Hanoi (VNA) - According to the Politburo’s Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, the basic survey of geology and minerals must ensure the delivery of sufficient information and reliable data to meet socio-economic development requirements.

The Party Central Committee just issued the Politburo’s Resolution No. 10 on strategic orientations for geology, minerals and mining industry until 2030, with a vision to 2045. It sets a number of tasks and measures to fix limitations and shortcomings after 10 years of implementing Resolution 02-NQ/TW.

Policies, laws on minerals inadequate

According to the Party Central Committee, after 10 years of implementing the Politburo’s Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW dated April 25, 2011 on strategic orientations for minerals and mining industry to 2020, with a vision to 2030, the management and operation of the geology, minerals and mining industry have achieved many positive results, making significant contributions to socio-economic development.

However, the implementation of the above Resolution has revealed limitations and weaknesses, with some objectives yet to be achieved and basic geological investigation yet given due attention. Guidelines, policies and laws on geology and minerals remained inadequate while information and data were still used inefficiently. There remained many shortcomings in planning, investigation, exploration, exploitation and processing of minerals.

Revenue from minerals has not yet been reinvested to develop infrastructure and protect the environment in localities where minerals are exploited. Mining and processing enterprises have not paid attention to investing in technological innovation in order to maximize the value of minerals and protect the environment.

The above limitations and weaknesses are blamed for the poor awareness of some Party committees and organizations, authorities, businesses and people about the importance of geological and mineral resources as well as the role and position of the geology and mining industry. The coordination between agencies, sectors and localities in the state management of geology and minerals was not good.

Striving to complete geological and mineral mapping by 2045

Resolution No. 10 identifies geological and mineral resources as an important resource for the national socio-economic development, as well as a long-term resource of the country, so they need to be fully planned, surveyed and explored; managed in a centralized and unified manner; exploited and used sustainably, rationally, economically and efficiently in association with the development needs of the economy and environmental protection, towards the goal of achieving carbon neutrality.

The Resolution sets targets that the geological and mineral mapping at scale of 1:50,000 will cover 80% of the land area by 2025, 85 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2025. The survey and assessment of minerals in promising areas in the Northwest and Central Central regions will be completed in the next three years.

By 2045, Vietnam will finish the basic survey of other geological resources and form an advanced and modern mining industry associated with a model of circular economy and green economy equivalent to that of advanced countries in Asia.

Defining responsibility of organisations and individuals for violations

In that spirit, the Resolution sets out the main tasks and solutions such as perfecting the legal system, mechanisms and policies on geology, minerals and mining industry; applying a transparent and effective mineral resources management model; licensing mining projects of competent and experienced organizations and enterprises that use advanced and modern technologies...

In particular, it requires strengthening inspection, examination, supervision, and consideration of the responsibility of organizations and individuals for violations in the management and use of minerals; revoking mining licences, strictly handling organizations and individuals with violations in mineral exploitation activities, especially taking the advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic for speculation, hoarding and price hikes, harming the interests of the State and people.

Regarding implementation, the Resolution urges the Party delegation to the National Assembly to lead and direct the review, amendment and perfection of laws on geology, minerals and mining industry in line with the Resolution and supervise the implementation of the Resolution.

The Party delegation to the Government shall lead and direct the making, approval and implementation of the strategy on geology, minerals and mining industry; prioritize the allocation of human resources to perform the tasks and objectives set in the Resolution; soon review the implementation of the 2010 Law on Minerals to submit to the 15th National Assembly for revision before 2024.

The Party delegation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall coordinate with relevant agencies to regularly monitor, guide, inspect, supervise and hasten the implementation of the Resolution; periodically review and report the implementation to the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee./.