Lao Dong Newspaper has published a series of articles reflecting on the consequences of sludge bombs due to mineral exploitation and processing activities formed right on the upstream stream, high hills and mountainous areas, and large slopes.
Immediately after the reflection, on June 6, the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DONRE) of Ha Giang province issued document No. 1059 to strengthen the work of preventing and responding to waste incidents of mineral exploitation and processing facilities in the area.
Units operating in the exploitation and processing of minerals with lakes and dams at waste dumps have been mentioned, such as An Thong Mineral Investment Joint Stock Company, Minh Son Mineral Joint Stock Company, Duc Son Company Limited... are required to urgently and seriously review the construction, promulgation and implementation of a plan to respond to waste incidents in mineral exploitation and processing activities.
"The issued plan must ensure substance, specificity, and suitability corresponding to the location of mineral exploitation and processing activities of enterprises, but avoid issuing forms to deal with inspections by state management agencies," document 1059 clearly stated.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Giang province also requires units to immediately apply the method of managing the process of dumping and transporting wastewater. Specialized technical measures to eliminate and reduce the risk of incidents at waste dumps and reservoirs at the end. Build additional works to prevent and respond to possible waste incidents, always ensuring on-site readiness of 4.
On June 10, speaking with reporters about this content, Mr. Duong Khanh Phuc - Head of the Department of Environmental Protection (Ha Giang Department of Natural Resources and Environment) admitted that mineral activities, no matter how little or much, will cause changes in the terrain and terrain, affecting the environment.
When asked to assess the risk of incidents at reservoirs and dams at waste dumps of mineral exploitation units such as Duc Son Company, Mr. Phuc said: "The risk of waste incidents is real, especially in high mountainous areas.
For example, in the case of construction units not ensuring quality. This issue is not under the authority of the agricultural and environmental sector".
Regarding environmental issues in Minh Son commune (Bac Me district), where An Thong Company and Minh Son Company exploit and process minerals, Mr. Phuc said that since 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with local authorities to find out the cause of the phenomenon of stream water turning yellow.
Mr. Phuc said: "To speak of local impacts, there are, but the level of impact on the bottom is not enough data to assess. It is still unknown, and it is really confusing. In the province's conditions, it is also impossible to conduct geological exploration and assessment".
In 2025, the People's Committee of Ha Giang province has no plan to inspect compliance with the law on environmental protection for units of Duc Son Company Limited, An Thong Mineral Investment Joint Stock Company, and Minh Son Mineral Joint Stock Company.
In the immediate future, in terms of environmental protection in mineral exploitation and processing activities, and safety of waste dump dams, Ha Giang province requires units to strictly comply with the Decision on waste incident response regulations issued by the Prime Minister.
