The cost of extracting sand using suction technology is higher than using excavators.

Currently, investors are requesting a unified price for sand extraction using both suction dredgers and excavators. However, according to businesses, extraction using suction dredgers is more expensive, so a higher price should be approved.

Starting from December 21st, many businesses have accelerated the extraction of sand from the Hau River in Soc Trang to serve component project 4 of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway construction investment project, phase 1.

To ensure clean sand for the highway project, sand mining companies have to wash the sand multiple times.

"We are focusing on accelerating the sand mining process to serve key national projects. On average, the company mines about 1,850 cubic meters of sand per day, and we expect to increase this to 2,750 cubic meters per day in two weeks once the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is upgraded."

"If the Department of Natural Resources and Environment upgrades the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), we can increase the number of suction dredgers to extract 5,000 m3/day," affirmed the leader of Hoa Tuan Trading and Service Co., Ltd.

The price of sand has not yet been agreed upon.

At the MS01 commercial sand mine, the enterprise whose mining license was renewed has signed contracts with the contractors of Component Project 4 at a price of 81,950 VND/m3 for sand extracted by dredging.

However, as proposed by Cuu Long Concrete Joint Stock Company, the unit price for using excavators is 132,593 VND/m3 (including VAT) from August 15, 2024 onwards.

The MS04 commercial sand mine, owned by Hoa Tuan Trading and Service Co., Ltd., proposes a provisional sand price at the mine using suction dredge technology of 136,876 VND/m3.

For the MS03 sand mine, which was directly assigned to the contractor (not for commercial purposes), Construction Corporation No. 1 - JSC proposed a provisional calculation based on the price using a dredging vessel of 136,876 VND/m3; for the MS12 mine, the provisional price proposed by Truong Son Construction Corporation (using an excavator) also reached 132,260 VND/m3.

Thus, businesses are proposing different sand prices when carrying out extraction using two technologies: suction dredgers and excavators. Meanwhile, the investor, the Soc Trang Project Management Board 2, is requesting clarification on why there is no consensus on sand prices but instead different price proposals.

The sand extracted from mine MS04 contains many impurities.

Previously, Mr. Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province, also requested relevant departments and the investor of Component Project 4 to urgently seek opinions from central ministries and agencies to finalize the official sand price for dredging and suction technology.

Using a suction dredger is more expensive.

Sharing his thoughts on sand mining at the MS04 mine, Mr. Vo Minh Dung, Deputy Director of Hoa Tuan Trading and Service Co., Ltd., stated that sand mining using suction dredgers is more expensive than using excavators. After the sand is sucked up from the Hau River, the company has to screen it to remove impurities before pumping it onto the side of the vessel for spillage.

After these steps, the sand is washed to remove impurities, mud, soil, and fine sand. To meet the requirements for Component Project 4, the sand is then pumped onto barges, and workers pump fresh water from the Hau River to wash it a second time before transporting it to the construction site.

Sand extraction using dredgers.

"For other commercial mines, the dredging method is suitable because the sand is abundant and of good quality, and the cost is low as it only requires lowering the dredging bucket into the water and pulling it up to obtain the sand. The dredging method at mine MS04 is for mines with sand mixed with silt and impurities, requiring many steps."

"In particular, the cost of pumping and washing alone is 60,000 VND/m3 or more. The process of washing and sorting to bring the sand grains into the construction site at the MS04 mine is very difficult," said Mr. Vo Minh Dung.

According to Mr. Dung, the provisional price of sand at the MS04 mine, extracted using suction technology, is 121,560 VND/m3 (excluding VAT). This price was calculated by the enterprise based on the guidelines from Document No. 1545, dated June 10, 2024, of the Department of Investment and Construction Management - Ministry of Transport .

For the MS04 sand mine, the company calculated nearly 20 types of costs totaling over 520 billion VND. Dividing this amount by the permitted sand reserves (over 4.2 million m3) will give a provisional proposed price.

Currently, Hoa Tuan Trading and Service Co., Ltd. issues invoices for the sale of sand at the mine to Construction Corporation No. 1 - JSC and Trung Nam Construction and Installation Joint Stock Company at the same price of 124,433 VND/m3 (excluding VAT).

Sand dredging vessels on the Hau River.

The Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway project, spanning over 188km and passing through four provinces in the Mekong Delta, has a total investment of nearly 44,700 billion VND and commenced construction on June 17, 2023. Specifically, the section through An Giang is nearly 57km long, Can Tho nearly 38km, Hau Giang approximately 37km, and Soc Trang over 56km.

This road starts at National Highway 91 in Chau Doc City, An Giang Province, and ends at Tran De Port, Soc Trang Province. In the first phase, the project will construct 4 lanes, 17 meters wide, allowing vehicles to travel at 80 km/h. Upon completion, the road will be widened to over 32 meters with 6 lanes. The entire route is expected to be completed in 2027.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/chi-phi-khai-thac-cat-bang-cong-nghe-hut-cao-hon-dung-xang-cap-192241221151710248.htm