Third time request to revoke the gold mining license on Pu Phen mountain

Official dispatch No. 7926/STNMT-KS dated December 20, 2021 of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment sent to the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam. Photo: Nhat Lan

In Official Dispatch No. 7926/STNMT-KS on the request to revoke the mineral exploitation license sentGeneral Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, The Department of Natural Resources and Environment cited Official Dispatch No. 9556/UBND-CN dated December 7, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee on handling projects with slow construction progress in the province, with the following content:

“Assign the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to report and recommend the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to revoke License No. 75/GP-BTNMT dated January 19, 2017 issued to Thu Do General Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company to implement the Project of Underground Gold Mining in Yen Na and Yen Tinh communes, Tuong Duong district as a basis for revocation and termination of project activities in accordance with the provisions of law”.

Cover of the article “Finishing the withdrawal of the Gold Mining License on Pu Phen Mountain - Yen Tinh needs to be quiet” published by Nghe An Electronic Newspaper on December 7, 2021. Photo: Nhat Lan

Opinion of the People's Committee of Tuong Duong district in Official Dispatch No. 1372/UBND-NL dated December 20, 2021 on the request to revoke the mineral exploitation license. In which, it stated that since being granted the license, Thu Do General Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company "has not issued any documents and has not worked with the local authorities to carry out procedures according to regulations", "has not coordinated with the local authorities to manage and protect minerals within the licensed area", "allowed the situation of gold mining entities within the licensed area".

Exploitation license No. 75/GP-BTNMT issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to Thu Do Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company on January 19, 2017. Photo: Nhat Lan

Nghe An Newspaper recently published a series of 3 articles "Resolutely revoke gold mining license on Pu Phen mountain”. The content expressed the opinions and wishes of the local Party Committee, government and people who did not agree with gold mining, were concerned about loss of security and order, social evils, environmental pollution, etc., and requested the license to be revoked.

In Official Dispatch No. 7926/STNMT-KS, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment also reiterated that the Department had twice requested the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam to propose the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to revoke License No. 75/GP-BTNMT issued to Thu Do General Construction and Trading Joint Stock Company. The first time, in Official Dispatch No. 776/STNMT-KS dated February 20, 2019; the second time, in Official Dispatch No. 5042/STNMT-KS dated September 5, 2021.

Tuong Duong district forces destroyed equipment, machinery, and camps of illegal gold miners. Photo: Contributor

"Therefore, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Nghe An province respectfully requests the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam to report and advise the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to revoke the Mineral Exploitation License No. 75/GP-BTNMT dated January 19, 2017 in accordance with the provisions of law" - in Official Dispatch No. 7926/STNMT-KS, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment proposed.