The event was jointly organized by Haemers Technologies SA of Belgium, the Environment Treatment Technology Center under the Chemical Corps of the Ministry of National Defense, and Defense Economic Technical Industry Corporation (GAET) under the General Department of Technical Services.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Commander of the Chemical Corps Major General Ha Van Cu affirmed that the seminar was one of the activities to evaluate and prove the effectiveness of advanced technologies in treating polluted environment in general and chemicals/dioxin-contaminated areas in particular in Vietnam.
He affirmed that the event was also an important milestone, marking Vietnam – Belgium cooperation in addressing consequences of post-war toxic chemicals.
According to the Chemical Corps’ leader, although the war ended decades ago, dioxin consequences still linger on, strongly affecting people’s health and environment.
The Vietnamese Party, State and Government always consider overcoming consequences of post-war toxic chemicals an urgent and long-term mission which demonstrates humanitarian spirit and contributes to facilitating sustainable development of the country. Over the past time, under the instruction of the Prime Minister and Head of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemicals (Steering Committee 701), ministries, agencies, localities, and international partners have cooperated to well conduct surveys and activities to access toxic chemical-contaminated environment.
In 2018, Haemers Technologies SA of Belgium and the Environment Treatment Technology Center under the Chemical Corps signed a cooperation agreement on piloting In Situ Thermal Desorption (ISTD) and Ex Situ Thermal desorption (ESTD) at Bien Hoa Airport. The key objective of the trial treatment is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Smart BurnersTM treatment technology and design in order to meet the site-specific dioxins target levels.
In spite of being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have well coordinated to treat around 200 cubic meters of contaminated soil using the above-mentioned technology.
Basing on experts’ ideas at the seminar, Haemers Technologies SA of Belgium and the Environment Treatment Technology Centre will continue working together to report the results of the technology to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, the U.S. International Development Agency and relevant agencies to consider using the trial technology as a main one in treating dioxin-contaminated soil in Vietnam.
Translated by Tran Hoai