Suspend operations at the factory due to an incident with ore-processing sludge

Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee requested to temporarily suspend the operation of Ta Phoi Copper Ore Selection Plant, and only allow it to resume operation when the problem is resolved.

On August 9, Lao Cai province sent an urgent report to the Government Office, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development about the rupture of the tailings sludge reservoir pipeline.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Khanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said that he had requested relevant units to quickly clarify the cause of the incident affecting the environment and people's lives; at the same time, clearly identify the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals for handling.

Workers of Ta Phoi Joint Stock Company help transport waste sludge out of people's homes. Photo: Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee — Workers of Ta Phoi Joint Stock Company clean up sludge at a resident's house. Photo: *Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee*

At 8:30 a.m. on August 8, turbid ore-processing sludge from the Ta Phoi Copper Joint Stock Company's lake flowed down into a residential area. 46 households with more than 200 people were affected, many of which were submerged in mud more than 1 meter deep; the commune People's Committee headquarters was submerged half a meter deep. Environmental experts are concerned that hazardous substances will seep into the soil and water, affecting humans, livestock and crops.

Currently, the army, police, workers of Ta Phoi Copper Joint Stock Company and local people are still continuing to fix the problem. A large amount of sludge accumulated in people's houses has been pushed out onto the road. Ta Phoi commune authorities have arranged for 10 households with more than 50 people living at the foot of the reservoir, on both sides of the stream to temporarily stay at the cultural house while waiting for resettlement to ensure safety and avoid landslides.

Authorities initially identified two causes of the incident. First, on August 7, heavy rains in the area caused the reservoir water level to rise to level 192, putting pressure on the 336-meter-long D2,000 surface water drainage system. Second, the tailings pond is located in a ravine, and the surface water drainage system around the pond is not guaranteed, causing rainwater from the basin to flow into the pond, causing great pressure.

Yesterday, Director of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) Hoang Van Thuc decided to establish a working group to coordinate with Lao Cai province to assess the level of environmental pollution after the incident to develop a treatment plan. Specialized units have taken many water samples in Ta Phoi commune for analysis, and the results are expected to be available in about 5-6 days.

Ta Phoi Copper Joint Stock Company belongs to Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group. In 2022, the company's copper concentrate production was 34,000 tons; production and business revenue was over VND 1,100 billion, profit was nearly VND 27 billion.

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