Reasons for not agreeing to gold mining

The People's Committee of Tuong Duong district (Nghe An) said that local authorities at all levels recently held a meeting to collect opinions from local people, representatives of the Fatherland Front, and leaders of the People's Committees of Yen Na and Yen Tinh communes about the project of underground mining of original gold ore.

As a result, 100% of opinions disagreed with the project implementation.

The gold mining project is implemented by Thu Do Construction and General Trading Joint Stock Company. This enterprise has been conducting exploration since 2008 and was granted a mining license in 2017.

The investor said that the gold mining project in Yen Na and Yen Tinh communes has a capacity of 13,800 tons of raw gold ore per year, with a construction period of 15 years, using underground mining technology with an expected workforce of about 40 people. The total area affected by the project is about 126.7 hectares.

The entire dossier on the enterprise's environmental impact assessment has been submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (TN-MT) in 2022, but has not been approved. Meanwhile, the enterprise has paid the mineral exploitation rights fee. Regarding taxes, the investor committed to paying them in full according to regulations, and also committed to deducting a portion of the profits to support local people.

However, Mr. Luong Duy Ton, Head of the Elderly Association of Canh Toong village, said that all members did not agree with the gold mining project.

Mr. Mac Dinh Tang - Chairman of the Veterans Association of Yen Tinh commune - said that since 2003, a business has been mining gold, causing serious environmental consequences.

“This mountainous area has a tea growing model, contributing to economic development for people in the whole commune. Therefore, we do not agree to the project implementation,” Mr. Tang emphasized.

Explaining his reaction to the above project, Mr. Mac Dinh Trung, Party Cell Secretary, Head of Cap Chang Village (Yen Tinh Commune), expressed: "Gold exploration and exploitation in previous years has left negative consequences such as affecting the environment and security and order in this area. I do not agree with the implementation of the project. I request that all levels close the mine and not allow mining."

For the same reason, many households in Yen Na and Yen Tinh communes and local authorities did not agree to let the above enterprise mine gold.

As a result, in Yen Na commune, 35/35 opinions and in Yen Tinh commune, 36/36 opinions disagreed with allowing the enterprise to organize gold exploration and exploitation in the locality; at the same time, they recommended that the authorities revoke the license for this project.

Proposal to revoke project license

In response to the opinions of the people and authorities of Yen Na and Yen Tinh communes, the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district has issued a document requesting the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the People's Committee of Nghe An province to report to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to revoke the enterprise's mineral exploitation license.

Tuong Duong District People's Committee said that since being granted the mining license, the enterprise has not coordinated with local authorities to carry out mineral management and protection within the permitted scope.

Furthermore, community consultations since the end of 2021 show that the authorities of Yen Na and Yen Tinh communes strongly oppose allowing businesses to mine gold in the locality due to the consequences of previous gold mining that have left many losses for the people, such as an increase in the number of drug addicts, loss of security and order, water pollution, etc.

“The people’s wishes are completely legitimate for peace of mind in production and economic development. The People’s Committee of Tuong Duong district respectfully requests the Provincial People’s Committee, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Department of Planning and Investment to report to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam to revoke the above-mentioned mineral exploitation license according to regulations,” the document stated.