The draft Circular detailing a number of articles of the Law on Geology and Minerals on mineral exploitation, mineral recovery and mineral recovery has just been released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for public consultation.

According to the draft, organizations and individuals granted mineral exploitation licenses and mineral exploitation licenses must register the date of commencement of basic mine construction and the date of commencement of exploitation with the competent state management agency that grants the license at least 15 days before implementation.

In case of any change in the implementation time, written notification must be given.

Written notice must be sent to the People's Committees at all levels where the mine is located (for licenses under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), to the People's Committees at district and commune levels (for licenses under the authority of the provincial People's Committee) at least 7 working days before implementation.

Notably, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment proposed that organizations and individuals exploiting and recovering minerals must install control equipment at necessary locations to ensure control of the transportation of minerals out of the mining area.

Specifically, it includes installing smart camera systems at locations where raw minerals are transported out of mining sites and exploitation sites (except for cases of mineral exploitation on rivers, lakes, and seas; exploitation of natural hot water and natural mineral water).

Install smart camera systems at mining equipment on rivers, lakes, and sea areas to ensure observation of mining activities.

Install a weighing system capable of connecting, analyzing, and automatically sharing data with smart camera systems and information systems and data on mineral activities at locations where raw minerals are transported out of the mine.

Install measuring equipment capable of connecting, analyzing, and automatically sharing data with the information system and data on mineral activities to measure the volume of exploitation of hot water, natural mineral water, and gas associated with hot water and mineral water.

The above organizations and individuals must establish books, documents, and reports to monitor and control mineral exploitation output regularly and periodically.

"Smart cameras are surveillance cameras that monitor images with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, capable of recognizing movements, recognizing license plate images, analyzing data and connecting to information systems and data on mineral activities to synthesize data and information," the draft clearly states.

In addition, according to the draft, during the exploitation process (except for sand and gravel in river beds, lake beds, and sea areas), if it is found that the remaining unexploited mineral reserves and volume are larger than the reserves and volume permitted for exploitation, organizations and individuals must report to the competent authority to adjust the license if there is a need for exploitation.

This Circular is expected to take effect from July 1.