The Thach Khe iron mine project will be finalized by May 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc chaired a meeting to address obstacles in the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project in Ha Tinh province.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc, in Notice No. 38/TB-VPTW dated April 28, 2026, General Secretary and President To Lam requested the Government to direct the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project. Accordingly, the Government is requested to direct relevant ministries and agencies to consider and definitively resolve the requests of Ha Tinh province regarding the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project by May 2026.

Previously, in Notice No. 13105/TB-VPTW dated January 15, 2025, the Politburo assigned the Party Committee of the Government to direct relevant agencies to implement a plan to resolve the procedures for handling the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project in accordance with the law; to avoid legitimizing violations; to ensure the minimization of losses and waste of state assets and finances; and, based on assigned functions and tasks, to consider handling the responsibility of organizations and individuals involved in the violations that occurred during the project implementation. The Government has also issued many directives on this matter, but to date, the project has not been definitively resolved.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc chaired the meeting. Photo: VGP

Proposal to terminate the existing project and create a new investment project.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, Phan Thien Dinh, reported specifically on the difficulties, obstacles, shortcomings, and limitations of the project related to investment, land, finance, overall socio-economic effectiveness, environment, mining technology, transportation and waste disposal plans, etc.

Ha Tinh province has proposed terminating the approved project and establishing a new investment project to address the shortcomings of the previous project. The new investor must possess sufficient capacity, experience, and financial resources; effectively utilize resources; and contribute to the socio-economic development of the locality and the nation. Ha Tinh also proactively addresses the project's outstanding issues within its jurisdiction.

Leaders of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Corporation (TKV) and Thach Khe Iron and Steel Joint Stock Company (TIC) reported on the company's operations; explaining the shortcomings, inadequacies, and violations identified through inspections by ministries, departments, and Ha Tinh province. Both TKV and TIC expressed their desire for the competent authorities to promptly consider and make an official decision on the project.

Leaders from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Science and Technology discussed the remaining difficulties and obstacles of the project; they proposed solutions to resolve the issues and protect the interests of the relevant parties in case the project continues to be implemented if all existing problems and violations are rectified, or if the project is terminated to create a new investment project.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc proposed separating the handling of existing projects from the subsequent implementation plan. For existing projects, it is necessary to clarify legal issues, costs, assets, obligations, responsibilities, and the plan for termination or transition. In the new context, project implementation should only be considered when all legal, technical, financial, environmental, and technological conditions are fully met, and the investor possesses sufficient capacity.

Agreeing with this viewpoint, the Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Party Committee, Nguyen Duy Lam, stated that the termination of the project and the rectification of the shortcomings and violations identified during the inspection and investigation process must be carried out in accordance with the law.

Regarding the establishment of new projects and the selection of investors, the leaders of Ha Tinh province affirmed that they will fully comply with current legal regulations and the local development orientation.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc: The Thach Khe iron mine project will be definitively resolved by May 2026 - Photo: VGP.

The project must be handled in accordance with the Politburo's conclusions, preventing further delays and losses of state funds.

Concluding the meeting, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc emphasized that the Politburo had reached a very clear conclusion regarding the Thach Khe iron ore mining and processing project. Therefore, relevant agencies should focus on seriously and fully implementing the conclusions of the Politburo and General Secretary and President To Lam.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the project has been stalled for a very long time, and the longer it drags on, the more damage and waste it causes, including the loss of state capital in TKV. Therefore, "now is the slowest possible time," and it cannot be delayed any further.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that, through numerous meetings and directives from the Government, the positions of Ha Tinh province, TKV (Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group), the Ministry of Finance, and other ministries and agencies are now very clear, and the necessary documents are complete. Relevant ministries, agencies, localities, and units need to submit their opinions to the Ministry of Finance for compilation and reporting to the Government for consideration and decision before May 15th.

The current approach to handling these issues is similar to that of other difficult and problematic projects, as directed by the Politburo and the National Assembly: No legitimization of violations; violations will be dealt with wherever they occur; and necessary procedures and processes will continue to be implemented.

The Deputy Prime Minister stated that if the current plan to halt the project is adopted to select a new investor, the investor must fully meet the following requirements: possess the necessary capabilities, have a deep processing plant, ensure high technology, meet environmental requirements, address the project's existing issues, harmonize the interests of all stakeholders, enhance project efficiency, and make a significant contribution to double-digit growth.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/xu-ly-dut-diem-du-an-mo-sat-thach-khe-trong-thang-52026-d590867.html