Hazardous fuel beyond permissible levels

Mr. Michael Walsh from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) said measurements showed that dust and fuel pollution levels in some locations in Hanoi have reached 500 micron/sq.m. Vietnam Register has also published the results of a survey project proving that hazardous gases such as HC, CO, CO2, SO2 and Nox in the air over Vietnamese cities are beyond permissible levels. The amount of these hazardous substances is as much as twice the permissible level in locations where traffic is heavy and traffic congestion often occurs. This is of great concern to responsible Government agencies at all levels and the people in general.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the causes of air pollution are a real headache. Construction and industrial production activities are major contributors but the main cause is failure to control waste fuel discharge from motor vehicles. The number of cars and motorbikes operating in Vietnam has reached nearly 18.5 million consuming more than two million litres of petrol every day.

According to research findings, annual economic losses caused by air pollution relating to waste fuel discharge from motorbikes are estimated at over US$ 50 million in Ho Chi Minh city, and at more than US$20 million in Hanoi or between 0.3 and 0.6 percent of their GDP. The figures are rising with the growing number of motorbikes. Each year sees an additional two million motorbikes hitting the road. Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Da Nang, Can Tho and Hai Phong currently have as many as half the total number of motorbikes in the country.

Any possible solutions

In the coming years, the number of motorbikes will continue to increase and an effective replaceable means of transport is yet to be found. The best way to limit air pollution is to successfully control the waste fuel discharge from motorbikes. According to experts, some preventive measures can be taken. They include controlling motor vehicle production technology to meet the European standards on fuel discharge, EURO 2-4, and encouraging the use of clean fuels such as unleaded petrol and LPG. Transportation should be logically planned to reduce traffic congestion and the sudden increase of hazardous gases. Regulations will be issued to require motorcyclists to maintain their vehicles regularly and to ban the use of out-dated motorbikes.

Mr. Trinh Ngoc Giao, deputy director of Vietnam Register has maintained that most of motorcyclists in Vietnam use 4-stroke motorbikes which cause less pollution to the environment than the 2-stroke ones used in many other countries. Unleaded petrol has been used in Vietnam too. So, the principal measures that should be implemented now are the strict control of waste fuel discharge from motor vehicles and the reduction of traffic congestion.

In the immediate future, measures should be taken to see newly produced motor vehicles meeting EURO-2 standards on fuel discharge. Motor vehicles currently in use must be examined periodically to control fuel discharge but not to disturb users’ lives. Efforts will be taken to strengthen public awareness of environmental protection and encourage users to examine the waste fuel discharged by their motor vehicles.

Meanwhile, traffic control will be strengthened to reduce congestion. Motorcyclists are encouraged to install a discharge controller. Environmental fees will be imposed as a tool to regulate the number of motor vehicles and owners of out-dated motor vehicles are encouraged to abandon them for the good of society.