Meeting the supply of construction materials for projects.

Faced with the scarcity of construction materials, which is affecting the progress of projects, Thanh Hoa province has recently focused on resolving difficulties and obstacles related to construction norms and unit prices, and the exploitation and supply of construction materials for large-scale and key projects in the area.

Meeting the supply of construction materials for projects. Carrying out the extraction of construction materials at the quarry of Hoang Tuan Co., Ltd. in Ha Tan commune, Ha Trung district.

The Nga Son - Hoang Hoa coastal road construction project, with a total investment of approximately 2,242 billion VND and a length of nearly 24km, passing through the districts of Nga Son, Hau Loc, and Hoang Hoa, is currently facing many difficulties due to a shortage of fill soil. From November 2022 to the present, the contractor has only been able to construct an additional 3km of road embankment with K95 compaction.

Mr. Do Van Vinh, Deputy Director of Central Vietnam Construction Group Joint Stock Company, one of the contractors constructing the coastal road section from Nga Son to Hoang Hoa, said: "During the period of 2021-2023, the company faced many difficulties due to the scarcity of construction materials. Currently, thanks to the attention and guidance of the Provincial People's Committee, the supply has been basically ensured; however, projects requiring fill soil still face many difficulties. The company proposes that contractors for key projects be allowed to exploit materials from mines included in the planning; relevant levels and sectors should regularly survey and inspect material sources and issue realistic price announcements, publicly listing prices at the mines."

Mr. Nguyen Duy No, Director of Hoang Tuan Co., Ltd., a company currently undertaking numerous construction projects, stated: "Currently, Thanh Hoa province has facilitated the expansion of mines, increased mine capacity, and the issuance of licenses for many new mines. Compared to previous months, the supply of construction materials has temporarily met demand. If there are more favorable policies and mechanisms, businesses will have more opportunities to accelerate construction and complete projects on schedule."

According to statistics from districts, towns, cities, and investors of construction projects, the province has a total of approximately 3,106 construction projects underway during the 2023-2025 period, with an estimated demand for construction materials of 143.75 million m3 of fill soil, 21.61 million m3 of construction sand, and 37.41 million m3 of construction stone.

According to the mineral exploration and exploitation plan, the entire province has 557 mining areas, specifically: 233 planned mines for ordinary construction materials, covering an area of approximately 2,469 hectares, with reserves of approximately 235 million cubic meters; 187 mines for ordinary construction materials, with estimated resources of approximately 584 million cubic meters; 13 scattered small-scale mineral mines handed over to the province by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), with reserves of approximately 649,351 tons; and 124 mines and sites for construction sand, covering a total area of 571 hectares, with reserves of approximately 18 million cubic meters.

Currently, the province has 320 valid mineral exploitation licenses issued by the Provincial People's Committee, including: 212 licenses for quarrying stone for ordinary construction materials with a total exploitable reserve of approximately 168.0 million m3 and a total capacity of approximately 8.5 million m3/year; 28 licenses for quarrying sand for ordinary construction materials with a total exploitable reserve of approximately 6.7 million m3 and a total annual capacity of 0.72 million m3; and 53 licenses for quarrying soil for leveling materials with a total exploitable reserve of approximately 43.2 million m3 and an exploitation capacity of approximately 5.3 million m3/year.

Thus, regarding the demand for construction materials (soil, stone, sand) in the province from 2023 to 2025, the balance shows that the licensed mineral mines do not have sufficient capacity to meet the demand for construction materials for projects in the province as projected.

According to Nguyen Huu Duc, Deputy Head of the Construction Materials Department (Department of Construction): Regarding construction stone, the supply meets demand, and the remainder can be used to produce crushed sand to partially replace concrete and mortar sand. However, there will be a shortage of construction sand and fill soil if planning is not supplemented, capacity is not increased, and the process of granting new permits for fill soil mines is not accelerated.

The Department of Construction will continue to inspect, review, and identify new mineral deposits. If they meet the criteria, it will compile a report for the Provincial People's Committee to submit to the Prime Minister for consideration and inclusion when adjusting the provincial planning. It will guide and facilitate investors and owners of quarries producing ordinary construction materials to invest in additional technology lines for producing crushed sand from stone, maximizing the utilization of mineral resources at the quarries and increasing the supply of crushed sand to replace natural sand in construction projects.

Simultaneously, the Department of Construction will take the lead in inspecting the business and price listing of construction material production facilities, businesses, and suppliers in the province; guide relevant units in declaring prices for the three types of construction materials: embankment soil, construction sand, and construction stone; and guide and urge the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities to conduct surveys and investigations of construction material prices in their areas and report the survey results to the Department of Construction as a basis for publishing construction material price information.

Mr. Nguyen The Hung, Head of the Mineral Resources Department of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said: To supplement the supply of construction materials for projects in the area, from the beginning of the year until now, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has issued 15 mineral exploration licenses (an increase of 66.67% compared to the same period); issued 18 mineral exploitation licenses (an increase of 300% compared to the same period); approved the reserves of 5 mines (an increase of 250% compared to the same period); successfully auctioned 38 mineral mines, of which 34 mines have been recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as winning bids. Currently, the winning bidders are completing the necessary documents to obtain licenses, and the licensing process will be completed, supplementing the supply of materials for projects in the area.

Solutions to overcome supply chain difficulties and proactively produce construction materials will certainly bring many economic benefits, contributing to accelerating the progress of construction projects in localities.

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