Deploying special mechanisms in mineral exploitation: Urgent, no mistakes!
Implementing Resolution No. 664/2025/NQ-CP of the Government on a number of specific mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties in implementing the Law on Geology and Minerals in 2024, localities in the province are urgently reviewing and implementing synchronously, ensuring compliance with regulations. The spirit is to act quickly but not subjectively, absolutely not allowing mistakes or abusing mechanisms to cause loss of resources.
Resolution to remove many "bottlenecks"
The Law on Geology and Minerals 2024 was passed by the National Assembly on November 29, 2024, contributing to overcoming many previous shortcomings. However, the application process has revealed many difficulties and has not completely resolved the "bottlenecks". To overcome these difficulties, on September 21, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP allowing the application of specific mechanisms and policies in the field of geology and minerals, especially for the supply of materials for key projects and works.
Right in Clause 1, Article 2, the Resolution clearly states the issuance of mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties and obstacles of the Law on Geology and Minerals 2024 to ensure the supply of materials for groups of works and projects, including:
Public investment projects in accordance with the law on public investment; Investment projects implemented under the public-private partnership (PPP) method in accordance with the law on investment under the public-private partnership method; National key and important projects and works; Socio-economic development projects and works under the authority of local authorities to approve and decide on investment policies according to the law on investment and public investment, which are considered and decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee to apply according to the specific mechanisms and policies of this resolution; Urgent construction works and urgent tasks according to the law on construction; projects and works for natural disaster prevention and control according to the law on natural disaster prevention and control.
According to the resolution, the exploration and exploitation of Group III minerals for construction materials and Group IV minerals for construction works and projects will have many simplified procedures. Specifically, licenses can be adjusted to increase exploitation capacity (without increasing licensed reserves) according to the needs of works and projects, but not more than 50% for sand and gravel in river beds and estuaries and not limited to the remaining Group III minerals and Group IV minerals; there is no need to carry out procedures to submit to competent State agencies for decision or approval of investment policy adjustment, approval of investment projects; adjustment, appraisal and approval of appraisal results of environmental impact assessment reports, issuance of environmental licenses, environmental registration, etc.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has the authority to grant exploration licenses and mineral exploitation licenses for groups III and IV to contractors or organizations and individuals who meet the conditions prescribed by law, only for the works and projects specified in the resolution.
In particular, the provisions of Clause 3, Article 2 of the Resolution also allow the extension and adjustment of mining licenses to increase the mining capacity of Group III and IV minerals for valid mines, with the capacity increase not exceeding 50% for sand and gravel in river beds and estuaries and no restrictions for other Group III and IV minerals. The adjustment does not require redoing investment policy or environmental procedures, creating favorable conditions for localities and enterprises, and at the same time, contributing to speeding up the progress of public investment projects.
Proactive, responsible, not lax management
On September 24, 2025, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 10065/UBND-NN assigningDepartment of Agriculture and EnvironmentPreside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches and units to research and advise the Provincial People's Committee to promptly and effectively implement Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP.
To carry out the assigned tasks, on October 2, 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment issued Document No. 8701/SNNMT-KS to the units exploiting Group III and Group IV minerals in the province. Here, the Department of Agriculture and Environment announced the plan to implement Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP of the Government,
In particular, it is requested that mineral exploitation units absolutely comply with the provisions of law during the process of mineral exploitation, gathering and trading; strictly prohibit acts of speculation, hoarding and price increase; at the same time, research to increase exploitation capacity to improve efficiency in the exploitation process, meeting market demand (focusing on the group of works and projects specified in Clause 1, Article 2, Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP).
Along with Document No. 8701/SNNMT-KS sent to units exploiting minerals of group III and group IV, previously, on October 1, 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment sent Document No. 8659/SNNMT-KS to departments, branches; Management Board of Southeast Economic Zone and People's Committees of communes and wards in the province. The content of Document No. 8701/SNNMT-KS is a request to review and synthesize and send to the Department of Agriculture and Environment a list of works and projects using minerals (filling soil, stone as common construction materials, sand, gravel) that are subject to specific mechanisms and policies according to Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP dated September 21, 2025 of the Government.
For socio-economic development projects and works under the authority of approval and investment policy decision of local authorities according to the provisions of law on investment and public investment, the Department of Agriculture and Environment requests that departments, branches, sectors and People's Committees of communes and wards, after reviewing and synthesizing, send them to the Department of Finance for synthesis and consultation with the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and decision to apply according to the specific mechanisms and policies of the resolution.
Implement correctly, avoid policy abuse
According to Mr. Le Quang Huy - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP has special significance in removing difficulties in implementing the Law on Geology and Minerals, especially in mountainous areas such as Nghe An, where the demand for land for filling, rocks for common construction materials, and sand and gravel is very large. However, Mr. Huy emphasized that along with openness, the Resolution also has very strict regulations to avoid abuse and exploitation of policies leading to loss of mineral resources.
On the provincial side, construction stone quarries, landfills, sand and gravel are often associated with rivers, streams, or adjacent to residential areas, so the implementation of the Resolution must comply with regulations and absolutely not cause negative impacts on the environment and people's lives.
Therefore, immediately after being assigned the task by the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Environment proactively studied the provisions of the Resolution and related legal documents, issued 2 Documents No. 8659/SNNMT-KS dated October 1, 2025 and No. 8701/SNNMT-KS dated October 2, 2025 to send to the units exploiting minerals of group III, group IV, departments, branches and localities for unified implementation.
Mr. Le Quang Huy added: “The implementation of Resolution No. 66.4/2025/NQ-CP is a very important task, aiming to ensure the source of materials for works and projects, promote the disbursement of public investment capital and socio-economic development of the province. The Department requests units and localities to urgently review and provide complete information for the Department to synthesize and advise the Provincial People's Committee for timely implementation. For enterprises, it is necessary to base on Clause 3, Article 2 of the Resolution to adjust the mining license according to regulations. During the implementation process, if there are any problems, the Department will directly guide and support”...
