Digital transformation in mineral exploitation: An inevitable trend

At the workshop "Digital transformation in the mining sector towards a green economy and circular economy " recently held in Thanh Hoa, representatives of state management agencies and enterprises emphasized that digital transformation in the mining sector is an inevitable trend.

Digital transformation is an objective requirement for business development.

According to Mr. Lai Hong Thanh - Chief of Office of the National Mineral Reserves Assessment Council, realizing the importance of digital transformation, many countries in the world have developed and implemented national strategies/programs on digital transformation.

Not outside of that general trend, in recent times, Vietnam has had many important policies and orientations to participate in the 4.0 Industrial Revolution and digital transformation, in which Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW of the Politburo on strategic orientations for geology, minerals and mining industry to 2030, with a vision to 2045, issued on February 10, 2022, has identified the goal of digital transformation in the field of mineral exploitation towards a green economy and circular economy.

Masan Group Corporation always focuses on applying digital transformation in production and business.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a plan for 2023 with the theme "Solidarity, discipline, innovation, creativity, digital transformation, green transformation" to promote the exploitation of natural resources for the future sustainable development of a circular economy and green economy.

Mr. Lai Hong Thanh hopes that units and enterprises will propose solutions and roadmaps to implement for the digital transformation plan in the field of mineral exploitation towards a green economy and circular economy in order to strictly manage, exploit, and use mineral resources reasonably, economically and effectively in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW as well as the Government's Plan and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Plan to be implemented in the coming time.

With the above wishes, many businesses believe that under the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnamese businesses are facing many opportunities and many challenges. Therefore, digital transformation is an inevitable and objective requirement and trend for the business community to stand firm and develop.

Mr. Luong Chi Cong - Manager of External Affairs and Government Relations, Masan High-Tech Materials Company (MHT) shared: In addition to core solutions on technology, circular economy, especially the integration of digital transformation in all fields, from management, exploitation, processing, consumption... is one of the important development pillars and priorities of MHT towards the goal of green growth and sustainable development.

Proposing solutions to promote digital transformation for sustainable development

To effectively implement the roadmap and steps in integrating digital transformation in production and business, the representative of MHT company proposed that the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment create a legal corridor and have a mechanism to encourage enterprises in the field of mineral exploitation and processing to carry out digital transformation, towards sustainable development.

The Company is currently planning to implement the Tungsten Recycling Plant Project in Thai Nguyen Province. Masan's acquisition of HC Starck Company is also to fulfill its commitment to the Vietnamese Government to promote the deep processing industry and high-tech material recycling, and Masan has been successful in this field. Bringing German recycling technology to Vietnam is a further step forward, not only deep processing and manufacturing high-tech materials but also meeting the input material sources of important industries, completing the closed cycle of 3R: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE - Reduce, reuse and recycle.

To implement this strategic project, the Company must be allowed to import tungsten scrap to serve as raw materials for the tungsten recycling plant in Thai Nguyen province. Previously, tungsten was on the import list, but because no company in Vietnam had enough capacity and a systematic strategy to carry out recycling activities, the Government removed tungsten from the list of scrap allowed to be imported as raw materials for production.

Therefore, Masan Group proposes that the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment agree to add Tungsten to the list of scrap materials allowed to be imported as raw materials for production. This will create an important and necessary legal corridor for the Company to successfully implement the Tungsten recycling plant project in Thai Nguyen province in the coming time, at the same time, concretize the model of applying digital transformation in mining, processing, recycling scrap, enhancing the value chain in production and business, moving towards a circular economy and contributing to green growth and sustainable development.

On the part of the state management agency, Mr. Nguyen Son Ha - Deputy Director of the Information Technology Center, Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Thanh Hoa province said: In recent times, the Department has proactively disseminated widely about the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital transformation of the Natural Resources and Environment sector of Thanh Hoa province. In the field of mineral resources, the Department has promoted dissemination of green economic models, circular economy, low-carbon economy, etc. to all civil servants, public employees and workers in the industry, people and businesses in the relevant areas.

Mr. Nguyen Son Ha said that in the coming time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Thanh Hoa will research and advise all levels to issue sanctions and tools in monitoring mineral exploitation activities; continue to strictly implement mineral planning approved by competent authorities in the province; enhance state management responsibilities, the responsibilities of heads of grassroots authorities in mineral resource management; strengthen inspection, examination and supervision of compliance with mineral laws for organizations and enterprises.

The Department also strengthens the dissemination and popularization of laws; improves the quality of appraisal of mineral license dossiers, approval of mineral reserves, environmental impact assessment, mine closure and related contents to ensure compliance with legal regulations; builds, upgrades and perfects the information system and database on minerals in the whole province.

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