relocation of hundreds of polluting small-sized manufacturing facilities as well as those that do not fit in urban planning to industrial clusters. The province also gives special priority to green projects.

In 2020, Quang Ninh attracted Thanh Cong Group to invest in a car manufacturing factory in the Viet Hung Industrial Park with total capital of 4.5 trillion VND (184.5 million USD) and the Viet Hung Automobile Services and Infrastructure Centre, worth 800 billion VND (32.8 million USD). These two high-tech projects are expected to breathe a new wind to industrial development in Quang Ninh Province.

Industrial manufacturing enterprises in the province are also persistent in their green development targets. According to Vu Huu Tuyen, head of mining technology at Thong Nhat Coal Company, the company is working to make all stages of the production process more environmentally friendly by applying many advanced technological solutions.

Specifically, the company has made a series of changes in the mining technology, such as replacing human workers with machines and using modern European ventilation systems, thereby helping to enhance productivity and labour safety.

The company is currently re-planning all industrial campuses and planting trees on its premises, while regularly cleaning up waste and scattered mud. 

In addition, to minimise dust pollution, Thong Nhat Coal Company installed 20 automatic dust suppression misting machines, at locations with high dust concentrations. Each machine includes a water and gas pipeline system without generating sparks, suitable for underground conditions with high risk of fire and explosion. Observation shows that the systems have brought about good results.

Regarding the problem of reducing noise pollution, Thong Nhat Coal also installed 40 noise-cancelling sets, thereby reducing noise by 70-80%.

In particular, to move towards a green economy, the company is currently researching, applying and replacing materials that pose a risk of detrimental effects on the environment. For instance, the company uses oil emulsion, a colourless and odourless oil of vegetable origin. In case of leakage into the environment, it is easy to handle because it can decompose.

“In addition, we also collect and treat chemicals and oils according to regulations,” Tuyen emphasised.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, head of the Administration Office, Bumjin Electronics Vina Co., Ltd. (a wholly Korean-invested company), located in Dong Mai Industrial Park, Quang Yen town, said: “Quang Ninh is a province with very drastic action in environmental protection. The province prioritises choosing high-tech investment projects, with low emissions and minor impact on the environment. During the construction process, our company also has to ensure the proportion of trees, to create green space within the factory campus, following commitments to the locality. At the same time, the company has also stopped the operation of the foundry - an area considered to have many risks of environmental pollution, to support the policy of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, in transforming the economy from ‘brown’ to ‘green’.”