Expected to exploit sea sand for highway construction in mid-June 2024

Today (June 11), the People's Committee of Soc Trang province had a working session with the My Thuan Project Management Board on the implementation of procedures for exploiting sea sand mines as roadbed materials at the North-South expressway project, Can Tho - Ca Mau section.

According to the representative of My Thuan Project Management Board, at present, VNCN E&C Construction and Engineering Investment Joint Stock Company (VNCN E&C) has completed the survey and completed the registration dossier for the area and reserves of sand mines under the guidance of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) of Soc Trang province.

The Project Management Board and contractors have also determined the scope of sea sand use (through Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Ca Mau provinces) in the Hau Giang - Ca Mau project. The volume of sea sand used is about 6 million m3 and has reported to the People's Committee of Soc Trang province.

"The Ministry of Transport has issued a document confirming that the volume of sea sand needed for the project, about 6 million m3, is appropriate and the location of the sand mines that the contractor requested to exploit is not located in the shipping lane.

The Board also updated the results of the sea sand mine survey into the project material survey file and reported to the People's Committee of Soc Trang province.

Thus, the project management board and the contractor have completed all procedures for registering for exploitation rights in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 106/2023/QH15 dated November 28, 2023 of the National Assembly, meeting the conditions for the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to consider and issue a "Confirmation" to the contractor to organize exploitation to serve the project construction", informed the representative of My Thuan Project Management Board.

Regarding the authority to grant mining licenses, according to the My Thuan Project Management Board, Clause 2, Article 82 of the 2010 Mineral Law stipulates: "The Provincial People's Committee grants licenses to exploit minerals for common construction materials".

Regarding the procedure for assigning sea areas (outside 6 nautical miles) in Document No. 548/BHĐVN-QLKTB dated May 17, 2024, the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment affirmed that the assignment of sea areas is under the authority of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and is implemented according to the provisions of Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP.

Although the contractor has completed the documents in accordance with regulations; the authority to grant licenses and assign sea areas has also been specifically regulated, up to now, the People's Committee of Soc Trang province has not issued a "Confirmation" so it is not possible to exploit sea sand for project construction in May 2024.

In the coming time, after the People's Committee of Soc Trang province issues a "Confirmation", the contractor will complete the documents requesting the allocation of the sea area and submit them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration of the allocation of the sea area for exploitation.

The contractor has committed to performing financial obligations (taxes, fees) as prescribed before exploitation; the contractor submits to the Maritime Administration for approval the plan to ensure maritime traffic safety; registers the means of exploitation and transportation with the competent authority for exploitation. Expected start time is from mid-June 2024.

"Taking advantage of favorable weather, it is urgent to put the sea sand mine into operation soon to serve the project construction.

"The delay in exploitation will greatly affect the progress and risk not completing the project by 2025 as directed by the Government and the Prime Minister," said the leader of the My Thuan Project Management Board. At the same time, he requested the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to pay attention to directing and issuing a "Confirmation" to the contractor before June 15, 2024 as a basis for completing the dossier requesting the assignment of the sea area according to regulations.

Locality still faces difficulties

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province, said that the province does not have any need to exploit sea sand but will create favorable conditions for the My Thuan Project Management Board and contractors to exploit sea sand for projects.

According to Mr. Lau, currently, the province is still facing some difficulties and problems, so it cannot grant licenses for sand exploitation.

"As stipulated in Clause 2, Article 82 of the 2010 Law on Minerals; Decree No. 11/2021/ND-CP dated February 10, 2021 of the Government, the Provincial People's Committee shall manage and assign the sea area within the 6 nautical mile sea area from the average lowest water line of the mainland over many years.

Meanwhile, the B1 sea sand mine in Soc Trang province (assessed and handed over to the province by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) is located outside the 6-nautical mile sea area, so it is not currently under the province's management and licensing authority," Mr. Lau explained.

Mr. Lau added that currently, there is no document from the competent authority assigning or authorizing the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to grant a license to exploit sea sand in the sea area outside the 6 nautical mile sea area.

"Because of these difficulties, the province cannot grant authority and issue a Confirmation to the My Thuan Project Management Board.

We have assigned the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to send a document to the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to allow the People's Committee of Soc Trang province to grant a license to exploit sea sand within and beyond the 6 nautical mile range so that the province has a legal basis to grant sea sand mining mines to contractors in accordance with the law," informed the leader of Soc Trang province.