HCMC – The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong has approved a plan to auction the mining rights to 28 mineral mines this year to address shortages of filling materials needed for construction projects.
The provincial People’s Committee confirmed that Dak Nong currently lacks licensed filling material mines, which has delayed key infrastructure projects, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
The upcoming auction will include 24 mines for landfilling, three basalt stone mines, and one sand mine for construction. Most of these mines are located in the northern districts of Krong No, Dak Mil, and Cu Jut.
The shortage of filling materials has stalled several major projects, including the Gia Nghia City Central Square, which has an investment of VND400 billion, along with segments of provincial roads 2, 3, and 5, and phase two of the Dao Nghia – Quang Khe road project.
Dak Nong has been slower than other provinces in planning and auctioning landfilling and construction material mines. The delay has been partly attributed to the province’s bauxite mining plans, which have complicated the approval process for new mines.
Currently, around 27% of Dak Nong’s land area holds significant bauxite reserves and is included in the national mineral exploration and exploitation plan under Prime Ministerial Decision No. 866/QD-TTg for 2021-2030, with a vision toward 2050.
Preliminary statistics show that about two-thirds of Dak Nong’s conventional construction material mines, including landfilling soil, construction stone, and sand, overlap with bauxite mining areas. Mining and auctioning these sites require approval from relevant authorities.
In a related development, the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment issued guidelines in February 2025 for handling excavation and redistribution of landfilling soil within construction projects. Under these regulations, the use of soil within a project’s internal boundaries does not require government registration or payment of mining rights fees.
