Strengthening mineral management and protection

Tighten appraisal and licensing

In recent times, Soc Trang province has issued a full range of legal documents under its authority to specify the provisions of the law and the Central Government's directives related to the mineral sector as well as to resolve existing problems and difficulties; at the same time, tighten the appraisal and licensing of mineral exploitation; promote the inspection and examination of mineral exploitation activities, promptly detect and handle violations in mineral activities of organizations and individuals.

Soc Trang province also focuses on planning, investigating, and exploring mineral resources on rivers, coastal areas...; developing plans to protect mineral resources; regulating prohibited areas, temporarily prohibiting mineral activities; implementing coordination regulations with Hau Giang, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh provinces to manage and protect mineral resources on adjacent river basins and canals, promptly preventing illegal mineral exploitation.

Currently, Soc Trang Province is implementing many tasks and solutions to improve the efficiency of management and protection of mineral resources in coastal areas of the province.

To ensure sand resources for key projects, Soc Trang province has also strengthened coordination with competent authorities to establish procedures according to regulations to organize sand exploitation in some areas according to the province's planning approved by competent authorities. Recently, Soc Trang province issued a decision to exploit 7 sand mines along the Hau River to serve the investment project to build the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway, phase 1.

Mr. Ngo Thai Chan, Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Soc Trang province, said: In order for the state management of minerals in Soc Trang province to become more systematic and effective, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to implement the provisions of the Law on Minerals; closely coordinate with agencies and units to strengthen the inspection and examination of mineral exploitation activities to promptly handle violations; organize surveys and appraisals to grant mineral exploitation licenses to serve the province's socio-economic development investment projects.

In addition, Soc Trang province will focus on effectively implementing the Strategy on Geology, Minerals and Mining Industry to 2030 with a vision to 2045 in the province with the goal that by 2030, Soc Trang will have 85% of the total land area mapped on geology and minerals at a scale of 1/50,000; organize geological surveys and assess mineral potential in coastal areas with potential for construction material minerals in the area.

Soc Trang province will also implement plans to protect, explore, exploit and use mineral resources that have been integrated into the Soc Trang Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030 with a vision to 2050. By 2045, Soc Trang province strives to complete 100% of geological and mineral mapping work at a scale of 1/50,000 on the mainland; create geological and mineral maps of coastal marine environments; and complete basic surveys of other resources.

Strengthen inspection and control

To complete the above objectives, in the coming time, Soc Trang province will focus on managing and effectively using mineral resources, protecting the ecological environment in mineral activities; proactively preventing and resolutely fighting and strictly handling violations of laws on geology and minerals; organizing reviews and advising competent authorities to promptly issue legal documents to fully concretize the Central Government's policies and regulations on the orientation of the Strategy on geology, minerals and mining industry; regulating the management of mineral exploration and exploitation activities for common construction materials in accordance with reality; auctioning mineral exploitation rights according to regulations.

In the coming time, Soc Trang province will exploit a number of sand mines along the Hau River to serve the investment project to build the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang expressway phase 1.

Soc Trang province will also strengthen inspection and control of mineral exploitation activities to ensure fairness, publicity and transparency; prioritize the issuance of licenses for mineral exploitation as common construction materials for infrastructure projects and works, especially key traffic works; strictly inspect the collection, management and use of taxes related to mineral activities, and deposit funds for environmental restoration to increase budget revenue, ensuring harmonious interests between the state, enterprises and people where minerals are exploited; at the same time, strictly manage the business, transportation and consumption of river sand.

Along with that, Soc Trang province will organize and effectively implement the plan to protect, exploit and use mineral resources in the Soc Trang Provincial Planning for the period 2021 - 2030 with a vision to 2050; adjust and supplement prohibited areas, temporarily prohibit mineral activities in the province according to regulations; strengthen coordination with neighboring provinces in the management and protection of mineral resources and handle organizations and individuals who violate regulations on mineral exploration and exploitation on rivers.

The People's Committee of Soc Trang province also requested agencies, units and localities to step up propaganda and dissemination of policies and legal regulations related to the fields of geology and minerals as well as the role and importance of geology, minerals and mining industry for the socio-economic development of the province to people and businesses, contributing to raising awareness and responsibility for law compliance of organizations and individuals on geology and minerals; exploiting and using mineral resources economically and effectively.

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