"Black gold" in Dong Nai province

After the merger, the (new) Dong Nai province not only has a large area but also possesses many valuable mineral resources to serve economic development, especially key infrastructure projects at the provincial, regional, and national levels.

Sources of construction stone minerals for the construction of Long Thanh International Airport.

The province is reviewing and adjusting its management and exploitation practices to ensure the economical and efficient use of resources.

Abundant mineral resources

Following the provincial merger, Dong Nai possesses diverse and abundant natural resources. In particular, construction stone, sand, fill soil, bauxite, etc., are becoming major advantages for developing the construction materials industry and metallurgical industry, meeting the needs of large-scale infrastructure projects.

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province currently has 84 valid mineral exploitation licenses. Of these, construction stone has a total approved reserve of over 577 million m³, with approximately 412 million m³ remaining by the end of 2024. Construction sand reserves are around 6 million m³, with 2.7 million m³ remaining. Notably, nearly 921,000 m³ of leveling materials remain largely unexploited.

In addition to the above-mentioned licensed mineral reserves, to meet the urgent material needs for large projects (Long Thanh International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road 3, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau Expressway), many mines in the province are allowed to increase their mining capacity by 50% compared to the current level under a special mechanism, allowing the actual output of construction stone and leveling materials to exceed the licensed levels.

Besides conventional minerals, Dong Nai also possesses a strategically important mineral resource: bauxite. According to decisions approved by the Prime Minister, the province has four bauxite mines with a total planned area of ​​nearly 76,000 hectares and reserves of over 312 million tons of ore, along with four reserve areas covering more than 14,000 hectares.

Furthermore, Decision No. 1626/QD-TTg dated December 15, 2023, approving the plan for exploration, exploitation, processing, and utilization of mineral resources for construction materials for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, identifies 35 planned areas in the province, covering nearly 2,900 hectares, with a total reserve of over 1.5 billion tons of resources (limestone, cement additives, kaolin, ornamental stone, peat, etc.), of which limestone accounts for more than 724 million tons.

With a strategic and long-term vision, the province has planned a total of 162 mining areas, with construction stone accounting for 111 areas with reserves of over 1.2 billion m³, representing a significant resource for the construction industry and infrastructure development.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang stated: Dong Nai province is rich in mineral resources. Exploiting these resources to serve infrastructure projects, reduce imports, and promote the development of the construction materials industry is necessary, but it must be done in harmony with economic development and environmental protection.

Efficient use of resources is linked to environmental protection.

Over the years, the former provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc have focused on managing, exploiting, and using resources economically, while protecting the environment. The entire province has designated over 5,100 areas where exploitation is prohibited, covering more than 169,000 hectares, including special-use forests, national defense and security land, traffic safety corridors, residential areas, industrial zones, historical sites, etc.

In addition, there are 238 areas where mining is temporarily prohibited, covering more than 8,300 hectares. This demarcation protects the ecosystem and preserves mineral reserves for the future, creating a balance between exploitation and conservation.

The Long Thanh International Airport project requires a large quantity of construction stone and fill soil from the province.

Mineral resources in Dong Nai currently play a crucial role in supplying raw materials for key national projects such as airports, seaports, highways, ring roads, industrial zones, urban areas, and civil construction in the province and the southern region.

To date, many units have been allocated construction materials to serve key projects such as: My Thuan Project Management Board (620,000 m³), ​​Ho Chi Minh City Project Management Board (747,000 m³), ​​and the former Long An Project Management Board (475,000 m³). In addition, investors and contractors of other road and highway projects are also requesting support in allocating millions of m³ of materials.

In mid-July 2025, while monitoring land planning, management, and use in Dong Nai province for the period 2021-2025, Provincial Party Committee member and Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Dieu Huynh Sang, noted that the province needs to review the bauxite mining plan in Binh Phuoc (formerly), as it involves a large area of ​​land and overlaps with the planning of three types of forests. After the review, it is necessary to delineate a rational mining zone to improve land use efficiency and reduce the impact on the people.

Regarding this issue, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Nguyen Tuan Anh, stated: After the merger, the department reviewed and reported to the Provincial People's Committee, proposing to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to adjust land use targets, including land for mineral exploitation. The department recommended reducing approximately 78,500 hectares of land for mineral activities compared to the needs of the former Binh Phuoc province, including land for bauxite mining. This area will remain in its current agricultural status.

In the coming period, the province will continue to adjust planning, update reserves, and auction mining rights in accordance with regulations. Along with that, it will strengthen management to minimize illegal mining, resource depletion, and environmental pollution. The province directs relevant agencies to monitor and ensure that mineral resources are prioritized for key projects in the province and the southern region before being sold elsewhere.

Le An

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202508/vang-den-tren-dat-dong-nai-40930cc/