Vietnam: Mineral exploration practice organizations must comply with technical regulations

Specifically, according to Article 7 of the Circular No. 17/2012/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, responsibilities of mineral-exploring organizations and individuals and mineral exploration practice organizations are prescribed as follows:

- Mineral-exploring organizations and individuals shall:

+ Select mineral exploration practice organizations that are qualified under regulations;

+ Manage and preserve the dossiers of mineral exploration practice organizations; and provide sufficient documents at the request of competent state management agencies.

- Mineral exploration practice organizations shall:

+ Comply with standards, technical regulations and designs of appraised projects; and ensure the quality of work;

+ Take responsibility before law and investors for the truthfulness of documents, the quality and the results of mineral exploration projects under regulations;

+ Compile mineral exploration practice dossiers; and provide information on exploration activities to investors and competent state management agencies.

Moreover, according to Article 8 of the Circular No. 17/2012/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, responsibilities of related agencies are also specified as follows:

- The General Department of Geology and Minerals shall:

+ Guide and examine the implementation of this Circular;

+ Inspect and examine conditions of mineral exploration practice organizations with mineral exploration licenses granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

+ Handle according to its competence or propose competent authorities to handle mineral exploration practice organizations that violate the mineral law and relevant laws;

+ Organize professional and legal training for managers of mineral exploration projects so as to raise the quality of exploration.

- Provincial-level Natural Resources and Environment Departments shall:

+ Inspect and examine conditions of mineral exploration practice organizations with mineral exploration licenses granted by the provincial- level People’s Committees;

+ Handle according to their competence or propose competent authorities to handle mineral exploration practice organizations that violate the mineral law and relevant laws.

View more details at the Circular No. 17/2012/TT-BTNMT of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, effective from January 15, 2013.

Le Vy

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