Illustration image: Police bust an illegal sand exploration. Photo: VNA
The central province of Phu Yen is prioritising hi-tech and environmentally-friendly mining projects as part of its efforts to increase natural resource management.
The locality will also review licences granted to mining projects and concretely prohibit illegal mineral exploration and exploitation as well as the export of raw natural resources.
The provincial People’s Committee has urged efforts to accelerate the popularisation of policies and laws regarding natural resources and advised local authorities, especially those at the communal level, to raise their sense of responsibility for inspecting mining activities.
Apart from establishing a fund to inspect mining businesses’ fulfilment of commitments to environmental restoration, Phu Yen has also sealed off 158,000 hectares where mining activities are temporarily banned. The areas house historical relic sites and landscapes or have been zoned out for national defence purposes or protection forests.
The locality has demolished illegal gold mines in Tay Hoa, Phu Hoa, Son Hoa and Song Hinh districts.
Over the past two years, Phu Yen licensed 30 mining projects with large reserves and high commercial values. It aims to develop a number of mineral-based sectors by 2020, including a diatomite ore processing plant with an annual capacity of up to 10,000 tonnes.
Along with the Phu Sen mineral water site in Phu Hoa district, the province is calling for investments in another plant with an annual capacity of 20 million litres and hot mineral water pools.-VNA
