This is the opinion of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on the draft Law on Geology and Minerals on the afternoon of February 19.
At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other relevant ministries and agencies to clarify the degree of institutionalization of the contents of Resolution No. 10-NQ / TW dated February 10, 2022 of the Politburo on the strategic orientation of geology, minerals and mining industry to 2030, vision to 2045 (Resolution 10) in the draft Law; the ability to thoroughly solve practical problems posed in the spirit of administrative procedure reform, promote decentralization, delegation, clear responsibilities, overcome the situation of “separation between management of basic geological survey and assessment with exploration, mining, processing, use of minerals”.
 Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that it is necessary to overcome the separation between the management of basic geological survey and assessment with exploration, mining, processing, and use of minerals – Photo: VGP / MK
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Some groups of issues that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment asked for opinions are: Grouping minerals to have appropriate management solutions in the direction of strong decentralization for localities, simplifying administrative procedures; State budget investment in basic survey, exploration of important, strategic minerals with high economic value, large consumption needs, then auctioning the right to exploitation; scope of adjustment of the Law in the activities of survey, exploration, mining, processing, use of minerals; regulations on the basis, licensing authority to auction the right to exploit minerals; method of calculating money for granting mineral extraction rights based on annual mining output; authority to assess national mineral reserves…
A representative of the Ministry of Justice suggested strengthening the auction of mineral resources in the spirit of Resolution 10; clarify the scientific basis for managing land, stone only suitable for the purpose of filling materials as well as mine waste like group 4 minerals; review, ensure feasibility in implementing the provisions in the draft Law, unified and consistent with some related laws on investment, planning, auction, land, finance…
Agreeing with this opinion, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc proposed that investment and business procedures in the geology and minerals sector should be unified and consistent with the Investment Law.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan suggested that there should be a cohesive management focal point in geological survey, mineral resources, while clearly defining the scope and management authority of specialized ministries in mining, processing, and use of minerals.
In response, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it is necessary to decentralize to have appropriate management methods for the stages of surveying, exploring, evaluating reserves, granting mineral extraction rights; while processing, using, and doing business with minerals, complying with other legal regulations.
Contributing opinions on the grouping of high-value minerals, Deputy Minister of Construction Bui Xuan Dung proposed clarification of the essence of building material minerals, commonly used minerals; simplifying the procedures for adjusting local mining exploitation planning.
A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recommended a careful assessment of the impact of regulations restricting mining activities on natural forests, protective forests, and special-use forests instead of a complete ban as in the current Mineral Law.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan
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At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to consider the opinions of the Ministry of Finance on the legal status in the regulations on collecting fees for granting mining rights according to actual mining output; clarify the essence of strategic minerals, their value, and large-scale use that the State will invest in surveying, exploring, and evaluating reserves, as well as major construction materials; coordinate with ministries and agencies to review, ensure consistent and consistent with related laws.
Regarding specific issues, the Deputy Prime Minister said that it is necessary to clearly define the limits of mining capacity according to suitable designs for market demand; unify the legal basis for conditions for revoking mining licenses, closing mines in investment, land, environmental, and agricultural laws; supplement regulations on evaluating the impact, considering the balance between conservation, protection of cultural and natural heritage, forests, with the reserves, value of exploited minerals; efficient use of mine waste, especially the layer of organic-rich topsoil; clarify the concept of adjusting local mining exploitation planning; establish criteria for enterprises to participate in bidding, auctioning in survey, exploration, and mineral exploitation; fully assess the value, reserves, plans for exploiting, processing, and using accompanying minerals with main minerals…
The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized to promote decentralization, simplify procedures in the management, exploitation, and use of group 4 minerals, including land, stone only suitable for the purpose of filling, as well as mine waste to meet the needs of key transportation projects, construction works.
