Recently, Vung Tau Low Pressure Gas Distribution Enterprise (XNVT) – a branch of Vietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution Joint Stock Company (PVGAS D) has sent a document to the Provincial Police of Ba Ria – Vung Tau and related units to request measures to control and prevent Formosa International Development Co., Ltd (FIDC) from building a fence across the low-pressure gas pipeline, ensuring the safety of the low-pressure gas distribution system.
According to XNVT, the gas pipeline is currently passing through many Industrial Parks, including My Xuan A2 Industrial Park, which is invested by FIDC.
On March 5, the XNVT pipeline patrol force discovered that at the N3-2 KCM My Xuan A2 road position, FIDC was constructing a fence close to and intersecting with the gas pipeline.
The location of FIDC’s construction is on the low-pressure gas pipeline corridor, photo: Vung Tau Low Pressure Gas Distribution Enterprise
Immediately after that, the safety staff of XNVT discussed with the supervision and workers of FIDC to disseminate the safety regulations of oil and gas construction projects on land and usually instruct FIDC to send a notification to the enterprise to support. The company has also tightened the warning wires around the construction area and assigned personnel to be on duty at FIDC’s construction site.
However, at 11:05 am on the same day, FIDC continued to mobilize manual labor to excavate across the pipeline.
The company immediately reported to the Phu My town police for support to ensure absolute safety for the gas pipeline.
According to Vung Tau Low Pressure Gas Distribution Enterprise, FIDC’s construction of a fence on the low-pressure gas pipeline corridor violates the legal regulations on the safety of oil and gas construction projects on land, and can lead to the risk of explosion and fire in the gas pipeline, causing serious damage to human and property, environment, and affecting the operations of businesses in the area.
A task force including the police, the management board of Industrial Parks, and the Phu My Ward People’s Committee came to the scene and found that there were still 5 workers gathering materials and continuing the construction. The parties requested FIDC to stop the incident and make a written record.
On March 11, an inter-sectoral inspection team inspected and determined that FIDC continued to construct the foundation and install steel columns. According to the minutes of the meeting, part of the construction was carried out in the gas pipeline corridor area and although it was invited to attend, FIDC representatives were absent.
Regarding the outstanding debt of 19 billion dong owed to Phu My Water Supply Joint Stock Company (the water supply unit for My Xuan A2 Industrial Park), FIDC recently informed that it would not attend the meeting to agree on the payment schedule.
This is the 3rd time that the Provincial Industrial Park Management Board has sent an invitation letter to FIDC to work, but the company has always declined to attend, with the reason that the legal representative has gone to work abroad and has not authorized any employee to attend.
As reported by the Labor News, 19 businesses operating in My Xuan A2 Industrial Park have submitted letters to the competent authorities, reflecting FIDC’s setting of new regulations to increase the prices of services, arbitrarily setting up barriers to control, open or close access to the Industrial Park; Erecting traffic signs in the Industrial Park…
In addition, FIDC has not paid for the water, leading to the water supply being cut off in this Industrial Park. According to reports, as of February 26, 2024, FIDC owes more than 19 billion dong in water bills.
In view of the seriousness of the incident, the Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Provincial Party Committee has agreed to comprehensively inspect this company, clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Provincial Industrial Park Management Board. The Provincial People’s Committee of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu has issued a document on the establishment of an inspection team.
