Local efforts
According to Mr. Tran Duy Quoc Viet, Deputy Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dai Loc district, the locality currently has three operating sand mines, including the sand mine in Dai Son commune (Pha Le Company), the sand mine in Dai Hong commune (Truong Loi Company), and the sand mine in Dai Hoa commune (Quang Cu Company).
Recently, inter-agency inspection teams of the district have regularly checked the compliance of businesses with legal regulations on mineral exploitation.
Following an inspection, the district suspended the operations of Pha Le Company for six months. During this time, the company completed the rectification of deficiencies in its legal documentation, including weighing stations, cameras, environmental regulations, loading docks, and mining design. On May 15th, after the documentation was deemed complete, the district allowed Pha Le Company to resume operations, requiring it to comply with regulations regarding environmental protection, traffic safety, and sand storage areas.
With two sand mines in Dai Hong and Dai Hoa communes, officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Dai Loc district regularly inspect and monitor them to ensure that mining is carried out in accordance with regulations.
There were only a few instances where the sand mine in Dai Hong commune failed to comply with traffic flow regulations; the number of vehicles entering and exiting the mine exceeded the permitted limit, leading to administrative penalties. The company has committed to strictly adhering to regulations and ensuring traffic safety in the area.
Along with 3 sand mines, Dai Loc also has 3 construction stone mines, one of which has been temporarily closed since the end of 2023 due to not meeting regulations on storage yards. There is one leveling soil mine in Dai Nghia commune, but it has also been temporarily closed due to the risk of landslides affecting residential areas; and there are 2 clay mines in Dai Tan commune serving brick factories.
Mr. Viet stated that the demand for land, sand, and construction materials has become a pressing issue in Quang Nam and Da Nang City. Therefore, the sand resources in Dai Loc play a crucial role in serving construction projects in both localities. This also places a significant burden on the district's management.
However, there is a problem in managing mineral exploitation: the Provincial People's Committee allowed the Quang Nam Tax Department to purchase machinery, equipment, cameras, and weighing stations to monitor the mining activities of enterprises. Recently, however, the Quang Nam Tax Department proposed that the Provincial People's Committee delegate this task to the district level (specifically the Department of Natural Resources and Environment).
"Currently, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has limited personnel, performing many different tasks, and there is only one person advising on mineral resources. Meanwhile, the Da Loc District Tax Office does not participate in supervision; that responsibility belongs to the Quang Nam Provincial Tax Department."
"During inspections and monitoring, the Quang Nam Tax Department has to participate directly, therefore coordination is not timely or efficient. I propose that the monitoring of mineral exploitation should be delegated to the Dai Loc District Tax Office for closer coordination," Mr. Viet suggested.
Focus on resolving difficulties.
According to Mr. Le Do Tuan Khuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dai Loc district, the three currently operating sand mines have a total extraction volume of 136,000 m³ .
However, the worrying thing is that this July, the sand mine in Dai Hong commune will end its exploitation period. This sand mine has a volume of up to 73,000 m³ , and if it ceases operation, it will affect the implementation of projects within and outside the district.
To meet the actual demand for fill soil and construction sand, the district has auctioned off a fill soil mine in Dai Nghia commune with an exploitation area of approximately 12 hectares and an estimated sand yield of over 7 million cubic meters. To date, the necessary procedures and auction approval have been completed. The exploration unit is continuing to conduct detailed checks on the exploitable sand reserves.
In addition, Dai Loc district has submitted to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration the granting of licenses for two soil mines belonging to two enterprises, Hung Thang and Tuan Thanh - Thanh Tam. These two enterprises are involved in the transfer of exploration and exploitation rights; they have completed all necessary documents, procedures, and agreements with the people before 2021.
However, the problem is that the Department of Natural Resources and Environment requires the implementation of Document 7733 of the Provincial People's Committee regarding the organization of auctions for mining projects from 2021. Therefore, the process has to start all over again, and these two businesses are on the verge of bankruptcy.
Mr. Bui Ngoc Anh, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that only three localities in the province have large sand reserves: Duy Xuyen, Dai Loc, and Dien Ban. Of these, Dai Loc has 48 mining sites with large reserves, with 3 currently operational and 5 others undergoing procedures for mineral exploitation permits.
Regarding the proposal from the People's Committee of Dai Loc district concerning the land mine in Dai Nghia commune, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment granted permission for auction in 2022 and requested the local authorities and businesses to conduct consultations with the people to supplement the dossier. However, the local authorities were quite slow in gathering opinions, leading to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment being unable to submit the proposal to the Provincial Party Standing Committee for approval of the auction.
To resolve the issues faced by Hung Thang and Tuan Thanh - Thanh Tam enterprises, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed that the Provincial Party Standing Committee and the Provincial People's Committee consider granting licenses under the public investment project list to avoid auctioning. This ensures compliance with legal regulations while facilitating the implementation of projects, as the two mines have large reserves and complete documentation.
"Currently, the procedures for granting mining licenses are very complicated, but the unit has made efforts to reduce them by about two-thirds. Local authorities should feel free to propose solutions; if the unit ensures that the application process is complete, we will reduce the time required to expedite the approval and auction process," Mr. Anh said.
Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet emphasized that if mineral resource management is not carried out properly, it can easily lead to risks to public order and social security.
This is a matter of public concern, with many opinions, especially regarding planning, current exploitation status; licensing, re-licensing, auctioning, etc. Through on-site inspections on the Vu Gia River, it can be seen that Dai Loc has very large sand reserves. If a good dredging plan is implemented, it will both improve the waterway and serve various projects, increasing revenue for the district.
“The spirit must be focused on the common goal, following the correct procedures, and conducting thorough environmental impact assessments; the auction process must be open, transparent, and free from vested interests. In the coming time, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment must get involved in advising and supporting the locality to effectively utilize the mineral resources in Dai Loc,” said Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet.
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