 |
| The issue of ensuring safety in mineral exploitation and the use of industrial explosives has always been a priority for Thai Nguyen province. (In the photo: Mineral exploitation and processing at the Nui Phao multi-metal mine. Photo: Provided) |
Safety in mining and industrial explosives
In the context of widespread industrialization and modernization, managing environmental safety in mineral extraction and the use of industrial explosives poses a major challenge. With a long history of mining, Thai Nguyen faces the dual requirement of both promoting economic growth and controlling environmental risks.
According to the Thai Nguyen Department of Industry and Trade, safety management goes beyond simply granting licenses or issuing regulations. Each document is accompanied by a system of guidance, inspection, supervision, and practical assessment. The focus is on requiring businesses to prepare risk assessment reports, develop emergency response plans, and strictly comply with new regulations, such as Circular 24/2025/TT-BCT on risk management in mineral exploitation and Circular 31/2025/TT-BCT on the basic design of mining projects.
Comrade Pham Van Tho, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, emphasized: Environmental safety, especially in mineral exploitation and processing, is always placed at the top priority. This is a field with many potential risks, so the Department regularly directs, organizes training, and conducts periodic inspections.
Specifically for industrial explosives, even a small oversight can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, management should not only focus on licensing but also include monitoring, support, and requiring businesses to strictly implement safety measures.
 |
| Hoang Nam Co., Ltd. (Cho Don commune) strictly controls the entire process of using industrial explosives to minimize risks and ensure safety in production. |
In the first nine months of 2025, the Department of Industry and Trade issued, reissued, and adjusted 30 permits for the use of industrial explosives; at the same time, it issued 121 certificates of technical safety training for personnel directly working with explosives and explosive precursors.
Six blasting service units were strictly supervised during construction, ensuring that no step was overlooked. In addition, four mineral mines completed the acceptance testing of industrial explosives storage facilities according to safety standards and mandatory conditions before being put into operation.
Mr. Ta Van Buu, Director of Son Ha Co., Ltd. (Na Ri commune), said: Currently, the company is exploiting two limestone quarries in Phja Cang and Thom O with a production of about 2 million m3/year, and regularly uses explosives in mining. Therefore, the company places special emphasis on safety: the explosives storage facility is built to standard, a detailed plan is in place before each blasting operation, strict management and supervision are implemented, and regular training is organized for workers.
The reality of ensuring safety in the exploitation of minerals and industrial explosives. This shows that, along with the management efforts of the relevant authorities, it also reflects a change in perception, as businesses understand that safety is both a legal obligation and a shield to protect themselves against potential risks.
Tight control to reduce risk.
If industrial explosives are considered an easily identifiable "hot spot," then chemicals and waste reservoirs pose a similar risk. Therefore, Thai Nguyen province has identified chemical management and ensuring the safety of waste reservoirs as priority tasks to prevent risks.
Since the beginning of the year, the Department of Industry and Trade has received 25 chemical incident prevention dossiers, 2 response plan dossiers, and reviewed 3 dossiers for adjusting business eligibility certificates. Simultaneously, 11 incident response drills have been conducted at businesses, contributing to improved emergency response capabilities and reduced risks to the environment and the community.
In particular, the direct coordination by the management agency in resolving people's complaints related to Nui Phao Mineral Exploitation and Processing Company Limited shows that environmental safety is not only the responsibility of the enterprise, but also linked to social consensus and trust.
 |
| Supervising chemical and petroleum safety at Da Phuc Port (Thai Nguyen Petroleum and Gas Joint Stock Company). |
Mr. Nguyen Minh Thuan, Head of Da Phuc Oil and Gas Port Warehouse (Thai Nguyen Petroleum and Gas Joint Stock Company), said: Safety in chemical management is always a top priority. At the port, the entire process of transporting and importing/exporting petroleum products is strictly controlled; the storage tanks are equipped with pressure monitoring sensors to prevent oil spills; the import/export berths are equipped with collection pits and treatment tanks for oil-contaminated wastewater. The unit also regularly organizes fire prevention, firefighting, and oil spill response drills to proactively deal with any situation.
In addition, the authorities have assessed and approved 31 chemical import licenses and received greenhouse gas inventory reports from 42 units. These figures are an important basis for the province to accurately and effectively develop and plan sustainable development policies.
For industrial clusters, the Department of Industry and Trade requires that infrastructure be built synchronously, accompanied by risk assessments and mandatory acceptance documents. Businesses, especially in the fields of mineral extraction, chemical use, and explosives, must fully comply with the process from basic design and risk assessment to the development of emergency response plans. This is a "from foundation to operation" management method, aimed at minimizing negative impacts on the environment.
 |
| Industrial development must go hand in hand with strict waste management, environmental protection, and sustainable resource utilization. |
From licensing and supervision to incident response drills, every step is geared towards protecting people, the environment, and promoting sustainable development. A highlight is the synchronized inter-sectoral coordination, enabling businesses to both comply with the law and proactively prevent risks, affirming that industry can only be sustainable when linked to social responsibility and environmental protection.
According to Mr. Pham Van Tho, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade: In the coming time, the Department will strengthen training and improve safety skills for officials and workers, especially at facilities using explosives and industrial chemicals. Along with that, it will tighten inspection and supervision, and guide businesses to strictly implement safety procedures to minimize risks and ensure sustainable production.
Industrial environmental safety is a legal obligation and a vital element in sustainable development strategies. Thai Nguyen is demonstrating that, with detailed management mechanisms, strict inspections, and effective inter-sectoral coordination, the exploitation and processing of minerals, the use of explosives and chemicals can absolutely go hand in hand with environmental and community protection. More importantly, in this safety chain, not only businesses but also the government and the people play an indispensable role.
Recently, the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province issued a directive instructing relevant departments, localities, and units to proactively and seriously implement a comprehensive set of solutions for managing and protecting mineral resources in the province. Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee requested that departments, agencies, and the People's Committees of communes and wards enhance the role and responsibility of their leaders in mineral resource management; strictly adhere to the policies and laws of the Party and State; review and implement approved plans and projects; and strengthen inspection, supervision, and strict handling of violations. The Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to take the lead in advising on the issuance of management documents, delineating areas where mining is prohibited or temporarily prohibited; organizing auctions for mineral exploitation rights; inspecting and handling violations; and building a geological and mineral database to serve management and meet the requirements of digital transformation. The Department of Industry and Trade is responsible for managing mineral resources (excluding construction materials), improving the quality of mine design appraisal, inspecting compliance with approved designs; strictly handling mines that operate contrary to design; and closely monitoring mineral exports to ensure legal origin. Regarding the Department of Construction, the Provincial People's Committee requested that it strengthen the management of mineral exploitation for construction materials, ensuring compliance with approved mine designs, environmental protection, and labor safety; and take the lead in coordinating and strictly handling cases of exploiting dredging of waterways for illegal sand and gravel mining. For mineral mining units, the Provincial People's Committee requires that they only commence mining when all procedures and land lease contracts are complete; they must strictly adhere to the mine design, tax and fee obligations, environmental protection regulations, and labor safety regulations; they must publicly and transparently disclose records and documents, and be held legally responsible for their mining operations. |
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tai-nguyen-moi-truong/202510/trach-nhiem-voi-moi-truong-cong-nghiep-009270d/
Comment (0)