Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment assesses mineral reserves in three localities

*Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien speaks at the meeting*

Reporting on the results of the exploration to upgrade reserves within the scope of mining license No. 3226/GP-BTNMT dated December 30, 2014 of Nui Hong coal mine, Yen Lang commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, Mr. Do Tuan Diep - Viet Bac TKV Geology Joint Stock Company, the consulting unit said: The goal of the exploration to upgrade reserves of this mine is to serve the adjustment of the mining investment project, at the same time clarify the geological structure of the mine related to the distribution characteristics of coal lenses, structural characteristics, thickness and quality of coal lenses.

The exploration results have upgraded the resource blocks to level 122 reserves to serve the exploitation work at Nui Hong coal mine; more accurate in shape, position, spatial location, structure, thickness, coal quality of coal lenses 1, 2, 3. In addition, the investment in exploration and implementation of the mine in recent years has ensured efficiency, serving well the design and exploitation work of the Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group .

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Toan - Office of the National Mineral Reserves Assessment Council, the report has collected and synthesized all available exploration documents at the mine, assessed the quality and calculated the upgraded coal reserves from the resource blocks within the scope of the granted mining license.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien and members of the National Mineral Reserves Assessment Council approved the upgraded level 122 reserves from the resources within the scope of the Nui Hong coal mine mining license of 736,305 tons.

*Mr. Do Tuan Diep - Viet Bac TKV Geology Joint Stock Company, consulting unit reported at the meeting*

Regarding the results of limestone exploration for cement raw materials in Dong Dang area, Cao Duong commune, Luong Son district, Hoa Binh province, Mr. Nguyen Huu Cong, Geological Mine Survey, Design and Construction Consulting Joint Stock Company, the consulting unit, said that the purpose of the exploration work is to evaluate the quality and calculate the limestone reserves that meet the standards for cement raw materials, research and clarify the geological structure and mining conditions in the exploration area. The reserve target of the level 121+122 project is 74 million tons of limestone. The exploration results exceeded the target by more than 24% because the actual terrain of the exploration area is higher than the terrain designed for the project.

Mr. Pham Van Hung, Office of the National Mineral Reserves Assessment Council, assessed that the exploration work has been completed sufficiently to delineate the limestone body as a basis for assessing the quality and reserves of cement raw materials at levels 121 and 122. However, the locations of the boreholes on the exploration routes are not really reasonable, so the control of the limestone body according to the height of the terrain of the exploration area is limited.

Deputy Minister Tran Quy Kien requested the consulting unit and investor (Vinh Son Cement Company Limited) to pay special attention to the work related to surveying and approving environmental impact assessment (EIA), ensuring harmony with the landscape and environment of the exploration area.

The Deputy Minister and Council members agreed that the limestone reserves for cement grade 121+122 are about more than 92 million tons.

Regarding the results of the exploration of granite for tiling in Chu Phot 1 area, Ea Sol commune, Ea H'leo district, Dak Lak province, Ms. Huynh Thi Thanh Huy, Southern Geological Mapping Federation (Vietnam Geological Department), the consulting unit, said that the unit has clarified the geological structure, the structure of the granite and diorite body in the exploration area; assessed the quality and reserves of granite, diorite for tiling, granite and diorite for accompanying construction materials; assessed the hydrogeological - engineering geological characteristics and mining conditions. Each type of exploration work has been deployed reasonably, ensuring the reliability of mineral reserves and achieving high economic efficiency.

Deputy Minister Tran Quy Kien assessed that the exploration of granite for tiling in Chu Phot 1 area, Ea Sol commune, Ea H'leo district, Dak Lak province complied with regulations on solid mineral exploration.

The Council approved the reserve of diorite, granodiorite, and granite with a block size of 0.4 m3 or larger for tiling at level 121+122 to be more than 1.3 million m3; the reserve of diorite, granodiorite, and granite with a block size of 0.4 m3 or smaller for common construction materials at level 121+122 to be more than 3.08 million m3; the reserve of filling materials to be more than 1.9 million m3; the reserve of construction sand to be 778.5 thousand m3; and the volume of covering soil to be 310.4 thousand m3.

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