To strengthen the management of riverbed sand and gravel mineral exploitation in Vietnam

To strengthen the management of riverbed sand and gravel mineral exploitation in Vietnam (Internet image)

To strengthen the management of riverbed sand and gravel mineral exploitation in Vietnam

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Official Dispatch 8797/BTNMT-KSVN in 2023 on strengthening the management of riverbed sand and gravel mineral exploitation.

Accordingly, to rectify the above situation, ensure openness and transparency in mineral exploration and exploitation activities, ensuring the supply of leveling materials for key ongoing projects, and implementing instructions of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment respectfully requests that the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities continue to implement the following tasks:

1. Direct relevant specialized agencies and localities to seriously implement the provisions of law in the fields of mineral exploration, exploitation, and resource management. Thoroughly grasp the contents of Decree 23/2020/ND-CP dated February 24, 2020 of the Government regulating the management of sand and gravel on river beds and the protection of river beds, banks, and beaches. In particular, focus on checking and reviewing:

(i) register names, types of vehicles, and equipment used to exploit and transport sand and gravel;

(ii) the installation of equipment to monitor the journey and store data and information about the location and travel itinerary of vehicles and equipment used to exploit and transport sand and gravel;

(iii) check the requirements for wharfs and storage yards for riverbed sand and gravel; the installation of weighing stations and cameras to monitor the volume of sand and gravel bought and sold at the wharf; Requirements for means of transporting sand and gravel on rivers;

(iv) on requirements for business activities and use of riverbed sand and gravel, compliance with regulations on ensuring the legal origin of minerals used in projects;

(v) inspect and monitor the time allowed for exploitation, the implementation of legal regulations in the report assessing the impact of exploitation activities on ensuring the stability of river banks and riverside lands, flow circulation, drainage capacity, flood drainage, channel erosion, river bank and floodplain erosion, river water level decline in the dry season, conservation of related ecosystems;

(vi) inspect and supervise the statistics and inventory of actual mined mineral output according to instructions in Circular 17/2020/TT-BTNMT dated December 24, 2020 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

(vii) arrange to coordinate mineral exploitation output for key transportation projects in the region under the direction of the Government and Prime Minister.

2. It is recommended that the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities continue to implement the contents of Official Dispatch 4214/BTNMT-KSVN.

3. Regarding assessing the potential of sand and gravel in river beds

To ensure centralized, unified management, timely and effective provision of information, data, and geological investigation results for riverbed sand and gravel minerals, the Prime Minister has approved the Planning for basic geological investigation of minerals for the period 2021–2030, with a vision to 2050, in Decision 680/QD-TTg dated June 10, 2023.

The task "Investigation and assessment of the potential of sand, pebbles, and river bed gravel to serve sustainable socio-economic development" (subsection 8, section VI, Appendix I) that belongs to the list of mineral potential assessments to be completed by 2025 in the coming time, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will plan and report to competent authorities to soon implement the above tasks, meeting management requirements and serving socio-economic development.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hopes to continue receiving coordination from the People's Committees of provinces and cities in the state management of minerals.

Official dispatch 8797/BTNMT-KSVN was issued on October 16, 2023.

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