A USD390 million dioxin detoxification project partially funded by the US will be carried out at Bien Hoa Airport in the southern province of Dong Nai this year.
Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich came to inspect the detoxification work at the area on February 15.
According to an official report, the area surrounding Bien Hoa airport contains high levels of the chemical and is considered one of the country’s largest dioxin hotspots. Around 515,000 cu.m of dioxin-contaminated land on the total area of 52 hectares around the airport still needs to be treated, with southwest of the airport as the most contaminated area at a contaminant level 92 times higher than the standard level.
To reduce dioxin contamination at the airport, from 1995-2016, 160,000 cu.m of contaminated land was dug up, shovelled, and buried to keep it isolated, thanks to efforts from the High Command of Chemistry and relevant units.
In 2012, with assistance from the UN Development Programme and the Global Environment Fund, another 70,000 cu.m was successfully isolated from human contact.
In 2017, the Ministry of National Defence launched a project on infrastructure construction at the airport with an investment of 270 billion VND (USD11.6 million). These efforts were technical infrastructure preparation for a 10-year dioxin treatment project worth USD390 million including USD183 million in non-refundable aid from the US.
The first phase of the project will be carried out in April this year.
At the meeting with the dioxin contamination treatment project’s management board, Minister Lich hailed efforts by relevant domestic units, and local and international organisations to deal with dioxin hotspots and provide support for dioxin victims.
He asked for thorough preparations to start construction on the project’s first phase in April and to step up efforts to attract more domestic and foreign assistance in both capital and technology.