Resolution 10-NQ/TW 2022 on the strategic orientation for geology, mineral and mining industry through 2030, with a vision toward 2045

RESOLUTION

OF THE POLITICAL BUREAU ON THE
STRATEGIC ORIENTATION FOR GEOLOGY, MINERAL AND MINING INDUSTRY THROUGH 2030, WITH A VISION TOWARD 2045

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I. SITUATION AND REASONS

After 10 years of implementation of the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW dated April 25, 2011, on strategic orientations for minerals and mining industry through 2020, with a vision toward 2030, the management and operation of the geology, minerals and mining industry have achieved many positive results. Awareness of party committees and governments at all levels as well as enterprises and the people about mineral resources has also been raised. Regarding basic geological and mineral survey, potentials and reserves of many important minerals have been surveyed, explored and clarified. The legal system on geology and minerals has been basically completed, concurrently, the state management efficiency and effectiveness are strengthened. The mineral exploitation and processing industry have made a significant contribution to socio-economic development. The inspection and examination were focused, contributing to raising the responsibilities of organizations and individuals in environmental protection, occupational safety and remedying the illegal exploitation of minerals.

However, in addition to the above achievements, the implementation of the Resolution still reveals many inadequacies and limitations, such as many targets have not yet been achieved; the basic geological survey has not been properly paid attention to. Policies and laws on geology and minerals have not been completed; information and data have been dispersed and ineffectively used. The planning, survey, exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals are inadequate, asynchronous without linkage. The budget revenue source from minerals has not yet been focused and surveyed for the development of infrastructure, environmental protection, social security assurance, human resource development for localities where minerals are exploited; enterprises exploiting and processing minerals have not focused on investment and innovation of technologies for the best use of mineral value and environmental protection.

The above-mentioned inadequacies and limitations are caused by: The inadequate awareness of a number of party committees, party organizations, governments, enterprises and people at all levels about the importance of geological and mineral resources; about the role and position of the geology and mining industry. The weak coordination among agencies, ministries, sectors and localities in the state management in terms of geology and minerals; the ineligible investment in basic investigation of geology and minerals; the inappropriate policy to attract and treat human resources compared to the geology sector characteristics; and the medium- and small-size of most of the enterprises operating in the mineral exploration and exploitation with the limitation in terms of capacity and technology.

II. VIEWPOINTS, OBJECTIVES AND VISIONS

1. Viewpoints

- Geology and mineral resources are both important forces for the socio-economic development of the country and the national long-term reserve that should be fully planned, surveyed and explored, centralizedly and consistently managed as well as exploited and used in a sustainable, reasonable, economic and efficient manner.

- A basic survey of geology and minerals must be carried out first and be used as a ground for formulating the strategies, master plans and plans for socio-economic development, assurance of national defense and security, adaptation to climate change. The State shall prioritize allocating budgets and issuing policies to attract investment forces for basis survey of geology and minerals, focusing on surveying and assessing strategic and important minerals. Geological and mineral information and data must be centralizedly and consistently managed.

- The planning management of basis survey of geology and minerals, exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals must be carried out according to the strategic vision, meeting the requirements for short-term, medium-term and long-term socio-economic development, harmonizing conservation and sustainable development, protecting the environment, landscape, historical and cultural relics, adapting to climate change, and ensuring national defense, security and sovereignty. Mineral resources shall be managed in a strict, public and transparent manner, ensuring social equity while upholding market principles in geological and mineral activities.

- There should be a close and effective connection from planning, survey, exploration and exploitation to processing and use of minerals; the application of advanced and modern scientific and technological achievements will be promoted according to the circular economy and green economy models. The budget revenue from mineral resources must be prioritized for the economic development investment, assurance of social security for localities and citizens of the places where the mineral exploitation is carried out; assurance of the interest harmony among the State, citizens and enterprises in accordance with commitments and treaties to which Vietnam is the contracting party; the use of fossil fuel shall be gradually reduced with the aim of carbon neutrality.

2. Objectives and visions

2.1. Overall objectives

A basic survey of geology and minerals must be carried out in order to fully provide truthful data and information on geology and minerals, meeting requirements for socio-economic development and assurance of national defense and security. Mineral resources must be strictly managed, exploited, processed and used in an economic and effective manner in association with economic development, environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, toward carbon neutrality.

2.2. Specific objectives

- By 2025, it is expected to have geological and mineral maps at the scale of 1:50,000, reaching 80% of the land area. To complete the mineral survey and assessment in promising areas in the Northwest and Da Nang, Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces; geological and marine mineral survey at the scale of 1:500,000 in some areas to a depth of 300 and 1,500 meters of water. Surveying, exploiting and processing a number of minerals reaching the regional level, approaching the world level.

- By 2030, it is expected to have geological and mineral maps at the scale of 1:50,000, reaching 85% of the land area. To complete the energy mineral and metallic mineral survey and assessment in promising areas in the North Central and South-Central regions; survey landslides and flash floods in high-risk mountainous provinces; survey and map the environmental geology of areas containing toxic and radioactive minerals; delineate deep geological structures favorable to the application of technology to bury carbon and other hazardous substances. To complete the synchronous system of database and information on geology and minerals that is integrated with the national database. To survey, exploit and process a number of minerals reaching the regional level, approaching the world level.

2.3. Vision toward 2045

To complete 100% of the formulation of mineral and geological maps at the scale of 1:50,000, for land areas and 1:500,000 for the sea. To complete the basic survey of other geological resources. To complete the advanced and modern mining industry in association with the circular economy and green economy model corresponding to advanced countries in Asia.

III. MAIN TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Strengthening the leadership and direction of party committees and party organizations at all levels; unifying and raising awareness of the importance of mining industry and geological, mineral resources

- To promote the propaganda, education and dissemination of laws, unify awareness and raise responsibilities of party committees, party organizations, officers, party members and people at all levels, especially the heads of organizations, agencies and enterprises of the importance of geological and mineral resources, of the role and position of the mining industry and geology sector. The management, exploitation and use of minerals must be carried out in an economic and effective manner, on the basis of applying advanced and modern technologies, in harmony with preservation and reserve for the future.

- To promote the state leadership and direction in terms of geology, minerals and development of mining industry; to effectively manage and use geological and mineral resources; to protect the environment and occupational safety ecology in mineral activities. To actively prevent and resolutely fight and strictly handle cases violating the geological and mineral laws.

2. Perfecting the system of laws, mechanisms and policies on geology, minerals and mining industry

- To institutionalize viewpoints and policies of the Party on the strategic orientation for geology, mineral and mining industry. To fully synthesize and assess the implementation of the 2010 Mineral Law, amend and supplement regulations on basic survey of geology, minerals and mining industry; in which attention is paid to the following contents:

+ Specifying the basic survey of geology and geological resources (mineral resources, position resources, geoheritage and geopark), other geological conditions (geologic hazard, environmental geology, hydrogeology - engineering geology, geomorphology, etc.). Priority should be given to the search, exploration of mineral resources in association with the requirements for assessment of the potentiality and value of important marine resources in some key marine regions.

+ Basic survey of geology shall mostly be carried out by the State, capital socialization to perform a number of projects on basic geological surveys for minerals according to master plans; results of the basic geological survey, information and data on geology and minerals (national database) must be appraised and submitted to the geology storage for centralized and unified management; responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals exploiting and using geological data and information for socio-economic development and economic sectors should be specified in order to promote the financial resources invested to the basic geological survey.

+ Reviewing and specifying regulations on responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in mineral exploitation; the re-investment of revenue from mineral exploitation for the development of education, health, infrastructure, social security assurance, etc. of localities and citizens in places where the mineral exploitation is carried out.

- To review, amend, supplement and perfect regulations on bidding of the rights to exploit minerals, survey and exploit minerals for use as normal building materials according to the actual situation; perfect management mechanisms according to the market principles; strictly examine and control the exploitation of minerals to ensure equality, publicity, transparency while avoiding negative issues or wasting mineral resources, increasing budget revenues. To prioritize to grant permits for the exploitation of minerals being normal building materials for infrastructure construction, especially key national works.

- To adjust resource royalty rates applicable to a number of minerals in order to encourage the investment in advanced and modern technologies for the exploitation and processing of mineral deposits with complex geological-mining conditions with low content and poor technical infrastructure.

- To perfect the policy on import-export and reserve of minerals, ensuring the balance between immediate needs and long-term mineral reserves; export minerals on the basis of balancing the efficiency of investment in mining and mineral processing; encourage mobilization of capital from socialization for investment in mineral survey and assessment.

- To complete the policy on encouraging domestic enterprises to conduct offshore investment in the field of geology and minerals, especially key minerals; encourage the coordination and foreign investment using advanced and modern technologies in mineral processing.

- To complete the policy on attracting, educating and developing high-qualified experts, human resources and skilled workers in the field of minerals and geology. To formulate the preferential policy applicable to cadres, civil servants, public employees and employees in the mineral and geological sector.

3. Improving the state management efficacy and effectiveness in terms of mineral, geological resources and mining industry

- To urgently formulate and approve the master plan on basic geological survey; master plan on exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals under the Mineral Law (expected to be completed in 2022); geological, mineral and mining industry development strategy through 2030, with a vision toward 2045.

- To conduct the unified state management in terms of geology and minerals, concentrated and consistent management of national database on geology and minerals serving the multi-purposes. To complete the model of organization of state management agencies in charge of geology and minerals, including the system of agencies conducting specialized investigation functions from central to local levels before 2025.

- To apply the transparent and effective model of mineral resource administration of the world; promote the role of inspection and surveillance of localities and people at places where the mineral exploitation is carried out; quantify and fully account the value of mineral resources in the economy.

- To prioritize to grant permits for mineral exploitation projects of qualified enterprises with experiences that use advanced and modern technologies in association with the address of using minerals; renovate, expand and upgrade mineral exploitation and processing facilities, maximumly recover main minerals and attached minerals, protect the environmental ecology according to the circular economy model.

- To strengthen the inspection, examination, surveillance and review of responsibilities of organizations and individuals for violations in the management and use of minerals and activities related to mineral geology and mining industry. To revoke exploitation permits, strictly handle organizations and individuals committing violations in mineral exploitation, especially those who take advantage of the mineral exploitation for speculation, storage, and appreciation, affecting the interests of the State and people.

4. Strengthening resources to carry out basic geological survey; applying advanced and modern science and technology in basic survey of geological resources, exploration, exploitation and processing of minerals

- To prioritize to allocate the state budget in association with effectively mobilizing and using forces in society for the basic geological and mineral survey as planned for sufficient data and information in service of multi-purposes (national defense, security, traffic, construction, industry and trade, agriculture, etc.); investigate and identify favorable deep geological structures, towards the application of carbon landfill technology, assessment of mineral potentials for exploration and exploitation planning.

- To encourage the synchronous investment and innovation of advanced, modern and eco-friendly technologies and equipment for the basic survey of mineral and geological resources, (especially metallic minerals that are deeply buried in promising areas (up to 1,000 m)) and mineral exploitation and processing. To complete the comprehensive transformation of technologies and equipment of small-sized facilities exploiting and processing stones for use as building materials, ensure safety and minimize environmental pollution before 2023.

- To complete the national database on mineral and geological resources, centralizedly and consistently manage it before 2025; establish a digital platform, implement digital transformation in management and exploitation of minerals, ensuring publicity and transparency, increasing the state management effectiveness and efficiency.

- To complete the investment in projects of exploiting and processing chromite ores in Co Dinh (Thanh Hoa province), smelting and rolling steel at Quy Xa iron mine (Lao Cai province) before 2025. To research and select technology approaching the world level to invest in mining brown coal in the Red River Delta; evaluate investment efficiency, sustainable socio-economic efficiency to consider investment in the following mining and processing projects: Thach Khe iron (Ha Tinh); titanium (Binh Thuan), complete before 2030.

- To maintain efficient operation of projects of mining and processing bauxite - alumina - aluminum, rare earth, cement, iron - steel, copper, white marble to become mainstream industries with commensurately sustainable development with mineral scale; use advanced and modern mining and processing technology and equipment according to the circular economy model, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and rationally use coal, towards the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

5. Strengthening training of high-quality human resources, promoting international cooperation in the fields of geology and minerals

- To focus on training and supplementing a contingent of scientific-technical staff, highly qualified experts and skilled workers for the geology and mineral sectors, in parallel with implementing policies to attract talents, remuneration, especially salary reform.

- To promote cooperation, learn from international experiences in research and survey of deep-hidden minerals; in developing a national database on geology, minerals, underground space and management of mineral resources. To conduct cooperation in researching brown coal mining technology in the Red River Delta; cave survey; investigation and survey of geoheritage; renovate and restore the environment and landscape after mining, etc.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

1. Party committees and party organizations at all levels shall disseminate, thoroughly grasp and propagandize this Resolution to officers, party members and citizens; formulate active programs and plans to implement the Resolution.

2. The National Assembly’s Party union shall lead and direct the review, amendment and completion of the law on geology, minerals and mining industry under the Resolution and supervise the implementation.

3. The Government’s Party Central Committee shall lead and direct the promulgation, approval and implementation of the strategy for geology, minerals and mining industry; give priority to allocate forces to perform and achieve tasks and objectives set out in the Resolution; review, amend and supplement under-law documents related to minerals and geology; soon summarize the implementation of the 2010 Mineral Law to formulate and submit it to the 15^th National Assembly for consideration and supplementation before 2024; strengthen the inspection and surveillance of the implementation of the Resolution.

4. The Central Propaganda and Training Commission shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant organizations in, organizing and guiding the implementation of the Resolution.

5. The Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations shall formulate programs and plans on supervising the implementation of the Resolution, promote the role of social feedback, give opinions to formulate mechanisms, policies and perfect the law on geology and minerals; supervise the exploitation of minerals.

6. The Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies in, regularly following, guiding, inspecting, supervising and urging the implementation of the Resolution; make a periodic review, summarization and report to the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the Resolution implementation and results.