Completed treatment of 6 hectares of dioxin-contaminated land at Bien Hoa airport after 6 years

On September 15, at Bien Hoa airport (Dong Nai province), the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense coordinated with the US Embassy to organize a handover ceremony of more than 6 hectares of land that had been cleaned of dioxin after 6 years of implementation.

Delegates perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction and installation of the dioxin thermal treatment technology system. Photo: Xuan Loc

On this occasion, the two sides held a ceremony to hand over dioxin-free land; started construction of the dioxin thermal treatment technology system under the Bien Hoa airport dioxin treatment project and signed an agreement to supplement non-refundable ODA capital for the project to support improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in priority provinces.

At the event, representatives of the Embassy of the United States of America in Vietnam awarded certificates to dioxin-cleaned areas with an area of ​​about 6 hectares at Bien Hoa airport after 6 years of implementation (from December 2019 to present); The Vietnam - US cooperation project to treat dioxin at Bien Hoa airport has treated nearly half of the dioxin-contaminated land area in areas inside the airport and a part outside the airport to reach safety thresholds and handed over to the Air Defense - Air Force Service and local authorities.

US Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper and Major General Nguyen Dinh Hien, Commander of the Chemical Corps ( Ministry of National Defense ), General Director of the National Action Center for Overcoming the Consequences of Toxic Chemicals and the Environment (NACCET) signed an agreement to add 32 million USD in ODA capital to the project to support victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Photo: Xuan Loc

This is a continuation of the success of the Project being implemented in 6 previous provinces: Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Da Nang , Gia Lai, Quang Ngai, Dong Nai from 2021. After 3 years of implementing the Project in 6 provinces, it has supported more than 32,000 people with disabilities and victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, achieving more than 60% of the set target.

Also at the event, delegates conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction and installation of a thermal technology system to treat dioxin. The use of the thermal technology system is expected to accelerate the progress of treating dioxin-contaminated soil in the Bien Hoa airport area, aiming to complete the project before 2030.

At the ceremony, Mr. Marc Evans Knapper, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Vietnam, said that today's event is the clearest expression of the United States' commitment to Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war. The bomb and mine clearance programs in the Central region continue to be implemented... The US State Department, together with the Vietnamese Government and non-governmental organizations, will continue to implement projects and programs to overcome the consequences of war in the coming time...

Handing over the dioxin-cleaned land area of ​​about 6 hectares at Bien Hoa airport. Photo: Xuan Loc

Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, hoped that in the coming time, the US Embassy in Vietnam will continue to pay attention and recommend the US Government and Congress to ensure non-refundable ODA capital; countries, international organizations, and partners will share, cooperate, and support resources for the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to complete the treatment of the entire area of ​​dioxin-contaminated land in Vietnam, as well as expand support and care for victims affected by toxic chemicals/dioxin.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/hoan-tat-xu-ly-6ha-dat-nhiem-dioxin-o-san-bay-bien-hoa-sau-6-nam-716105.html