Confiscate mineral exploitation fund if enterprise does not return land

(Baonghean) -Mr. Truong Minh Hoang - Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment discussed withOn State management of land reclamation and restoration of the status quo when exploiting mineral resources.

-Is it because mining enterprises do not fulfill their commitments to reclaim land and restore the status quo that there are no sanctions or strong measures against them?

Mr. Truong Minh Hoang:I think, when implementing mineral resource exploitation projects, the exploiting unit must deposit a fund with the State. That fund must be commensurate with the cost of compensation and restoration of the current situation. When the exploiting enterprise deposits a fund, the State keeps that amount of money, and after the exploitation is completed, the enterprise must compensate for the current situation as committed, then they can withdraw that amount of money.

Mr. Truong Minh Hoang - Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment

In case the enterprise does not do it, the State will use that fund to hire people to do it. If the commitment is only made in normal documents, it will be very difficult to require the enterprise to fulfill the commitment after they have finished exploiting.

In case the company has to pay a large deposit, causing difficulties for the company, the authorities can facilitate them by capturing the company's account number, then agree with each other that if the commitment is not fulfilled after mining, the authorities will block this account.

-What is the responsibility of local authorities when enterprises are delaying and avoiding responsibility for land reclamation and restoration of the status quo after mining, sir?

Mr. Truong Minh Hoang:First of all, we must see which agency is responsible for the project. There are mineral resource exploitation projects managed by ministries and only coordinated by localities. In my opinion, the responsibility for a mineral exploitation project that does not restore the land or restore the current status quo lies primarily with the project owner.

As for how to manage and coordinate to monitor and control implementation, it is possible to coordinate with localities, and have to spend a certain amount of money for them to manage in parallel, because not all mining projects are managed by localities. For example, large mining projects are managed by ministries and branches, while some mining projects are licensed and managed at the provincial and district levels.

A mine in Quy Hop. Photo VT

To control that issue, it is necessary to be transparent, for example, how much reserves are exploited, how much area is exploited, where is the location, from where to where, there must be a diagram, a map posted publicly for people to know, only then can it be controlled promptly. After the exploitation is completed, the land reclamation and compensation must also be public, if the enterprise does not fulfill its commitment, local people can report to the authorities not to move machinery and vehicles to another place.

NN