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(VEN) - Recently, the Cleaner Production in Industry (CPI) Component presided over by the Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinated with the Phu Tho Industry Promotion, Consultancy and Energy Conservation Center under the provincial Industry and Trade Department to organize a meeting gathering companies based in the province. The meeting was held to summarize the results of cleaner production projects that have been carried out in Phu Tho thus far and discuss measures to realize the province's target to have 70 percent of local industrial production facilities applying cleaner production methods by 2013.
Satisfactory results
At the meeting, Dang Tung, the director of the CPI Component, said, "Phu Tho was one of the first provinces to promote cleaner production in industry and it has achieved good results. Companies in Phu Tho began to apply cleaner production methods in the 1990s and presently, more than 30 companies in this province are practicing cleaner production, including the Lam Thao Fertilizer and Chemicals Company, the Lua Viet Paper Company and the Bai Bang Paper Company.
Companies that are applying cleaner production methods said, "Cleaner production allows us to reduce the production cost, increase productivity and improve the quality of products. It also raises the awareness of our workers about the need to practice thrift in production and protect the environment. Since we began to apply cleaner production methods, our working condition has improved and environmental pollution has decreased."
Thanks to cleaner production methods, the Viet Vuong Joint Stock Company that operates in the fields of mechanical engineering and steel production can reduce the production cost by VND195 million and prevent the emission of 14.4 tonnes of acid and 36 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year. By June 2009, the company has saved VND2 billion and prevented the emission of 336 tonnes of CO2, 76.25 tonnes of H2SO4, 4.3 tonnes of NH4CL and 12.7 tonnes of ZnCl2. The production environment of the company has improved considerably to prevent harmful impacts on workers' health. Occupational diseases have decreased.
Another successful example is the Phong Chau Paper Production and Trading Joint Stock Company. Thanks to cleaner production methods, this company discards less wastewater and makes a profit of nearly VND1.96 billion each year.
Big objectives
Nguyen Tien Thi, the director of the Phu Tho Department of Industry and Trade, said, "In the time to come we will continue to encourage local companies to apply cleaner production methods. The Phu Tho Industry Promotion, Consultancy and Energy Conservation Center expects that by 2013, 70 percent of industrial production facilities in the province will apply cleaner production methods to reduce the production cost by a total of 10 percent and CO2 emissions by 20 percent."
The Phu Tho Department of Industry and Trade will soon put in place legal documents to promote cleaner production and environmental protection. In addition, the department will devise action plans to promote cleaner production and indicate the clear responsibilities of officials who are assigned to coordinate the implementation of these plans. The department will also keep a close watch on industrial production activities in the province.
Mr. Thi added, "The Phu Tho Department of Industry and Trade will intensify research activities so that it can transfer cleaner production techniques to as many companies as possible. The department is willing to provide companies with consultancy and any information they want about cleaner production. Demonstration projects will be popularized to encourage local companies to take part in the CPI Component.
At the same time, propaganda will be intensified to improve the awareness of the local community about the necessity of cleaner production and environmental protection activities./.
By Phuong Lan
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