Launching the plan to exploit Vietnam's largest rare earth mine.

The Dong Pao rare earth mine in Lai Chau , covering over 132 hectares, is the largest in Vietnam and is expected to begin exploitation 10 years after receiving its license.

Mr. Luu Anh Tuan, Director of Vietnam Rare Earth Joint Stock Company (VTRE), said that the company and its partner Blackstone Minerals (the unit negotiating the bidding for rare earth mines with Vietnam) are planning for the auction to exploit the Dong Pao mine. "Immediately after a successful auction, we will use the ore from this mine, and new mines will be licensed for production," Mr. Tuan said.

Rare earth samples at the Dong Pao mine in November 2022. Photo: Gia Chinh — Rare earth samples at the Dong Pao mine in November 2022. Photo: *Gia Chinh*

VTRE's plan is to collaborate with Blackstone Minerals to mine and manage the mine's operations according to international standards with European environmental certification. This will not only help meet environmental and human requirements but also ensure the supply of products that meet standards for global companies.

According to Mr. Tuan, the work that has been and is being prepared includes: testing rare earth materials on a small-scale production line in 2023; developing a process and designing a mining plant; designing and training experts for a plant to separate ore into rare earth products with a purity of 95% or higher for use in the separation plant in 2024.

A representative from Lai Chau Rare Earth Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Coal and Mineral Corporation), the unit managing the Dong Pao rare earth mine, said that the parties have conducted field surveys recently and will soon organize sample collection for testing. "Currently, no specific agreement has been signed between the parties. This work will be implemented in the near future, depending on the partner," the company representative said.

The Dong Pao rare earth mine area in Lai Chau, December 2022. Photo: Gia Chinh — The Dong Pao rare earth mine area in Lai Chau, December 2022. Photo: *Gia Chinh*

Rare earth elements comprise 17 elements, most of which play an irreplaceable role in the production of high-tech equipment, batteries, permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, aircraft, telephones, and the defense industry. According to a 2022 report by the U.S. Geological Survey, China has the largest rare earth reserves, at 44 million tons; followed by Vietnam with 22 million tons and Brazil with 21 million tons.

For three decades, China was the world's largest producer and exporter of rare earth elements, accounting for up to 80% of global production. By 2010, when the country tightened its mining and export regulations, rare earth elements became highly sought after worldwide. Leading nations in the field of rare earth technology turned to Vietnam hoping to obtain alternative sources of these elements.

The Dong Pao mine covers over 132 hectares and is located approximately 10 km from Tam Duong town in Lai Chau province. In December 2014, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment granted a license to Lai Chau Rare Earth Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Coal and Mineral Corporation) and its Japanese partner to exploit the Dong Pao mine. The reason given was that the mine has the largest reserves in the country and can be exploited on an industrial scale immediately. However, the exploitation process over the years has faced many obstacles, ranging from technology to regulations.

According to the Plan for Exploration, Exploitation, Processing and Utilization of Minerals for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which was approved by the Prime Minister in July 2023, the total production is projected to reach over 2 million tons of ore per year, with two mines prioritized for exploitation: Dong Pao (Lai Chau) and Yen Phu (Yen Bai).

Gia Chinh

Source link