Energy Price Volatility Drives Technology Demand in Mining and Construction

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has announced the discovery of 489 new mineral points of various types. Promising mineral areas have been identified, such as rare earth minerals in Bao Thang (Lao Cai) and Lai Chau, as well as gold in Tuyen Quang.

According to information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 14 geological mapping and land-based mineral exploration projects have been completed, covering an area of 42,550 km2 (achieving 73.19% of the total land area).

Notably, according to this Ministry, numerous mineral deposits have been discovered and identified, and many of them have been investigated for their resource potential. The state has invested in exploration to determine their reserves. Some of the noteworthy deposits include the Quang Ninh coal basin, apatite in Lao Cai, radioactive minerals, and rare earth elements in provinces such as Quang Nam and Lai Chau. Large-scale metal deposits like the Sin Quyen copper ore (Lao Cai), Cho Don, Cho Dien (Bac Kan) lead-zinc, Ban Phuc nickel mine (Son La), and Bong Mieu gold mine (Quang Nam) have also been explored.

“The results of exploration and reserve determination have been timely licensed for mineral exploitation, effectively serving the country’s economic development across various periods,” stated the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

To date, geological and mineral surveys have been completed over an area of more than 244,000 km2 in the deep-sea region with water depths of 0-100 meters. There have been 24 projects for mineral assessment.

The survey and assessment results have registered 841 mineral points on the map, including the discovery of 489 new mineral points. These include iron ore in Tan An (Yen Bai), graphite in Bao Thang (Lao Cai), gold in Tan Uyen (Lai Chau), Phuoc Son (Quang Nam), kaolin-feldspar in Bao Thang (Lao Cai), Tan Bien (Tay Ninh), and copper ore in Kon Ray (Kon Ra, Kon Tum).

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment believes that the survey and assessment of mineral resources have identified promising areas, including rare earth elements in Bảo Thắng (Lào Cai) and Lai Châu, gold in Yên Sơn (Tuyên Quang), copper in Bát Xát (Lào Cai), feldspar in Bắc Yên (Sơn La), landscape stones in Thanh Sơn (Phú Thọ), white sand in coastal provinces of Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế, and decorative stones in Gia Lai.

Some projects have been surveyed and assessed up to a depth of 500 meters, such as the Red River Delta coal mine.

Until now, nearly 3,200 mineral exploration licenses have been issued, contributing to the increase in reserves of nearly 40 types of minerals, such as cement limestone with nearly 1.8 billion tons, coal with over 1.2 billion tons, bauxite ore with nearly 900 million tons, and ordinary construction stone with nearly 1 billion cubic meters.

“Many enterprises have invested in innovating technologies and advanced equipment, especially in coal, tungsten, multi-metal, and cement, reducing electricity and energy consumption, minimizing mineral losses, and efficiently utilizing minerals after extraction,” according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In a recent document submitted to the Ministry of Justice, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien stated that, after 13 years of implementing the Mineral Law, numerous limitations have been revealed, making it no longer suitable and causing difficulties in implementation.

Specifically, there are several issues related to mineral extraction for construction materials, especially sand, riverbed gravel, soil, and rock for ordinary construction materials to serve important national projects or public investment projects. Other issues include the extraction and use of accompanying minerals during the primary mineral extraction process, controlling the mining volume according to each license, and the decentralization and delegation of authority in the management of geological and mineral activities.

Moreover, many laws related to geology and minerals have been amended, supplemented, or newly enacted, but the Mineral Law has not been revised or supplemented to ensure consistency and coherence.

Therefore, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hopes that the new Law on Geology and Minerals will address existing issues and deficiencies, tighten management, promote efficient and sustainable use of minerals, and work towards the goal of sustainable development in this sector.

Source: dantri.com.vn