Urgently identify the missing sand source for the expressway project in the West

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha asked three localities to urgently identify the source of the remaining 7.45 million cubic meters of sand for expressway projects in the Mekong Delta region.

Continuing his working trip to the West, on the afternoon of November 20, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha led a Government delegation to have a working session with localities on promoting the progress of expressway projects being implemented in the Mekong Delta region.

Increase capacity, unify prices

Working scene.

At the working session, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with localities, project management boards, and contractors to review and synthesize reserves and exploitation capacity at sand mines according to the progress of each project.

At the same time, the provinces of Vinh Long, Tien Giang and An Giang are requested to urgently determine the supply source for the remaining 7.45 million cubic meters of sand. In addition, they are required to speed up procedures and grant mines for mining projects soon to ensure construction progress.

Regarding sand mines granted for the project, the Deputy Prime Minister requested localities to strengthen supervision, install monitoring equipment, determine the depth of sand mine exploitation, ensure environmental factors, and prevent landslides that affect people's lives.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha gave a speech at the meeting.

For sand mines in areas with undetermined management boundaries between localities, the Deputy Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently determine the management boundaries of sea areas between localities.

The Deputy Prime Minister also directed the Ministry of Construction to coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to review regulations and standards on material sources, especially sea sand used in leveling activities.

Regarding the issue of sand supply prices from commercial mines for highway projects, the Deputy Prime Minister assigned localities and relevant ministries to work together to agree on a price plan based on the principle of "harmonized benefits and shared risks".

Materials for highways are still difficult.

Reporting at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan said that currently, the Mekong Delta region is implementing a key expressway project in the transport sector.

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan said that there are still some expressway projects in the Mekong Delta region that have not yet determined sufficient supply sources.

With the Government's strong direction, up to now, the supply source with a total reserve of about 56.75 million m3 of sand for filling 4 projects has been identified.

Of which, Can Tho - Ca Mau Expressway has identified the source of 25.7 million m3, has issued a confirmation, and is eligible to exploit 23.1 million m3; and is completing procedures to exploit 2.6 million m3.

However, the current mining capacity of the mines does not meet the supply capacity of the remaining 4 million m3 that must be completed by December 31, 2025.

The Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway project has identified a source of 24 million cubic meters of sand.

Currently, component projects 3 (Hau Giang) and 4 (Soc Trang) have determined sufficient supply, component project 1 (An Giang) is short of 3 million m3; component project 2 (Can Tho city) is short of 1.85 million m3 of sand.

The remaining two highway projects have now identified sufficient supply. The investor is coordinating with the relevant agencies to carry out relevant procedures to grant the mine.

Regarding the source of aggregate, the total demand of the 4 projects is about 5.19 million m3. The Prime Minister has directed An Giang to carry out procedures to resume exploitation of the Antraco mine in 8.

However, up to now, the implementation of mine closure procedures and the organization of mining rights auctions has taken a long time.

This has affected the supply of materials for the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway, Can Tho - Hau Giang section.

The provinces of Kien Giang, An Giang, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau have supported the completion of legal procedures to supply the Can Tho - Ca Mau project.

However, due to the long transportation distance, the cost is higher than the stone source at Antraco mine.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inspects the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway project

According to the Deputy Minister of Transport, the supply of materials for projects still faces some difficulties and problems, and the mining capacity of mines is still limited and has not met construction progress.

Some mines had to stop mining due to excessive depth or risk of riverbank landslides, so the volume could not be guaranteed.

In addition, the implementation of mining licensing procedures in Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces has not met the construction progress. In particular, the Can Tho - Hau Giang project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025, is in dire need of additional sand from local sources.

To ensure the projects are completed as planned, the Deputy Minister of Transport requested the provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Soc Trang, and Vinh Long to speed up the completion of licensing procedures and increase the capacity of river and sea sand mines that have completed the procedures.

Tien Giang and An Giang provinces urgently identify sufficient sand sources according to assigned targets and soon complete licensing procedures for exploitation.

Expanding the transfer of sea sand to freshwater areas

Explaining the reason for not increasing the exploitation capacity of three sand mines granted to the contractor to serve the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway, Mr. Nguyen Van Liet, Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee, said that these sand mines are located in Tra On district.

Recently, there have been complaints from people affecting the time to consider increasing capacity.

"The province will consider increasing the mining capacity for phase 2 as soon as possible according to the contractor's request. At the same time, we will urgently complete procedures to exploit two new mines to supply the project, striving to grant licenses in December," affirmed the leader of Vinh Long province.

Construction site of component 4 project of Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc He, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, said that the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway component 2 project implemented by the locality needs about 7 million cubic meters of sand.

Currently, An Giang has supported 2.3 million m3, Tien Giang 2.97 million m3. Currently, there is a shortage of 1.73 million m3 and Ben Tre is asking for support.

"Can Tho City really hopes that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant ministries and branches will study and advise the Prime Minister to issue specific instructions to guide the city to use sea sand to build traffic works and industrial parks.

Because currently there is no legal document for the use of sea sand in the areas of Can Tho, An Giang, Dong Thap", the Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee suggested.

Mr. Lam Hoang Nghiep, Vice Chairman of Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee spoke at the meeting.

Mr. Lam Hoang Nghiep, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province, said that regarding the issue of sand exploitation, procedures will arise to hand over sand mines to highway construction contractors for exploitation and project service in early 2023 and late 2024.

Although in a short time, the locality has also completed the procedures to confirm the mining registration for two contractors with reserves of about 1 million m3. At the same time, the deadline for two sand mines with reserves of more than 5.4 million m3.

"However, currently, these mines have not been exploited by contractors, and progress is not guaranteed.

For example, mine No. 12 can exploit up to 3,000m3 of reserves per day, but contractors only exploit about 700-800m3," the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province pointed out.

Soc Trang province leaders proposed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment coordinate with ministries and branches to unify the handling of sand exploitation and the allocation of sea areas in sub-area B1.3.

Along with that, consider and guide Soc Trang province on deep sand mining at MS11 river sand mine to serve key traffic projects.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/khan-truong-xac-dinh-nguon-cat-con-thieu-cap-cho-du-an-cao-toc-o-mien-tay-192241120125721514.htm