The Deputy Head of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), Le Ke Son, has warned the Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard to use an alternative substance to copper slag when cleaning and repairing ships.
Hyundai Vinashin currently uses a copper slag to remove rust and paint from ships. Mr Le stressed that the usage of copper slag (nix grain) is not illegal and that Hyundai Vinashin would be able to use it in the future if it built a proper waste treatment facility.
The company had previously been found to exceed environmental protection laws when it used 800,000 tonnes of the substance.
Hyundai Vinashin said that it had tried to reduce the amount of nix used to repair ships, however, the company has had to lay off workers due to the global financial crisis and the company had decided to import over 20,000 tonnes of nix to increase the efficiency of its ship cleaning services.
As such, the company has said that it would avoid buying nix grain in the future.
