According to Major General Bui Thien Thau, Deputy Commander of the Air Defense-Air Force and Head of the Project Management Board, thermal technology is a cutting-edge method in which dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment are stored and heated to about 1,000°C.

This process allows desorption and decomposition of dioxin, while toxic gases generated are directed into combustion chambers, where they are destroyed at a rate exceeding 99%.

The thermal treatment will significantly improve safety for soldiers and workers involved in transporting, storing, and treating 150,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil at Bien Hoa airbase and nearby areas. The technology will also speed up soil remediation, enabling the early return of land for Dong Nai’s socio-economic development, Major General Thau noted.

“The Air Defense-Air Force Service pledges to work closely with relevant authorities and domestic and international contractors, strictly adhering to regulations, procedures, and technological standards for dioxin treatment to ensure safety for both the environment and workers,”  according to Mr Thau.

Darryl Nelson, President of US-based Nelson Environmental Remediation, the project’s main contractor, said the company has thoroughly prepared for the new thermal treatment system and is committed to delivering technological solutions to fully resolve the dioxin contamination.

Nelson said his company was honored to be chosen for the Bien Hoa dioxin remediation project, noting its importance and adding that they had spent two years preparing the design to ensure readiness for implementation.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, the thermal treatment system will accelerate remediation efforts at Bien Hoa airbase, with completion targeted before 2030 in line with the National Plan on Overcoming Post-War Consequences of Toxic Chemicals/Dioxin in Vietnam, signed by the Prime Minister in 2021.