Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has emphasised the government’s consistent standpoint of ensuring socio-economic efficiency in minerals exploitation, focusing on processing and not exporting raw minerals.

At the cabinet meeting that took place in Hanoi from Nov. 3-5, the PM also said it is necessary to consider minerals projects’ short and long term impact on the environment.

During the three-day meeting, cabinet members heard the draft strategy on minerals exploitation until 2020, with a vision to 2030 and the government’s draft action programme to implement the Politburo’s resolution on the issue.

They said minerals exploration and exploitation licence granting has been carried out in accordance with the law and the minerals scheme approved by the PM.

However, they said, there remained violations in licensing, including granting licences when businesses are yet to show exploration results.

In addition, illegal mining for minerals, especially rare and metal minerals, and sand and gravels from the river bed in many localities have caused labour insecurity, social disorder and affected the environment, they added.

PM Dung asked relevant ministries and branches to review licensed and operating minerals exploitations projects and immediately halt projects that fail to meet requirements and affect people’s life.

Projects applying for licences must be carried out with feasible studies and under a strict examination process, he added.

It is necessary to review natural resources export tax and strictly control the export of minerals, he stressed.

Source: Vietnam+