Artificial sand gradually replaces natural sand

Currently, in the province, there is only one licensed sand and gravel mine at the Tan My Team 4 alluvial ground (Phong My commune, Phong Dien district). The natural sand supply for construction is mainly imported by business owners from neighboring provinces and cities ( Quang Nam , Quang Tri...) to gather sand at planned sand and gravel grounds, which also increases the supply of construction sand in the whole province. However, depending on the natural sand supply from other provinces while the construction demand is increasing quite high has also caused the current sand price to increase to nearly 400 thousand VND/m3.

According to the Department of Construction's calculations, in the period of 2020-2030, the province's demand for sand for construction exceeds the capacity of sand mining, requiring research and use of alternative materials. Since 2020, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a plan to deploy the use of crushed sand (artificial sand) in projects using State capital managed by the Provincial People's Committee in the area.

With the goal of using about 80% of artificial sand to replace natural sand in the province by 2026, and limiting the exploitation of river sand; by 2030, natural sand exploited from riverbeds will not be used as construction materials, but will be replaced by sand dredged from hydroelectric reservoirs, inland sand, crushed sand, and sand ground from construction waste.

Currently, in the province, there are also 2 enterprises producing artificial sand ground from construction stone, including Xuan Long Cooperative, at the grinding yard in Bac Khe Ly area (Huong Tho commune, Hue city) and Truong Son Investment and Trade Development Joint Stock Company, at Khe Bang grinding station (Huong Van ward, Huong Tra town) according to the plan to deploy the use of crushed sand in projects using State capital managed by the Provincial People's Committee in the area. However, the investigation of the reporter shows that, although it has entered the peak construction season, the amount of artificial sand used in construction projects is quite "modest".

Responding to the province's policy, since 2020, on the current status of the 7.7ha land, Truong Son Development Trade Investment Joint Stock Company has been leased land by the Provincial People's Committee to build a construction material processing yard. This unit has arranged a part of the area to install a stone crushing station and a finished artificial sand storage yard with a capacity of 110,000 m3/year with a total investment of 4 billion VND.

Mr. Ho Anh Bao, General Director of Truong Son Investment and Trade Development Joint Stock Company, said that the investment in the project to produce artificial sand from granite as a common construction material meets market demand. At the same time, it implements the State's policy of reducing the exploitation of natural sand in riverbeds to ensure the ecological environment.

The project's product is artificial sand with grain size of 0.75-3mm with a sand grinding line with a total capacity of 110 thousand m3/year, using locally available raw materials, environmentally friendly and providing the market with quality artificial sand products, with high load-bearing strength, standard size and low price compared to natural sand.

Similarly, many years ago, Xuan Long Cooperative invested in many machines and equipment to produce crushed sand in the Bac Khe Ly area. Mr. Vo Van Thang, Director of Xuan Long Cooperative, said that although artificial sand is of high quality, meets construction standards, and is cheaper than natural sand (VND 295,000/m3 compared to about VND 380,000/m3 of current natural sand price), the Cooperative currently has a designed production capacity of 251,000 m3 of crushed sand/year, but only consumes an average of about 10,000 m3/year.

According to the Department of Construction, the plan to deploy the use of crushed sand in state-funded projects managed by the Provincial People's Committee in the area aims to completely stop the use of natural sand as filling material. Natural sand is not used as a foundation treatment material.

The relevant departments study regional planning and plan to build artificial construction material factories that meet technical standards to meet the large-scale supply of products required by the market. The province encourages stone mining and processing facilities for construction materials to invest in additional crushed sand production lines that meet standards and are suitable for the licensed mining capacity.

Deploy the use of artificial sand in State-funded projects managed by the Provincial People's Committee, applicable to concrete structures with grade 200 or lower (lining concrete, foundation concrete, etc.), mortar for building foundations and steps. Encourage the use of artificial sand in load-bearing concrete structures of projects and in other items to ensure quality and safety. In cases where commercial concrete production units have concrete products using crushed sand that ensure quality, their use in projects is encouraged.

The Provincial People's Committee also requested relevant departments and branches to strengthen propaganda, promotion, guidance and encouragement for investors and people to actively use artificial sand in construction products to promote the consumption market in the province. Investors prioritize the use of artificial sand instead of natural sand in construction projects and works. Research measures to reduce input costs to reduce the cost of artificial sand products, control the quality of artificial sand to ensure compliance with national technical regulations of the Ministry of Construction .

According to the plan to deploy the use of artificial sand in projects using State capital managed by the Provincial People's Committee in the area, from 2023 to 2024, we will strive to promote the use of artificial sand, the output will meet and put into use about 50% of the demand; from 2025 onwards, regulations will be put on the use of artificial sand in concrete and mortar for projects using State budget capital; in 2026, the province will put into use over 80% of crushed sand to replace natural sand, limiting the exploitation of river sand.

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