Special management mechanism needed for rare earths

According to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, rare earth needs to be specially managed throughout the entire cycle of exploration, exploitation, and processing...

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the afternoon of October 14.

Speaking at the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) on the afternoon of October 14 on the draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Geology and Minerals, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed that it is impossible to assign localities to manage rare earth minerals.

According to the Government 's submission on the draft law, demand for rare earths is expected to increase sharply in the next decade due to the rapid development of high-tech industries, renewable energy and electric cars.

The 2024 Law on Geology and Minerals has provisions on the management of strategic and important minerals (including rare earths), which requires that mineral exploitation must take socio-economic efficiency and environmental protection as basic criteria for investment decisions; encourage organizations and individuals with capacity in capital, technology, and equipment to participate in mineral exploitation investment; regulate mineral revenues to ensure harmony of interests between the State, people, and businesses.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan chaired the discussion.

However, rare earth is currently a special commodity, creating a great impact on defense, security, and diplomacy worldwide, leading to the requirement of strict management mechanisms for activities related to this type of mineral.

The addition of specific regulations on management, processing and use of rare earths is one of the important solutions, contributing to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, creating a driving force to promote the development of the industry of mining, processing and using rare earth minerals in a synchronous, effective and sustainable manner; at the same time bringing practical benefits to the country in the context of the world's current shortage of rare earth supply.

According to the draft regulations, rare earth exploration, exploitation and processing activities must be strictly controlled; raw rare earth minerals must not be exported; only enterprises and organizations designated or permitted by the State are allowed to explore, exploit, process and use rare earth. Rare earth processing activities must be associated with the construction of a modern industrial ecosystem to enhance the domestic value chain, ensuring autonomy in implementing the national strategy on rare earth.

Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang reports at the meeting

Through examination, the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment basically agreed to supplement regulations on strict management mechanisms for activities related to rare earths, but requested clarification on whether the time for holding priority rights to submit applications for rare earth mining licenses is different from that for group I minerals; is there a limit on the number of rare earth licenses granted to an organization or individual, especially foreign organizations or individuals?

Commenting on the draft law, Chairman of the Delegation Work Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai emphasized that rare earth is a competitive advantage in the development of science and technology, so it is necessary to pay close attention to the exploitation of this resource. "There are countries that consider mineral resources as "reserves" for future generations, people are very limited in exploiting them, so the legal barriers are very tight," said Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai.

Also regarding rare earth management, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that it is certain that this mineral must be managed with a very special mechanism, that is, there must be a strategy in the entire cycle, from exploration, investigation, exploitation, processing...

This mechanism will be linked to national security issues and a number of policies on export and import. Once the project is completed, it cannot be transferred to third parties without Vietnam's consent. "I propose that this type of mineral should not be decentralized to local management," Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said.

The Draft Law on Amendments and Supplements to a Number of Articles of the Law on Geology and Minerals adds one chapter (chapter VIIa) consisting of four articles on rare earth management. It adds sanctions and strict management mechanisms for activities related to this type of mineral under the direction of the Party and State leaders.

MR. PHUONG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/can-co-che-quan-ly-dac-biet-doi-voi-dat-hiem-post818015.html