According to Lao Dong's research, the Quy Xa iron mine (Son Thuy commune, Van Ban district, Lao Cai province) has a reserve of 112 million tons of ore. This is one of the large-scale iron mines in Vietnam and has top quality in Southeast Asia.
Previously, the mine was exploited by Viet Trung Minerals and Metallurgy Company Limited (VTM) to provide raw materials for Lao Cai Iron and Steel Plant.
Due to the expiration of the mining license from 2022, by early 2025, this area is still in a state of abandonment and suspension of operations.
However, recently, Lao Cai Steel Gang Factory in Tang Loong Industrial Park (Bao Thang, Lao Cai) has resumed operations, causing an increase in demand for iron ore.
Unlike the quiet, deserted and unattended scene in 2024, recorded by Lao Dong Newspaper reporters at the end of April 2025 at Quy Xa iron mine, many tractors and excavators are mining ore from the gathering point to transport to the factory.
Transporting ores to refineries makes the atmosphere of operations at the mine more bustling.
Many local people hope that the Quy Xa iron mine will soon reopen mining activities to create more jobs for the people.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Trang (residing in Son Thuy commune, Van Ban district) shared: "This iron mine has stopped operating for about 3 years now. Currently, trucks are transporting the remaining ore from the staging area to the steel smelting factory for use. We also hope that this iron mine can continue to be exploited again, because if it is left unused like that, it will be a waste.
To restart the Lao Cai Iron and Steel Plant, the plant will use 30,000 tons of gathered ore and 194,000 tons of ore at the Quy Xa Iron mine. With this ore source, it is expected to maintain production for 4 - 5 months.
During this time, the factory continued to complete the procedures to close the mine to grant exploitation rights.
According to the leader of Viet Trung Minerals and Metallurgy Company Limited, to ensure the factory's resumption, the unit has promptly organized inspections, repair and re-running of equipment lines at Lao Cai Iron and Steel Plant and equipment lines at Quy Xa iron mine.
Up to now, all equipment and lines are operating smoothly and synchronously and more than 1,000 workers have returned to work at Lao Cai Iron and Steel Plant.
It is expected that on the first day, the company will transport about 1,000 tons of iron ore from Quy Xa iron mine to Lao Cai Iron and Steel Plant; in the following days, the company will transport about 1,600 tons of iron ore per day to ensure adequate raw materials for Lao Cai Iron and Steel Plant when operating.
