Recently, the Department of Police for Investigation of Corruption, Economic Crimes, and Smuggling (Ministry of Public Security) has prosecuted many leaders of Duc Giang Chemical Group Joint Stock Company (Duc Giang Chemicals) for a series of violations related to waste dumping and illegal mineral exploitation...
In Lao Cai, this enterprise was identified as illegally exploiting hundreds of thousands of tons of apatite ore, worth hundreds of billions of VND.
On March 24, reporters recorded at mining area 25, Quang Kim commune, former Bat Xat district, the mine has now stopped operating.
The atmosphere at the mine is quiet, no more machinery is operating. Along the road to the mine, a series of transport vehicles and excavators are parked, no longer as bustling as before.
According to people living nearby, the mine has stopped operating for a while. Previously, this area used to have quite rampant ore mining and transportation activities.
“Previously, they mined for a whole week, but there would be 2 days with about 30 tractor trucks coming in and out to transport ore. Recently, it has stopped completely, no longer operating, machinery is lined up," a resident shared.
Through investigation, the apatite ore mining project at mine 25, invested by Duc Giang Chemical Group Joint Stock Company, was licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (old) on November 10, 2020.
In early March 2021, the enterprise started the project groundbreaking ceremony. The mine is allowed to be exploited by open-pit method on an area of more than 28.8ha, belonging to Quang Kim and old Ban Qua communes, with a term of 6 years.
The licensed exploitation capacity in the first year is 400,000 tons; from the 2nd year to the 5th year is 670,000 tons/year; the last year is 560,000 tons.
During the production process, this enterprise was administratively sanctioned by functional agencies for violating regulations in mineral exploitation activities.
Accordingly, on May 24, 2021, the Inspectorate of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Lao Cai province issued a decision to fine 80 million VND to Duc Giang Chemical Group Joint Stock Company for not installing surveillance camera systems and weighing stations at prescribed locations to monitor and store information during exploitation.
Following that, on May 25, 2021, the Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee continued to issue a decision to fine the enterprise 120 million VND for the act of dumping waste in the wrong location as approved.
Regarding the illegal mineral exploitation of Duc Giang Chemicals, which has been announced by the Ministry of Public Security, in an exchange with reporters, Mr. Luu Duc Cuong - Head of Mineral Management Department, Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lao Cai province - said that the related content is being clarified by the investigating agency.
The investigating agency is working, there is information that the enterprise is illegally mining. However, the unit has not grasped specific information," Mr. Cuong said.
Some images recorded at mine 25:
