About 6 million cubic meters of sea sand are needed to construct the Hau Giang Expressway.

Expected to exploit sea sand for highway construction in mid-June 2024

Today (June 11), the People's Committee of Soc Trang province had a working session with the My Thuan Project Management Board on the implementation of procedures for exploiting sea sand mines as roadbed materials at the North-South expressway project, Can Tho - Ca Mau section.

Mr. Tran Van Lau, Chairman of Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee, and My Thuan Project Management Board discussed and resolved problems related to sand exploitation for highway construction.

According to the representative of My Thuan Project Management Board, at present, VNCN E&C Construction and Engineering Investment Joint Stock Company (VNCN E&C) has completed the survey and completed the registration dossier for the area and reserves of sand mines under the guidance of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TN&MT) of Soc Trang province.

The Project Management Board and contractors have also determined the scope of sea sand use (through Bac Lieu, Kien Giang , Ca Mau provinces) under the Hau Giang - Ca Mau project. The volume of sea sand used is about 6 million m3 and has reported to the People's Committee of Soc Trang province.

" The Ministry of Transport has issued a document confirming that the volume of sea sand needed for the project, about 6 million m3, is appropriate and the location of the sand mines that the contractor requested to exploit is not located in the shipping channel.

The Board also updated the results of the sea sand mine survey into the project material survey file and reported to the People's Committee of Soc Trang province.

Thus, the project management board and the contractor have completed all procedures for registration of exploitation rights in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 106/2023/QH15 dated November 28, 2023 of the National Assembly, meeting the conditions for the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to consider and issue a "Confirmation" to the contractor to organize exploitation to serve the project construction", informed the representative of My Thuan Project Management Board.

Regarding the authority to grant mining licenses, according to the My Thuan Project Management Board, Clause 2, Article 82 of the 2010 Mineral Law stipulates: "The Provincial People's Committee grants licenses to exploit minerals for common construction materials".

Regarding the procedure for assigning sea areas (outside 6 nautical miles) in Document No. 548/BHĐVN-QLKTB dated May 17, 2024, the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment affirmed that the assignment of sea areas is under the authority of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and is implemented according to the provisions of Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP.

Although the contractor has completed the documents in accordance with regulations; the authority to grant licenses and assign sea areas has also been specifically regulated, but up to now, the People's Committee of Soc Trang province has not issued a "Confirmation" so it is not possible to exploit sea sand to serve the project construction in May 2024.

In the coming time, after the People's Committee of Soc Trang province issues the "Confirmation", the contractor will complete the documents requesting the allocation of sea areas and submit them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration of allocating sea areas for exploitation.

The contractor has committed to performing financial obligations (taxes, fees) as prescribed before exploitation; the contractor has submitted to the Maritime Administration for approval the plan to ensure maritime traffic safety; registered the means of exploitation and transportation with the competent authority for exploitation. Expected start time is from mid-June 2024.

"Taking advantage of favorable weather, it is urgent to put the sea sand mine into operation soon to serve the project construction.

"The delay in exploitation will greatly affect the progress and risk not completing the project by 2025 as directed by the Government and the Prime Minister," said the leader of the My Thuan Project Management Board. At the same time, he requested the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to pay attention to directing and issuing a "Confirmation" to the contractor before June 15, 2024 to serve as a basis for completing the dossier requesting the handover of the sea area according to regulations.

The Hau Giang - Ca Mau Expressway needs about 6 million cubic meters of sea sand to build the roadbed. Illustrative photo.

Localities still face difficulties

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province, said that the province has no need to exploit sea sand but will create favorable conditions for the My Thuan Project Management Board and contractors to exploit sea sand for projects.

According to Mr. Lau, currently, the province is still facing some difficulties and problems, so it cannot grant licenses for sand exploitation.

"As in Clause 2, Article 82 of the 2010 Law on Minerals; Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP dated February 10, 2021 of the Government, the Provincial People's Committee manages and assigns the sea area within the 6 nautical mile sea area from the average lowest water line of the mainland over many years.

Meanwhile, the B1 sea sand mine in Soc Trang province (assessed and handed over to the province by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) is located outside the 6-nautical mile sea area, so it is not currently under the management and licensing authority of the province," Mr. Lau explained.

Mr. Lau added that currently, there is no document from the competent authority assigning or authorizing the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to grant a license to exploit sea sand in the sea area outside the 6-nautical mile sea area.

"Because of those difficulties, the province cannot grant permission and issue a Confirmation to the My Thuan Project Management Board.

We have assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of the province to send a document to ask for opinions from the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to be granted a license to exploit sea sand within and outside the 6 nautical mile range so that the province has a legal basis to grant sea sand mining mines to contractors in accordance with the provisions of law," informed the leader of Soc Trang province.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to date, the project has completed the report on the assessment results of the sea sand resources in area B1 of Soc Trang province. Specifically, the sea sand mineral body has been demarcated with an area of ​​160.3 km2. The sea sand mineral resources for filling materials reach 680 million m3, distributed in the sea area with a depth of 2-5 m, 20 km from the shore (Dinh An estuary to the nearest sea), with feasible exploitation conditions. The exploitation depth is from 3-4 m.

The results of the assessment of sea sand mineral resources in area B1 (in the coastal area of ​​Tran De district, Soc Trang province) also show that the method and equipment for sand exploitation is by using self-propelled blower cutters with a capacity of less than or equal to 100,000 m3/day.

Sand suction depth is less than 10m, sand is sucked up and dumped onto barges and transported to shore along Dinh An channel. Then, transported by barges with a capacity of 2,000-3,000m3 to the assembly area.

"The total amount of sand exploited is 100 million m3, with an exploitation capacity of about 30,000-50,000 m3/day. The exploitation period is 10 consecutive days and is most suitable from March to August every year," the report on the results of the assessment of the mineral resources of sea sand in area B1 stated.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/can-khoang-6-trieu-m3-cat-bien-thi-cong-cao-toc-hau-giang-ca-mau-192240611170313781.htm