Dien Bien restores the environment in mineral exploitation

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung - Head of the Department of Minerals and Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dien Bien province, said: In Dien Bien province, there are currently 5 types of minerals that have been licensed by competent State agencies for exploitation to 25 enterprises with 32 mineral mines. Of which, 20 mines exploit stone for common construction materials with a total permitted reserve of over 18 million m3; 7 mines exploit sand for common construction materials with a total permitted reserve of over 350,000 m3 and a number of other mines exploit limestone, lead, zinc and coal... In the past year, the total amount of environmental restoration deposits paid in mineral exploitation in the province was 451,869,350 VND.

Sand and gravel mining at Nam Sim and Nam Khum streams, Chung Chai commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province.

In recent years, mineral exploitation activities of enterprises in the province have increased. Besides the positive aspects, mineral exploitation activities also cause many consequences to the environment, labor safety and waste of resources. Environmental restoration must ensure that the environment and ecosystem in the mineral exploitation area and the area affected by mineral exploitation activities are brought back to a near-original environmental state or meet environmental safety standards and regulations, ensuring safety and serving purposes that are beneficial to humans.

During the exploitation process, project owners have implemented measures and plans for environmental rehabilitation and restoration according to the approved environmental rehabilitation and restoration plan; after the end of exploitation, project owners have prepared a mine closure plan, the environmental rehabilitation and restoration content is implemented and completed during the mine closure phase. However, there are still some organizations and individuals licensed to exploit minerals who are still slow in paying the environmental rehabilitation and restoration deposit, some units do not carry out environmental rehabilitation and restoration after stopping exploitation, leading to consequences of environmental pollution.

Minh Thang 2 Quarry, Quai Nua Commune, Tuan Giao District, Dien Bien Province.

One of the mining units that did not carry out environmental rehabilitation was Dien Bien Molybdenum Company, which mined gold at Hang Tro mine, Phi Nhu commune, Dien Bien Dong district. After stopping mining, the company did not close the mine, and the amount of environmental rehabilitation deposit paid was not enough to rehabilitate the environment in the mining area. This situation has made it difficult for the authorities at all levels of Dien Bien province to find a solution, and people living in this area are always worried about environmental pollution.

To further tighten the work of environmental protection, environmental rehabilitation in mineral exploitation. In the coming time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment will further promote propaganda andeducation to raise awareness and responsibility for environmental protection of all levels, sectors and organizations and individuals engaged in mineral exploitation activities. Conduct inspections, supervision and urge the deposit of environmental rehabilitation funds of organizations and individuals according to the decision approved by the Provincial People's Committee. All organizations and individuals involved in mineral exploitation activities must prepare an environmental rehabilitation and restoration project and submit it to the competent authority for consideration and approval. Environmental rehabilitation and restoration is carried out right during the mineral exploitation process - Mr. Trung added.

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