Nghe An decided to close the quarry in Len Chua area

Previously, at Len Chua quarry, there were 3 enterprises operating in construction stone exploitation, including: Thanh Xuan Company Limited (Thanh Xuan Company); Xuan Hung Company Limited (Xuan Hung Company) and Xuan Chung Company Limited (Xuan Chung Company).

Len Chua quarry is exploited haphazardly, outside the licensed mining area, creating deep water holes that are very dangerous for people. Photo: PB

After the mining licenses of these enterprises expired, the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town directed Quynh Xuan Ward to suspend the illegal mining activities of Thanh Xuan Company Limited and Xuan Hung Company Limited, and at the same time required these companies to carry out leveling, environmental restoration, and set up danger signs for the exploited areas below ground level 0.

However, these companies continue to exploit and transport stone for consumption; Thanh Xuan Company and Xuan Chung Company even build concrete mixing stations and projects right in the mine area.

In February 2017, Xuan Hung Company Limited and Thanh Xuan Company Limited were administratively fined by the Provincial People's Committee for "Mineral exploitation beyond the scope of up to 10% of the total area or total height of the licensed mineral exploitation area" with a fine of 120 million VND/company.

In addition to the fines, the provincial People's Committee required these two companies to carry out leveling, environmental restoration, and implement solutions to bring the areas that had been exploited beyond the mining depth to a safe state. However, these companies did not comply.

Thanh Xuan Company Limited built a commercial concrete mixing station in the Len Chua quarry area without a license. Photo: PB

Specifically, Xuan Hung Company exploited a depth exceeding the permitted level by 17.8 m; Thanh Xuan Company exploited a depth exceeding the permitted level by 11.8 m. Quarrying beyond the permitted level not only causes the State to lose resources and tax revenue, but also creates holes up to thousands of square meters deep, posing a potential danger to people.

On April 12, 2017, the People's Committee of Hoang Mai Town continued to issue an official dispatch requesting the two companies to comply with the penalty decision of the Provincial People's Committee; at the same time, requesting them to stop all mineral exploitation activities and relocate machinery and equipment in the mine area where they had exploited beyond the depth. However, these companies still did not comply.

In the face of the actual situation, based on the appraisal meeting of the Mineral Appraisal Council of Nghe An province, on November 6, 2018, the People's Committee of Nghe An province approved the Project to decide to close the construction stone mineral mine in Len Chua area, Quynh Xuan ward, Hoang Mai town. The mine closure area of ​​Xuan Hung Company is 3.43 ha; the mine closure area of ​​Thanh Xuan Company is 4.14 ha.

The concrete mixing station was illegally built by Xuan Hung Company Limited. Photo: PB

According to the decision, Xuan Hung Company and Thanh Xuan Company are responsible for leveling and renovating the mine to a safe state, building protective fences, restoring the environment around the mine area and affected areas, protecting remaining mineral resources, and handing over the mine area to the State for management.

The construction time that Nghe An Provincial People's Committee allows the above 2 units to carry out is 2 months from the date of signing the decision, the implementation cost is paid by the enterprise itself.

In September and October 2017, Nghe An Newspaper published many articles reflecting many violations in mineral exploitation at Len Chua quarry, Quynh Xuan ward, Hoang Mai town.

In addition to violations in stone mining, Thanh Xuan Company Limited and Xuan Chung Company Limited also brazenly built a commercial concrete mixing station and works such as an operating house, power station, transportation line... in Len Chua stone quarry.

Through inspection by functional agencies, it was found that Xuan Chung Company Limited and Thanh Xuan Company built a commercial concrete mixing station without documents and legal procedures on project investment from competent authorities, without a construction permit, and without a land allocation decision.

Authorities have asked these two companies to stop operations and dismantle illegal constructions, but so far this work has not been done.

Pham Bang