The Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company is required to develop a plan for closing the Chau Binh ruby-sapphire mine and restoring the environment.
Following instructions from the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune recently issued a document requesting Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company to fulfill its obligation to close and restore the environment of the ruby-sapphire gemstone mine, and has also implemented a series of measures to comprehensively manage the mining area.
On April 15, 2026, the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune issued Document No. 348/UBND-KT regarding the urging of Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company - the enterprise licensed to exploit minerals at the ruby-sapphire gemstone mine in the Ty Hill - Khe Met area - to fulfill its obligations regarding mine closure and environmental restoration.
Accordingly, Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company must cease all mineral mining activities in the Doi Ty - Khe Met area from April 15, 2026, when the mineral mining license expires.
Remove all machinery, equipment, assets, and related structures from the mining area, ensuring that no structures or equipment that do not comply with the law are left behind.
Urgently prepare a plan for closing the mineral mine in accordance with Article 103 of Decree No. 193/2025/ND-CP and submit the dossier to the Public Administration Service Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for appraisal and approval.
At the same time, Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company must organize and implement environmental and land remediation and restoration work after mining in accordance with current legal regulations.
Also in Document No. 348/UBND-KT dated April 15, 2026, the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune assigned the Economic Department and the Commune Police to supervise Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company in fulfilling its obligations, ensuring that environmental protection and land restoration requirements are implemented correctly according to the law; and on the other hand, ensuring security and order in the mining area.
Mineral exploitation license No. 167/GP-BTNMT of Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company for the ruby-sapphire mine in the Ty Hill - Khe Met area was issued by the former Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on September 15, 2020, with a term of 5 years and 7 months.
Therefore, on April 13, 2026, the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune submitted a report to the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Environment stating that the mining license of Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company would expire on April 15, 2026, and requesting guidance on management measures in accordance with the law.
On April 14, 2026, the Department of Agriculture and Environment issued Official Letter No. 4027/SNNMT-KS to the People's Committee of Chau Binh Commune and Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company. The letter requested Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company to cease all mining activities at the Chau Binh ruby-sapphire mine from the date the license expires on April 15, 2026; and to urgently develop a mine closure plan and carry out environmental remediation and restoration in accordance with regulations.
The Department of Agriculture and Environment also requested the People's Committee of Chau Binh commune to strengthen state management of the expired mining area, supervise the cessation of mining operations and the closure of the mine by the enterprise. They urged the enterprise to fully fulfill its obligations to close the mine and restore the environment as required. They also requested the protection of unexploited mineral resources in the area in accordance with current regulations of the Provincial People's Committee.
From the end of 2025 to the present, Nghe An's newspapers, radio, and television have published several articles about the mineral exploitation activities of Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company at the Chau Binh ruby-sapphire mine. These articles have highlighted unusual signs regarding mining output as well as the company's responsibility in fulfilling its tax and fee obligations to the state budget.
Most recently, in the article"Chau Binh ruby-sapphire mine: Inconsistencies in reports"On March 12, 2026, further information emerged regarding the Department of Agriculture and Environment issuing Document No. 2325/SNNMT-KS dated March 4, 2026, requiring Hanoi Gemstone and Gold Joint Stock Company to revise its periodic mineral mining activity reports for 2025 due to non-compliance with regulations, in order to facilitate data verification and comparison.
According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Luc, Head of the Mineral Resources Department of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the preparation of a mine closure and environmental restoration plan is a mandatory requirement when a mineral license expires. Authorities are continuing to investigate the mining output and the fulfillment of tax and fee obligations by the enterprise.
“Recently, the Inspection Team, pursuant to Decision No. 37/QD-TTCP dated January 20, 2026, of the Government Inspectorate, conducted an inspection of mining activities at the Chau Binh ruby-sapphire mine. After the conclusions are reached, related issues will be considered and handled according to authority,” Mr. Nguyen Cong Luc stated.
Thus, after 5 years and 7 months of operation, in addition to having to carry out the mine closure procedures as prescribed, some issues related to production output and the fulfillment of the company's obligations at the Chau Binh ruby-sapphire mine are still awaiting further review and clarification by the relevant authorities.
This reality necessitates strengthening the management and supervision of mineral exploitation activities, especially for high-value mineral deposits, to ensure that exploitation is carried out in line with economic efficiency, environmental responsibility, and full compliance with legal regulations.