Police from the central Ha Tinh Province's Duc ThoDistrict on June 9 remanded into custody Dang Anh Hung, 23, for lootingassets on May 14. The police also seized a 200-metre electric wire and a Panasonic welding machine from the two suspects. Hung admitted to the police that he took advantage of a socialdisorder on May 14 to steal the assets from Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha TinhCo Ltd in the Vung Ang Economic Zone. Previously, the police found in Hung's house two laptops, acamcorder, a DVD player and mini loudspeakers, as well as two universalserial buses. Police from the province's Cam Xuyen District today arrested TrinhXuan Canh, 32, and Nguyen Huu An, 30, for looting assets from Formosaproject invested by Taiwan (China). The police also seized a 200-metre electric wire and a Panasonic welding machine from the two suspects. On May 14, a parade in the economic zone opposing China's illegalplacement of a … [Read more...] about Three suspects arrested for looting assets in Formosa
Formosa
Formosa punishments to be announced soon
He made these claims at a meeting between the Prime Minister’s task force and the ministry to review the latter’s implementation of Government-assigned tasks relating to the spill.According to the minister, also head of the task force, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested MoNRE to examine and assess the responsibility of oganisations and individuals involved in permitting the Taiwanese-owned Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Company to discharge wastewater, those involved in the discharge itself and those responsible for approving the environmental impact assessment report of the Formosa project.In the recent working session of the 14th National Assembly (NA), environmental minister Tran Hong Ha promised alongside members of both the NA and Government to impose punishment on responsible organisations and persons and make the information public.“I request that the minister report the progress of the job. Keeping it waiting too long to be done will adversely … [Read more...] about Formosa punishments to be announced soon
Ha Tinh’s Formosa compensation begins
The district's compensation package is around VND270 billion (US$12 million).The district government had approved the compensation package for damages as a result of a toxic spill caused by Hung Nghiep Formasa-Ha Tinh Steel Company.Loc Ha is the first district in Ha Tinh Province to have started handing out compensation to affected people as part of the US$500 million package that Formosa has pledged.Around 5,000 workers in the district have been directly affected by the pollution, while another 744 have been indirectly hit."I hope people will overcome their difficulties and continue to use the ocean. It's essential that people use their compensation appropriately. The management board in charge of compensation payment must make the process as easy as possible for those affected. It must check carefully and hand over aid to the right people," Ha Tinh's provincial Party's Committee secretary, Le Dinh Son.As per the latest inventory (October 9), in Ha Tinh, around 7,000 fishing vessels, … [Read more...] about Ha Tinh’s Formosa compensation begins
Formosa gets PM nod to import coal
The approval has been given as the power plant in the southern province's Nhơn Trạch 3 industrial park (IP) plays an important role in the southern energy grid, supplying electricity to Formosa's factories as well as 17 other factories in the IP, and contributing to the country's energy security, the online vneconomy newspaper said. The ministry of industry and trade (MoIT) has requested the general customs department to help Formosa with import procedures. The ministry said that as per the electricity master plan VII, the thermal plant, which became operational in 2004, has a total capacity of 300MW, which it can meet using imported coal. Last month, Formosa had to go through two major Vietnamese importers, Viet Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation (Vinacomin) and Đong Bắc Coal Corporation, to procure coal. The company is allowed to import directly only once it gets the PM's approval. Formosa has been importing coal for … [Read more...] about Formosa gets PM nod to import coal
VASEP: Formosa Ha Tinh should compensate seafood losses
Mass fish deaths in the central region of Viet Nam. Local seafood businesses have suffered major losses after many international customers canceled contracts because of doubts over the seafood's quality in case it was contaminated with heavy metals.The seawater in the four central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue are reportedly now safe for swimming, water sports and aquaculture, but local seafood producers have lost face in the international and domestic markets.In a proposal sent to the Government and ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Industry and Trade (MIoT), Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said local seafood businesses had suffered major losses after many international customers canceled contracts because of doubts over the seafood's quality in case it was contaminated with heavy metals.Meanwhile, in the domestic market, many Vietnamese people still have concerns about the seafood's quality, so … [Read more...] about VASEP: Formosa Ha Tinh should compensate seafood losses
Formosa blamed for fish deaths in central VN
HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung yesterday announced that the Taiwanese Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation was responsible for the massive fish deaths in several central Vietnamese provinces in the past few months. He told a news conference yesterday in Ha Noi that Formosa had released toxic wastewater into the sea along these provinces."Based on the result of careful inspections and consultancy with international scientists, we came to the conclusion that violations in the construction and testing operation of the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant are the cause for serious pollution killing a massive amount of fish in these central provinces," he said.He also said that Formosa had admitted responsibility for the fish deaths and committed to publicly apologising for such violations.Dung said Formosa Ha Tinh would also have to pay US$500 million to compensate affected people, help fishermen find new jobs as well as to pay for clean-up works … [Read more...] about Formosa blamed for fish deaths in central VN
Formosa offers steel zone advice
The steel project is considered one of Viet Nam's biggest foreign funded projects with the registered investment capital of nearly US$10 billion. The project is now under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2015. — Photo baodautu HA NOI (VNS) — Taiwan's Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Limited Company, a subsidiary of Formosa Plastics Group, has offered its services in setting up the government-managed Vung Ang special steel economic region. The proposal was submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai through an official letter 1406022/CV-FHS recently, after many requests on exemptions for all kinds of tax, reported cafef.vn. According to the FHS, establishment of the special region is aimed at building the Son Duong deep-water port, and ensuring investment to the related industrial sectors of steel and electricity to promote industrial investment. The company has proposed regulation on managing the special region located in Vung Ang, … [Read more...] about Formosa offers steel zone advice
PM reiterates Formosa’s investment term while accepting mistakes
The decision was taken following a suggestion made by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) regarding the same.Minister and Chairman of the Government Office, Nguyen Van Nen, reiterated the PM's decision before reporters on the sidelines of a press conference on March 2, after the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam alleged that Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co. Ltd. was offered illegal incentives.The Investment Law of 2005 stipulates that the maximum investment term for a foreign- invested project is 50 years, and this term may be increased to 70 years in exceptional cases and should be ordered by the Government.Inspectorate reports stated that the province granted the 70-year investment licence to the company without the Government's permission. The local People's Committee, Department of Planning and Investment and the management board of the Vung Ang Economic Zone, where the project is located, was also held responsible for the oversight.However, Ha Tinh Chief Inspector … [Read more...] about PM reiterates Formosa’s investment term while accepting mistakes
Formosa Steel to boost investment
Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co will increase itsinvestments in cast iron refinery in the central province of Ha Tinhto 10 billion USD from the current 8.9 million USD.A representative from the project's management board said it will become operational in May 2015 instead of 2014 as planned. He said the planned deadline was postponed due to some changes in the general design. The project has completed 961ha of land clearance out of 1,966ha. The company planned to borrow 3 billion USD from foreign banks and 3billion USD from Vietnamese ones. However, Vietnam 's banks have yetto lend a company funds which exceed 15 percent of their registeredcapital. The project also faces a lack of water supply. Itexpected Rao Tro reservoir project to come into operation earlier thaninitially planned. In the first phase of the project, theSon Duong deepwater seaport with 14 wharves, a steel plant with yearlydesigned capacity of 7.5 million tonnes, and a 750MW … [Read more...] about Formosa Steel to boost investment
Formosa Steel lifts investment to $22b in cast iron refinery
HCM CITY — Taiwan-invested Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co has increase its investment in its cast iron refinery in the central province of Ha Tinh to US$22 billion. When completed, the project will be the first facility of its kind in the nation. In its status report on the project to the Viet Nam Steel Association, the company said the total cost both stages of the project had initially been estimated at $15 billion but the figure had now been hiked to $22 billion. The investor has reaffirmed its intent to break ground early next year, with the plant to commence operations one year later, the association's vice chairman, Nguyen Tien Nghi, told Sai Gon Times Online. The refinery has been designed to supply four million tonnes of products per year, making it the largest facility of its kind in the Southeast Asia, Nghi said. Other subprojects, construction of the Son Duong deepwater seaport, have already gotten underway, he added. Earlier in 2010, Ha Tinh Province handed … [Read more...] about Formosa Steel lifts investment to $22b in cast iron refinery