Ha Tinh province continues to request a halt to the Thach Khe iron mine exploitation project.

In a recent report to the Ministry of Planning and Investment , Ha Tinh province reiterated its request to the Politburo, the Government, the Prime Minister, and relevant ministries and central agencies to promptly consider terminating the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project.

According to information from the Department of Planning and Investment, in response to a request from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ha Tinh province has reported to the Ministry on the handling of long-standing difficulties and obstacles in key projects that are ineffective or behind schedule. Previously, on October 3, 2023, the Ministry of Planning and Investment sent the Provincial People's Committee document No. 8176/BKHĐT-PTHTĐT regarding the handling of long-standing difficulties and obstacles in nationally important projects and key projects that are ineffective or behind schedule.

Construction site for stripping overburden at Thach Khe iron mine ( September 2010).

Following the document from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Planning and Investment to take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to review and compile a report on nationally important projects and key projects that are ineffective or behind schedule.

According to a leader of Thach Ha district: Following the provincial People's Committee's directive, the district has assigned relevant departments and agencies to conduct a detailed assessment and analysis of the data, and has reported to the Department of Planning and Investment. In the report, the district proposed halting the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project due to its inefficiency, delays, and significant socio -economic impacts. Simultaneously, the district has also been researching various options to propose investment in infrastructure projects and implement support policies for the mining areas, given the already substantial impact.

The lives of people in the area where the Thach Khe iron mine project is being exploited are being severely impacted.

Based on the review by Thach Ha district and the opinions of relevant departments and agencies, the Department of Planning and Investment reported to the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The report clearly outlines important issues related to the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project.

This project is invested by Thach Khe Iron Corporation (TIC). The project is located in five communes of Thach Ha district (Thach Hai, Thach Khe, Dinh Ban, Thach Tri, and Thach Lac). The estimated mine reserves and resources are 554 million tons. The total investment after adjustment is VND 14,517.2 billion. The total land area used is 4,821 hectares, including 3,898 hectares on land and 923 hectares reclaimed from the sea. TIC has signed land lease contracts for 552 hectares.

In the vast mining area, it's not uncommon to find unsafe houses that have been neglected for a long time due to a lack of repairs or reconstruction.

In December 2008, TIC conducted a trial excavation of 1.5 million ^m³ of overburden and established a construction technology plan. In March 2009, TIC continued excavating the overburden to a depth of -34m, with a total volume of 12.7 million ^m³ as of July 2011, recovering 3,000 tons of iron ore.

TIC has also coordinated with the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province to build resettlement areas, cemeteries, some inter-regional infrastructure projects, clear land, construct some facilities (housing, workshops, electricity supply, drainage, environmental protection, bomb and mine clearance), purchase some equipment, and conduct supplementary geological surveys of the mine.

However, the project has been suspended since August 2011.

Many local roads in the Thach Khe iron mine planning area have not yet received investment.

A leader from the Department of Planning and Investment stated: Based on a specific assessment, Ha Tinh province has found that the implementation of the Thach Khe iron mine project has been very slow and has been halted for 12 years with insignificant results and volume achieved. Furthermore, the project's implementation has given rise to many issues affecting people's lives, such as compensation, land clearance, and resettlement, which remain unresolved, creating numerous difficulties for socio-economic development in the locality.

According to a report submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, many issues related to the Thach Khe iron mine project were analyzed in detail. Accordingly, the project has shortcomings in the investment, construction, and mining procedures; the level of research on hydrogeological and engineering geological conditions; and the mining and processing technologies are not suitable for the specific geological characteristics of the mine, lacking reliability and feasibility. The project poses many risks, safety hazards, and potential environmental incidents during implementation.

Along with an inadequate transportation system, many mining areas lack investment in irrigation systems (Photo taken in Dinh Ban commune).

In addition, other issues of the project were also raised, highlighting numerous difficulties and obstacles such as: impractical and inefficient methods of ore transportation that significantly impact the province's transportation infrastructure; an uncertain market for iron ore; and the negative consequences of the project's implementation. In particular, if implemented, the project would have a significant impact on tens of thousands of workers in the mining area and surrounding regions, leading to job losses, reduced income, and negatively affecting the socio-economic conditions of the localities.

Termination of the project will ensure environmental protection, especially along the central coastal strip; it will avoid environmental risks and consequences, and prevent natural disasters that could seriously threaten livelihoods, the investment environment, and the marine environment; it will protect resources until they are ready for efficient exploitation; and it will contribute to the implementation of the policy and direction of building a green, circular, and environmentally friendly economy as outlined in the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The administrative transaction reception and results delivery department of Dinh Ban commune is in a state of disrepair.

Based on a comprehensive and objective assessment, considering both short-term and long-term aspects, Ha Tinh respectfully requests the Politburo, the Government, the Prime Minister, and relevant ministries and central agencies to promptly consider terminating the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project to address the negative impacts and consequences left behind after 12 years of suspension.

This is also an important condition for Ha Tinh to effectively utilize and develop its strengths in marine economic development and marine tourism; at the same time, it provides a plan to protect the country's resources until it has sufficient scientific, technological, and resource conditions to exploit them safely and ensure economic, social, and environmental efficiency, in accordance with the sustainable development policy as outlined in Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW dated February 10, 2022, of the Politburo.

Thach Hai beach would become a prominent destination attracting tourists from near and far if the Thach Khe iron mine were to cease operations (Photo by Dinh Nhat).

In addition to the above report, recently, within the framework of the 6th Session of the 15th National Assembly, during the group discussion on the morning of October 24th, Comrade Hoang Trung Dung - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Ha Tinh province, and other members of the delegation continued to request the Government to soon submit a plan regarding the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project with a view to halting mining.

The delegates attending the meeting discussed and agreed on proposals to support the communes within the Thach Khe iron mine project planning area.

In another development, in response to the impact of this key project on the mining areas, on the afternoon of October 25th, the People's Committee of Thach Ha district held a meeting to seek opinions regarding the proposed investment in infrastructure projects and the implementation of support policies for the communes located within the planned area of ​​the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project. This is a necessary step to address immediate difficulties while the central government has yet to provide a response regarding this key project.

A VTV1 news report about the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project.

Trung Dan

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/dau-tu/ha-tinh-tiep-tuc-de-nghi-dung-du-an-khai-thac-mo-sat-thach-khe/256282.htm