HCMC – The Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) proposed the Government allow it to resume the operation of the Thach Khe iron mine in Ha Tinh Province, while the provincial government is adamant to shut down the mine, the local media reported.
The Thach Khe iron mine project was developed by Thach Khe Iron JSC in 2008. Vinacomin is the major shareholder of the company.
The amount of capital that Vinacomin and other investors have so far injected into the project is VND1.8 trillion.
At the end of 2011, the project was forced to shut down even though the investor had executed and adjusted the project at the request of the authorities.
In a statement sent to the Government, Vinacomin said the Politburo in February this year had issued Resolution 10 on strategies to develop the geology, minerals and mining industry by 2030, with a vision toward 2045. Accordingly, the Politburo allowed a review of the effectiveness of investments and sustainable socioeconomic growth in order to consider investing in Thach Khe iron mining and processing projects that could be completed before 2030.
Therefore, Vinacomin sought the Government’s approval to restart the Thach Khe iron mining project.
Meanwhile, Tran Viet Ha, director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, told VnExpress that over the past years, the province has been consistent with its stance that the project should remain closed and it will continue to ask the central Government to keep the project closed.
Earlier, this north-central province had proposed the Government close the iron mine to protect the environment and people’s health.
After the Government agreed to stop the project, Ha Tinh pledged to complete tasks assigned by the Government, including withdrawing 980 hectares of land at the iron mine to serve its plan to develop tourism and other sectors.
The Thach Khe iron mine was discovered in 1960 and is considered the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, with an estimated reserve of some 544 million tons. The project covers over 4,800 hectares of land, spanning five coastal communes of Thach Ha District, including Thach Khe, Dinh Ban, Thach Hai, Thach Tri and Thach Lac.
