The Cua Ong Coal Selection Company, a member of Việt Nam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), sees a stable growth in the last five years, with revenue increases by 52.3 percent from 2010 to 2016 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Government officials have announced that mineral exploitation will bemore tightly controlled under a new regulation coming into effect on January15.
The new decree will replace Decree 15/2012/NĐ-CP, regulatingenvironmental protection responsibilities of organisations and individuals toexploit new mineral supplements.
It also aims to fix fundamental, comprehensive and quite radicalshortcomings and inadequacies by amending and supplementing regulations oflicensing exploration and exploitation, closing mines, and reserve approvals.
Dr. Lai Hong Thanh, Deputy General Director of the GeneralDepartment of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, said, “The new decree has helpedremove the difficulties and problems of the localities and enterprises toimplement the Law on Minerals.”
“The decree will also create legal framework and more fullycontribute to strengthening the work force and the State management of mineralsto reorganise and create favorable conditions for mineral activities,” Thanhsaid.
Under the new decree, evaluation of licensing documents will bemore transparent and the responsibilities of agencies involved in the processof evaluation of dossiers will be clarified.
In terms of selecting enterprises for mineral exploration inareas not auction mining rights, to create favorable conditions for enterprisesto participate as well as increase the competitiveness, the revised decreeregulates that businesses have a registered capital equal to 50 per cent of thetotal value of the mineral exploration projects.
Businesses, entities and individuals who are using advanced andenvironmental-friendly technologies in mineral exploitation will be encouraged.
On the other hand, welfare projects including building roads,schools, clinics, houses of culture, water supply systems, environmentaltreatment facilities in the localities which are affected by mineralexploitation activities will be carried out.
In particular, to effectively prevent losses to the country -and to prevent falsified, dishonest reporting of exploration results in mineralexploration activities - the new decree regulates contents of supervision ofmineral exploration projects.
“It is the first time the responsibilities of organisations andindividuals to exploit minerals in the preparation of books and reports of theextraction process is regulated”, Thanh said.-VNA
