Vietnam considering master plan for minerals as construction materials

The Ministry of Construction is submitting a master plan to the prime minister for the exploration, exploitation, processing, and use of minerals for 2021-2030, and beyond.

Pham Van Bac, head of the Construction Materials Department at the Ministry of Construction (MoC), said the master plan closely follows Resolution No.10-NQ/TW dated February 2022 on the strategic direction for the for the geological, mineral, and mining industries through 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The plan sets out specific objectives for each mineral group, including exploration, exploitation, processing, and use. Each stage will identify specific mines for investigation, with priority given to mine development in areas that mirror domestic needs. Low-quality minerals will also be exploited if they meet export regulations and generate high economic value.

Domestic researchers have stated that the master plan should be managed in the direction of green mining and circular mineral exploitation, and that there must be additional backup plans for projects that fall behind schedule.

Quach Duc Tin, deputy director of the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment – the consulting agency of the master plan – said, "For mineral exploitation, Vietnam needs a realistic assessment of its reserves. Relevant stakeholders should focus on exploiting minerals economically and reducing the amount of waste discharged into the environment."

"State management agencies play an important role in supervising mineral exploitation licensing. They need to have a reasonable tax and fee policy so that businesses can feel secure," Tin added.

In August 2018, Decision No.995/QD-TTg assigned tasks to ministries when organising the national sector planning. Among them, the MoC was tasked with preparing the master plan for the exploration, exploitation, processing, and use of minerals for construction materials for 2021-2030, and the succeeding two decades.

New decree sets environmental protection fees for mineral exploitation The Government recently issued Decree 27/2023/ND-CP regulating environmental protection fees for mineral exploitation.

Basic geological survey planning on minerals for 2021-2030 released A basic geological survey planning on minerals for the 2021-30 period with a vision to 2050 has been released by the Vietnam Geological Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

National energy, minerals planning announced The Ministry of Industry and Trade held a conference in Hanoi on August 9 to announce the national plannings in the fields of energy and mining for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050.