Dong Nai urges early adoption of a special resolution to implement the Law on Geology and Minerals

On the afternoon of September 3, Party Central Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chaired an in-person meeting with ministries and agencies, and a virtual session with 13 localities, to discuss the Government's Draft Resolution on special mechanisms and policies aimed at addressing difficulties in implementing the Law on Geology and Minerals, as well as the Draft amendments and supplements to several articles of the same law.

At the Dong Nai site, Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee, chaired the meeting.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang chairs the Dong Nai site. Photo: Hoang Loc

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that the new Law on Geology and Minerals took effect on July 1, 2025. However, in practice, numerous obstacles remain, requiring resolutions and legal amendments to ensure feasibility, prevent loss of state budget revenue, and reduce risks for businesses and localities. He called on ministries, sectors, localities, and associations to openly identify challenges and propose solutions to improve the legal framework.

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment reported several proposed amendments and supplements aimed at addressing difficulties faced by localities where numerous projects are underway but lack construction materials due to policy and mechanism bottlenecks.

Mineral exploitation is carried out to supply key national projects in Phuoc Tan ward, Dong Nai province. Photo: Hoang Loc

Dong Nai is currently carrying out numerous public investment projects and national key initiatives, but continues to face a range of challenges related to geology and minerals. Specifically, in the field of geology and minerals, difficulties include finalizing payments for mineral exploitation rights, land procedures for the extraction of group IV minerals, administrative procedures related to geology and minerals, and deep or expanded exploration activities that are not subject to mining right auctions. In terms of land management, key issues include the delegation and decentralization of authority, the handling of administrative procedures under the two-tier local government model, and the determination of jurisdiction for land-related procedures.

According to Vice Chair of the Dong Nai People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang, the province agrees with the proposals outlined in the Government's draft resolution. Specifically, Dong Nai supports allowing the extraction of group IV minerals to supply materials for key projects and public investment works; permitting the exploration and extraction of group III and IV minerals to serve the construction of urgent and special projects; and extending or adjusting existing mining licenses to increase the capacity of group III and IV mineral mines that have already been licensed and remain valid, in order to meet material demands for major projects. Therefore, the province hopes the resolution will be issued soon to help resolve material supply bottlenecks for construction projects in the province and across the southern region.

The Deputy Prime Minister proposed including specific works and projects, such as social housing and resettlement housing, to qualify under the resolution on special mechanisms for mineral exploitation. Simultaneously, he emphasized the need to tighten regulations regarding cases of non-bidding and non-auction to ensure that exploited minerals are supplied to the appropriate beneficiaries and utilized for the intended purposes, while balancing the interests of the State and enterprises and safeguarding the environment. He stressed that the proposed amendments and additions to the Law on Geology and Minerals must adopt a constructive approach that fosters development.

By: Hoang Loc
Translated by: Huyen Trang - Minho