Mining industry contributes to economic development

After 13 years of implementing the 2010 Mineral Law, mineral activities in Ninh Thuan province have gradually changed positively, the responsibility of the heads of relevant agencies and local authorities has been enhanced. Organizations and individuals operating in mineral exploitation have been aware of complying with the law, investing in modern processing technology lines, deep processing to increase productivity and efficiency of resources, contribute to increasing State budget revenue, and solving jobs for workers.

After the 2010 Mineral Law took effect, the Provincial People's Committee directed and issued many decisions and directives to specify legal documents on minerals and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of minerals in the province. In addition, the Provincial Party Committee issued Program No. 129-CTr/TU dated July 14, 2022 on actions to implement Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW dated February 10, 2022 of the Politburo on strategic orientations for geology, minerals and mining industry to 2030, with a vision to 2045...

Regarding mineral exploration licenses, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued 12 licenses/12 areas; the Provincial People's Committee issued 39 licenses/39 areas. In addition, it reviewed and proposed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to announce 03 scattered and small-scale mineral areas.

Thanks to the close direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, in recent years, the mining industry has contributed to increasing the State budget revenue and creating jobs for workers. Currently, in the province, there are many construction projects of transport infrastructure, industrial clusters, industrial parks, economic zones, especially national key projects such as the North-South Expressway... so the sustainable development of the mining industry is a very important factor.

Every year, the Provincial People's Committee assigns the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to preside over the development and implementation of a program to disseminate legal documents related to mineral activities: Disseminate to officials and civil servants from the People's Committees of districts, towns, cities to the People's Committees of communes; Disseminate and disseminate new regulations related to organizations and individuals operating in mineral activities in the province. Integrate the dissemination of environmental protection laws with the responsibility of mineral exploitation license holders, the responsibility of depositing funds for environmental improvement and restoration.

However, the results achieved still have some limitations: the coordination between agencies, units and local authorities in the management and protection of unexploited minerals is not regular and not very effective; inspection work is sometimes not regular; state management in some places is not strict, the situation of unlicensed mineral exploitation in communes still exists (especially the situation of exploiting sand from river beds, leveling soil, split stone) and has not been promptly detected, prevented, and handled from the beginning,...

Currently, the Provincial People's Committee has issued over 86 licenses for mining of various types of minerals, mostly common construction material mines serving local construction needs, of which 59 licenses are still valid (3 for paving stones, 30 for construction stones, 15 for construction sand, 9 for filling materials, 2 for construction sawn stones); the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued 8 licenses for mining, of which 7 are still valid (1 for mineral water, 2 for titanium, 4 for paving stones).

Talking to reporters of the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper, Mr. Pham Thanh Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that in the coming time, the Department will continue to direct the review and inspection of tax declarations of enterprises; require enterprises to commit to loading and transporting minerals according to the designed load of the means of transport, and issue invoices to avoid tax losses; at the same time, require organizations, enterprises and individuals exploiting and processing minerals to strictly comply with regulations on labor safety and environmental protection.

Resolutely suspend operations and revoke mining licenses according to authority for units that have been inspected and examined, and have pointed out violations but have not corrected them; Strictly handle units and localities that do not properly implement regulations on mineral management; Revoke licensed mines that have not been put into operation for many years. Conduct auctions for mineral exploitation rights, attract projects that apply advanced, environmentally friendly technology to improve the efficiency of mineral use.

Mr. Bach Van Nguyen - Chairman of Ninh Phuoc District People's Committee

Raising awareness for businesses about protecting mineral resources

In Ninh Phuoc district, there are 10 units licensed by the province. The district People's Committee regularly strengthens inspection of mineral exploitation, gathering and trading activities; compliance with legal regulations on land, minerals, environment, labor safety and security, etc.

Mr. Bach Van Nguyen - Chairman of Ninh Phuoc District People's Committee

In order to enhance the responsibility and obligations of organizations and individuals in mineral exploitation and processing activities in the district, at the same time, detect, prevent and promptly handle cases of illegal exploitation, gathering, transportation and trading of minerals; rectify state management of mineral resource protection in the district, contributing to ensuring security and order and environmental protection.

Units granted mineral exploitation licenses have basically completed the necessary procedures before proceeding with mining such as: signing land lease contracts, preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Reports or Environmental Protection Commitments, making environmental deposits, and paying fees for granting mineral exploitation rights.

During the exploitation process, the exploitation was organized in the correct location and area as licensed, complying with the provisions of the law on minerals, environment and local regulations; declaring and paying resource tax and environmental protection fees as prescribed.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa - Vice Chairman of Ninh Son District People's Committee

There should be mechanisms and policies to support and encourage mineral exploitation enterprises.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hoa - Vice Chairman of People's Committee
Ninh Son district

Ninh Son District People's Committee has strictly implemented the provisions of the Law on Minerals and the directives of the Government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee in managing mineral exploitation, production and processing activities; thereby contributing to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management in mineral exploitation, production and processing activities in the district, specifically:

The District People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 1474/UBND-TH dated May 19, 2023 on strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of mineral activities in the district; Decision No. 1534/QD-UBND dated May 31, 2023 on establishing an Inspection Team for law enforcement on mineral exploitation and processing activities, assigning tasks to departments, offices and Chairmen of People's Committees of communes and towns according to the assigned functions and tasks of each sector, unit and locality to prevent and repel illegal exploitation and transportation of minerals.

Unexploited minerals are strictly managed by the People's Committees of communes according to regulations. Coordination between local authorities, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations of the district and communes has been relatively good in managing local mineral resources.

However, the situation of illegal sand mining by households and individuals using manual methods in localities still exists, and the exploitation of mineral resources, especially construction sand, outside the scope of the mine licensed by the Provincial People's Committee still occurs.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dung - Director of Song Cai Mineral Exploitation Joint Stock Company

Comply with regulations and procedures to minimize environmental impact.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dung - Director of Song Cai Mineral Exploitation Joint Stock Company

As one of the enterprises selected to carry out the task of dredging gravel alluvial banks, clearing the flow to increase drainage capacity on both sides of the river to reduce water pressure downstream and carry out embankment work on both banks to minimize riverbank erosion, we have found that the authorities of Ninh Thuan province have effectively implemented regulations related to sand and gravel management on riverbeds, regularly updating and guiding enterprises on new decrees and circulars related to the field of natural resources and environment: Most enterprises have seriously complied, exploited safely, and minimized the impact on the environment.

In addition, the recovered products always comply with the selling price listed by the Department of Construction as well as the monthly price notice sent to the authorities. The Company's activities are currently creating stable and regular jobs for many workers, contributing to the local budget. We are always aware of coordinating with the locality so that dredging and business activities do not affect the environment, regularly watering the sand and gravel transport routes. In addition, the Company always contributes to social security work in villages and communes; supports education promotion funds, supports the poor...

Mr. Nguyen Duc Du - Deputy General Director of Nam Khanh Investment, Trading and Construction Joint Stock Company

"Resolving difficulties" for businesses in granting mineral exploitation rights

Mr. Nguyen Duc Du - Deputy General Director of Nam Khanh Investment, Trading and Construction Joint Stock Company

After the enterprise is granted the right to exploit minerals by the competent authority, for the mine to go into exploitation and processing, it usually takes 1-3 years to complete procedures regarding land, investment in basic construction of the mine, investment procedures... However, during this period, according to the Law on Minerals, the enterprise must pay the fee for granting the right to exploit (from the time of obtaining the license) even though it has not yet exploited... this causes many difficulties for the enterprise, having to clear the land, complete investment procedures, and pay the fee for granting the right...

The new law should create conditions for businesses to pay 50% of the annual licensing fee in the first 3 years, the amount will gradually increase in the next 3 years, and by the 7th year, they will pay normally according to regulations.

In addition to the fact that businesses must proactively find suitable water sources for production and apply scientific water circulation measures, the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and related departments and branches should also have plans to dredge, build dams, and expand the irrigation system to increase water reserves, retain large amounts of water during the rainy season, regulate water sources for agriculture and livestock, and support production activities during the dry season.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/ninh-thuan-cong-nghiep-khai-khoang-gop-phan-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-362140.html