Not yet fully exploited the licensed capacity
Mr. Ngo Thai Chan - Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (TNMT) of Soc Trang province, said that the province currently has 4 river sand mines licensed for exploitation (MS 01, MS 03, MS 04 and MS 12) to serve the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway Construction Investment Project Phase 1 (Component Project 4).
However, the exploitation capacity of the 3 mines (MS 03, MS 04 and MS 12) has not yet reached the maximum level according to the license. MS 04 mine is currently only exploiting an average of 700 m3/day (licensed capacity of 1,850 m3/day), MS 03 mine is 1,670 m3/day (capacity of 2,695 m3/day) and MS 12 mine is 1,700 m3/day (capacity of 3,000 m3/day).
According to the calculation of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, by June 30, 2025 (the deadline for completing the relocation work for Component Project 4), the total volume of sand exploited is expected to reach about 2.4 million m3, (calculated for increasing the exploitation capacity at MS 01, MS 03 and MS 04 mines from the beginning of March).
A representative of a contractor said that the slow exploitation came from many causes, including lack of transportation and exploitation equipment, prolonged sand transportation time to the project and the impact of tides.
Increasing mining capacity
Faced with the above situation, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Soc Trang province has proposed that the Provincial People's Committee direct investors, construction contractors and enterprises to ensure correct exploitation capacity according to the license. The Department also proposed to urgently complete procedures related to increasing sand mining capacity at mines and conduct surveys of areas proposed by contractors for expansion.
On February 14, during a working session on the sand exploitation situation for Component Project 4, Chairman of Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee Tran Van Lau emphasized the completion of the relocation work by June 30, 2025 and requested relevant units to make every effort to achieve this goal.
"Investors and contractors must speed up the progress, considering the option of working a full day off. If there are any difficulties, we must give opinions to competent authorities for timely consideration and resolution," said Mr. Lau.
The Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang province requested contractors and enterprises to speed up the exploitation progress at the mines, prepare adequate means to ensure that when increasing the exploitation capacity, there will be vehicles immediately.
"Contractors and mine owners must comply with the law, have strict commitments and exploitation regulations, avoid taking advantage of special mechanisms to exploit for the wrong purpose, and not bringing sand to the expressway," Mr. Lau noted.
The leaders of Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee also requested investors to launch a peak period of emulation, study reward mechanisms and sanctions for cases of delays and lack of responsibility of contractors in performing their tasks.
