A monitoring and management platform for environmental protection

In the context of the government issuing the Development Program for the Environmental Industry (EI) sector for the 2025 - 2030 period, environmental protection in the mining sector is shifting from impact control to becoming a strategic pillar of development. The program sets the goal of developing domestic technologies, equipment, and products in the EI sector, promoting circular economy and environmental protection, with digital transformation identified as one of the essential tools.

At the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industrial Group (TKV), this orientation has been implemented through a series of coordinated action programs. As early as the end of 2024, the Group issued resolutions, directives, and action plans related to environmental protection and sustainable development, notably Resolution No.212-NQ/DU and Action Program No.02/CTr-TKV. Thematic conferences on environmental protection and disaster prevention were consecutively held in early 2025, accompanied by guiding notices with continuous directive significance.

Nguyen Manh Chuyen, Deputy Head of TKV’s Environmental Division, stated: “We are shifting from reactive environmental management after incidents to proactive monitoring from the source, thanks to environmental data management systems and disaster risk alerts. Digital transformation enables effective monitoring of waste, operation of wastewater and air treatment plants, and forecasting risks before incidents occur.”

TKV has implemented Plan No.162/KH-TKV and the Digital Transformation Scheme under Decision No.243/QD-TKV, focusing on building big data platforms and applying Industry 4.0 technologies to production management. Environmental management software and databases have been perfected, along with training sessions for main production units starting April 2025, ensuring regular updates of environmental data to serve management and administration. 

Meteorological monitoring stations have been installed at critical areas and connected to rainfall monitoring software for disaster prevention. A disaster risk alert software was put into operation from September 2025. TKV’s Environmental Monitoring Data Management Centre has been upgraded and automatically connected across the Group to enhance monitoring efficiency at production sites.

In operation, TKV maintains 48 mine wastewater treatment stations, 39 industrial wastewater treatment stations, and 80 domestic wastewater treatment stations, ensuring that discharged water meets quality standards. Dust control is implemented extensively through over 125 misting devices and 167 specialized watering vehicles, while environmental sanitation is maintained on more than 30km of transport roads, especially near residential areas and spoil sites. TKV has completed all 44 comprehensive environmental protection plans at major production areas, achieving 100% of the target, demonstrating a clear shift from isolated treatment to total, coordinated spatial management.

Alongside wastewater, solid waste, and air pollution management, TKV actively carries out environmental restoration, with planted areas in 2025 reaching approximately 100.2% of the plan, raising the total area to around 2,480ha, reflecting a strong link between extraction and environmental restoration. Chuyen emphasized: “Implementing digital transformation in environmental monitoring not only helps us manage data in a timely manner but also provides a solid basis for planning risk prevention and enhancing disaster response capacity. This marks a shift from reactive to proactive thinking, serving as a pillar in TKV’s sustainable development strategy.”

Towards sustainable development and circular economy

The 2025 - 2030 EI Development Program targets that by 2030, Vietnam will master 70 - 80% of wastewater treatment technologies, 60 - 70% of air treatment technologies, 50 - 60% of solid and hazardous waste treatment industries, and meet 60 - 70% of domestic sorting and recycling needs. TKV actively participates in these tasks, not only by applying digital technologies but also by developing the EI ecosystem, forming enterprises that provide operation, maintenance, and repair services for waste treatment facilities meeting international standards, aiming at exporting competitive EI technologies and equipment.

TKV strengthens the legal framework by participating in policy development, reviewing the list of technologies, equipment, and EI products, and studying government decrees on the EI sector. The Group also builds the EI goods market through domestic enterprise support, expanding market demand via orders and direct contracting, developing capacity in supplying EI equipment, technology, and products, and organizing trade promotion and foreign investment attraction.

In innovation and digital transformation, TKV supports enterprises in applying international management systems, CAD/CAM, mechatronic equipment, and intelligent control systems. The Group develops biosensor products and biotechnological production lines serving the EI sector, while promoting digital application across all stages of operation and environmental monitoring. 

Nguyen Manh Chuyen affirmed: “In 2026, we will continue implementing digital transformation linked to real-time environmental management. The alert, monitoring, and command system will enable TKV to prevent incidents at the source, minimize environmental impacts, and integrate across the entire production value chain. Digital transformation is no longer a supporting tool but a pillar of sustainable development strategy.”

In addition, TKV focuses on human resource development by building a database of EI sector workforce requirements and organizing training sessions to improve the capacity of state management officials and enterprise technicians. The Group also promotes communication by establishing EI information portals, public campaigns, competitions to raise awareness of EI, and disseminating research results and new technologies.

These synchronized efforts in policy, management, operation, training and communication are helping TKV integrate environmental protection into production practice. Digital transformation has become central in all environmental monitoring and management activities, enabling the Group to comply with the law, improve efficiency, and create a foundation for green and circular economy development.

The application of artificial intelligence, big data and automation technologies will continue to expand at TKV, aiming for comprehensive goals: reducing pollution, optimizing waste management, operating environmental facilities sustainably, and improving the quality of life for surrounding communities. 

From impact control to sustainable operation, TKV is building a modern mining model where digital technology and environmental management go hand in hand, reinforcing the “environmental pillar” in Vietnam’s mining sector development strategy and fully implementing the spirit of the 2025-2030 EI Development Program.