1,062 projects stuck in bauxite planning
Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee has just issued a document requesting the Central Government to continue paying attention to and resolving local difficulties and problems related to the bauxite issue.
Dak Nong is the province with the largest bauxite reserves in the country, accounting for about 70% of the country's total reserves. This is a valuable resource that promotes local socio-economic development.
However, bauxite is both a driving force and an obstacle for Dak Nong province due to problems related to planning, exploration and exploitation of minerals.
Pursuant to Decision (No. 866/QD-TTg) dated July 18, 2023 of the Prime Minister on Approval of the Planning for exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals for the period 2021 - 2030;
According to Article 62 of the Land Law, in areas with minerals, the principle is to recover and protect mineral resources, comply with the provisions of the Mineral Law, the Planning Law...
Therefore, most of the traffic infrastructure projects and resettlement projects in the province are still on hold because the locality has not yet determined an effective solution to protect and recover bauxite minerals according to Decision No. 866/QD-TTg.
This has led to many existing roads being gradually damaged and severely degraded. If not implemented, it will lead to the risk of traffic insecurity and cause frustration among the people.
On the other hand, resettlement projects for the Nhan Co Alumina plant project are also being delayed, leading to unstable lives for people whose land has been cleared and reclaimed. This situation is facing the risk of prolonged lawsuits and complaints.
In particular, according to statistics, the entire Dak Nong province has 1,062 projects with land use needs on a total area of nearly 6,700 hectares that are overlapping the bauxite planning in Decision No. 866/QD-TTg.
Propose Central Government to remove difficulties
In order for these projects to continue to be implemented, the Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee proposed that the Central Government consider adjustments.
In particular, remove the list of works and projects, especially key national and provincial traffic projects, from the planning for exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals (including bauxite planning in Dak Nong).
In addition, this locality is facing difficulties related to mineral planning areas for common construction materials and land leveling materials. Because Dak Nong has large bauxite reserves accounting for about 27% of the province's natural area.
Therefore, in the bauxite planning area, there are always minerals used as common construction materials. According to statistics, more than 2/3 of the common construction material mines (including 32 stone mines, 4 peat mines, 5 sand mines, 60 soil mines for filling materials, 1 clay mine for bricks and tiles) are interspersed in the bauxite planning area.
If the use of land containing ore in the area of common construction material mineral mines and land for filling in the bauxite exploration and exploitation planning area is not allowed, it will lead to the risk of shortage of raw materials for the province's basic construction work.
To limit the generation of State budget expenditures in mineral recovery, the People's Committee of Dak Nong province respectfully requests the Prime Minister to consider and agree on the policy of not recovering bauxite ore in public investment projects and projects under the National Target Program in the area.
At the same time, it is allowed to be used as internal coordination filling material of that project. In case of surplus, it will be moved to the gathering areas for protection organizations or the scope of construction works of state budget projects in neighboring areas.
