The Golden Mountain’s Exploration: County Reverses Decision to Allow Mining in Nature Reserve

On September 18, the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee Office announced that it had received an official dispatch from the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District, dated September 12, regarding their consent to the gold exploration request at Tra Long – Suoi Cay – K7 in Phuoc Duc, Phuoc Nang, and Phuoc Xuan communes, Phuoc Son District.

In the dispatch, the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District stated that after inspecting and considering forest-related matters, they agreed with the contents of Official Dispatch No. 2056/SNN&PTNT-CCKL dated July 17 from the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Report No. 419/BC-STNMT dated August 6 from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

However, according to the explanation provided by Phuoc Son Gold Company Limited, during the exploration process, 101 drill holes were made, directly impacting an area of 2,020 square meters of natural land (each drill hole affecting 20 square meters). This impacted area is relatively small compared to the total area of the exploration project, which spans 16.09 square kilometers. Moreover, as per the company’s exploration construction proposal, the exploration process will not affect the natural forest, and no new roads will be built. Instead, existing trails and local roads will be utilized without causing any environmental impact.

Therefore, the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District agreed and respectfully requested that the competent authority consider and grant permission for mineral exploration for primary gold at Tra Long – Suoi Cay – K7 in Phuoc Duc, Phuoc Nang, and Phuoc Xuan communes, Phuoc Son District, as per the proposal submitted by Phuoc Son Gold Company Limited.

The People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District also requested that Phuoc Son Gold Company Limited commit to implementing the proposals of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the contents committed in Document No. 125-2024/PSGC dated August 29, 2024, sent to the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District. Upon receiving the exploration license, the company must strictly adhere to the approved exploration plan.

Previously, according to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Nam province reported that the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District disagreed with granting exploration permission to the enterprise.

Specifically, the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District stated that the proposed exploration area mostly comprises natural forests (99% of the total area). Although this area is not within the core zone of Song Thanh National Park, it is located at the headwaters of the Song Thanh River, adjacent to the park’s forest area and within its buffer zone.

The People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District affirmed that the natural forest in this area boasts a rich and diverse ecosystem of flora and fauna. They asserted that the exploration and extraction process would involve road construction, machinery transportation, camp and workshop setup, and human presence in the forest, which would impact the headwaters of the Song Thanh River, affecting the flora and fauna and leading to deforestation. It would also pose challenges for environmental protection in the forest ecosystem and complicate the management and protection of Song Thanh National Park and the forests in Phuoc Son District.

Despite these initial objections, the People’s Committee of Phuoc Son District changed their stance after the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee Office conveyed the opinion of Mr. Phan Thai Binh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee, requesting them to consider the proposed exploration construction plan and conduct an on-site inspection.