As many as 15 million tonnes of ash and cinders are discharged annually, 75% of which is airborne, according to the ministry. The rest is slag, or hard, stone waste matter.
This pollution is expected to double by 2020, as the number of thermal plants in Vietnam could rise from 19 to 43.
In April 2015, people living near the Vinh Tan 2 plant in Binh Thuan Province protested against rampant air pollution caused by ash.
While the cinder pollutants are often remade into construction materials, only 0.5 to 1 million tonnes of ash are recycled each year, out of a total 11 million discharged.
According to the Ministry of Construction, ash and cinder have high potential for usage in construction if they meet quality criteria for treatment. Ash can be recycled in cement projects, helping consume between 6 and 8 million tonnes of ash per year.
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai last week assigned relevant agencies to implement more drastic measures to treat ash, cinders and plaster at thermal power plants, chemical plants and fertiliser plants so they could be used in construction.
Hai suggested working with thermal power plant investors to calculate the number of ash and cinders released as well as put forward waste treatment solutions, focusing on some pressing plants.
They include the Vinh Tan plant in Binh Thuan Province, the An Khanh plant in Thai Nguyen Province, the Song Hau plant in Hau Giang province and the Vung Ang plant in Ha Tinh Province.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Construction were responsible for encouraging localities to use efficient treatment methods, Hai said. Quality standards also needed to be set for ash and cinder treatment.
