Hanoi (VNA)𒆙 – The General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam (DGMV) has proposed the collection of statistics on stored mineral reserves in localities with the storage time of at least 25 years but not more than50 years.

The information was revealed by DGMV Director Do Canh Duong during an online meeting on April 9 to devise a draft decree on mineral management in mineral reserve areas for development of surface projects.

Making statistics on mineral amounts that need to be reserved

A report on the drafting of the decree, Duong said that on the foundation of the Ministry of Justice’s verification opinions, the general department is finalising the drafting of the decree. He said that in a document submitted to the Government on acquiring verification, the DGMV added statistics on the amount of minerals that need to be reserved in each locality, along with information on the demands for implementation of projects on the surface of mineral reserve areas in localities such as Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam. The general department also gave predictions on possible conflicts in interest as well as impacts on security, defence and national resources ownership in the reserve areas, he said. Regarding the scale and subjects of the decree, the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnamhas reviewed and rearrangedpolicies. For example, the reserve time of national mineral resources must meet the demand for mineral use and the development of projects in the surface area, in order to optimize the efficiency of resources for socio-economic development. The general department has set up legal foundation for investment in projects on the surface in the national mineral reserve areas to make it suitable to the legal regulations on investment, mineral resources and related matters. The implementation of socio-economic development on the surface must satisfy the requirements of protecting unexploited mineral resources in national mineral reserve areas. Meanwhile, the adjustment of national mineral reserve areas must ensure the legitimate rights and interests of investors who are implementing surface projects. In addition, the general department has also proposed that State management of surface development projects as well as management and protection of unexploited minerals in the national mineral reserve areas be responsibilities of relevant ministries, agencies and provincial People’s Committees.

Storage duration will beless than 50 years

Over issues related to the duration for reserving national minerals, the DGMV representative said that the agency has clarified the scientific and practical foundations when proposing the duration for national mineral storage. It has considered regulations on the minimum duration that is enough for the effective operation and development of socio-economic projects in the reserve areas, thus optimizing resources for socio-economic development in different periods. On the basis of scientific and practicalanalyses, the decree-drafting unit has proposed choosing the option of mineral storage duration of at least 25 years but not more than 50 years. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran QuyKien affirmed the need to devise and issue a legal document on the management and implementation of economic development projects on the surface of national mineral reserve areas. Kien requested that the decree must be suitable to the policies of the Party and State laws regarding mineral resources management as well as management of activities related to the protection of national reserved mineral resources, while promoting land and mineral resources for socio-economic development. Alongside, regulations stated in articles and clauses of the decree must be clear and detailed, ensuring the coherence among the articles and clauses as well as between the decree and relevant legal documents. The decree must be suitable to practical situation and have high feasibility, the Deputy Minister asked./.