HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has reported sluggish permitting for material mining has affected the second phase of the eastern North-South Expressway project.
Local authorities have confirmed permits for 42 out of 69 material mining sites submitted by contractors. However, only 15 of the approved sites have commenced operations.
Challenges are evident in the Mekong Delta region. An Giang Province has committed to allocating 1.1 million cubic meters of sand for the Can Tho–Ca Mau expressway project from four active mining sites, but only two contracts have been executed so far.
Operational limitations have temporarily halted sand supply from the two mining sites. Legal issues have also disrupted the supply chain, with one mine facing permit withdrawal and another undergoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the demand for sand in Vinh Long Province requires arrangements for five mining sites to accommodate a storage capacity of five million cubic meters. The local authority has assigned two sites to contractors, but pending procedural completion has hindered mining, and plans for allocating the remaining three sites are yet to be finalized.
To address concerns and ensure timely progress, the Ministry of Transport has urged expedited procedures for the 27 confirmed mining sites, with deadlines set for August. Operations for the remaining 27 sites should commence by September, aiming to meet the material demands of these projects.
According to the ministry, the North-South Expressway’s second phase needs over 47 million cubic meters of soil, 17 million cubic meters of rock, and nearly 9.7 million cubic meters of sand for the stretch from Ha Tinh Province to Khanh Hoa Province.
The Can Tho–Ca Mau section requires 1.4 million cubic meters of rock, 1.7 million cubic meters of soil, and more than 18 million cubic meters of sand.
