Locals protest as titanium mining takes toll on Vietnam island

Locals protest as titanium mining takes toll on Vietnam island

23rd August 2006

Reported by Dinh Phu–Cao Nguyen – Translated by An Dien

http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/?catid=3&newsid=19203

Residents of Nhon Ly island in central Vietnam's Binh Dinh province have protested for the past two days against titanium mining in their area.

Hundreds of protesters stormed local titanium exploration companies, demanding a halt to their operations as their mining had depleted water sources and severely polluted the environment.

The island was also threatened by landslides since the titanium miners had left vast open craters which were open to the sea.

The Binh Dinh province people's committee has allowed four companies to mine for the substance in Nhon Ly.

Titanium is a strong, low-density, highly corrosion-resistant, white metallic element that occurs widely in igneous rocks.

It is used to alloy aircraft metals for low weight, strength, and high-temperature stability.