According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), waste from the power sector like used machine oil, lubricant, and transformers are toxic. Used machine oil contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that can pollute soil, water, air, alter biodiversity and cause cancer in humans.

In 2003, Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) asked its subsidiaries not to sell used equipment containing used machine oil that is untreated.

Nevertheless, up to 23 companies have violated the ban, police have found. These firms have sold or auctioned used equipment with huge volumes of used oil. The violators are Management Board of Southern Region Power Works, Power Company No.2’s Electrical Testing Centre, Phu My Power Co., Ltd., Power Transmission Company 4, Tri An Hydro-power Company, Dong Nai Power Co., Ltd., HCM City Power Company’s Electrical Testing Centre and power companies of the southern provinces of Tay Ninh, An Giang, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu.

Police can’t calculate how many tons of used machine oil containing PCBs have been sold.

Colonel Phan Huu Vinh, vice-chief of the Police Agency for Environmental Crime, observed that this is the first time environment police have investigated violations committed by power companies in the southern region.

Vinh added that EVN and related state agencies have been irresponsible in managing waste in the power sector.