Decision 334/QD-TTg 2023 Strategy for geology, minerals and mining industry through 2030

DECISION

Approving the Strategy for geology, minerals and mining industry through 2030, with a vision toward 2045^[1]

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government; and the November 22, 2019 Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Organization of the Government and the Law on Organization of Local Administration;

Pursuant to the November 17, 2010 Law on Minerals;

Pursuant to the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW of February 10, 2022, on strategic orientations for geology, minerals and mining industry through 2030, with a vision toward 2045;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 88/NQ-CP of July 22, 2022, promulgating the Government’s Program of Action to implement the Political Bureau’s Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW of February 10, 2022, on strategic orientations for geology, minerals and mining industry through 2030, with a vision toward 2045;

Pursuant to the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy;

At the proposal of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the Strategy for geology, minerals and mining industry through 2030, with a vision toward 2045, with the following contents:

I. DIRECTING VIEWPOINTS

1. Geological and mineral resources constitute an important resource for national socio-economic development and concurrently serve as the country’s long-term reserve sources which must be adequately planned, surveyed, evaluated and explored, centrally and uniformly managed, and sustainably, rationally, economically and efficiently exploited and used.

2. The planning of basic geological and mineral surveys, and exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals must follow a strategic vision to meet socio-economic development requirements in the immediate future and in the medium and long terms; ensure harmony between conservation and sustainable development, protection of the environment, landscapes, historical and cultural relics, adaptation to climate change, and assurance of national defense, security and sovereignty; adhere to the principle of ensuring uniformity and consistency of master plans on basic geological and mineral surveys  with the strategy for geology, minerals and mining industry and of mineral master plans with relevant master plans on use of land areas and marine spaces for assurance of national defense and security and environmental protection.

3. Basic geological surveys and basic geological surveys of minerals must go one step ahead, ensuring provision of adequate information as a basis for formulation of national mineral and mineral reserve master plans, land use plans, and socio-economic development plans. Efforts shall be concentrated on surveying and evaluating strategic and important minerals. The State shall prioritize the allocation of state budget funds in combination with the mobilization and efficient use of social resources for basic geological and mineral surveys under relevant master plans and plans. Geological and mineral information and data shall be fully and comprehensively synthesized and centrally and uniformly managed.

4. Mineral exploration must ensure full evaluation of reserves, resources and quality of minerals of all kinds in explored areas. Mineral exploitation must be associated with mineral processing in order to create products of high economic value. It is necessary to use advanced, modern and energy-efficient equipment and technologies so as to exhaustedly extract minerals, protect the environment, adapt to climate change, and ensure national defense, security and sovereignty. Minerals shall be used in an economical and efficient manner after green economy and circular economy models. Minerals shall be exported on the principle of prioritizing the supply of sufficient materials for domestic production and ensuring economic efficiency.

5. To strictly, publicly and transparently manage mineral resources, ensuring social justice and adhering to market principles in geological and mineral activities on the basis of digital resources. Priority investment shall be made in mineral resources for the purposes of economic development and social security for localities where minerals are exploited and for local people; to ensure harmony of interests between the State, the people and enterprises and conformity with international commitments and treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party; to gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels, aiming toward the goal of carbon neutrality.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

- To basically complete the work of geological survey and evaluation of strategic and important inland minerals; to carry out geological and mineral surveys in coastal areas and on islands; to discover and survey minerals in deep sea and offshore areas; to survey other geological conditions in order to meet the demand for socio-economic development, national mineral reserves, assurance of national defense and security, and disaster prevention and control.

- To explore minerals to meet the mineral exploitation and use demand through 2045, for such minerals as coal, uranium, titanium-zirconium, rare earths, apatite, copper, nickel, tin, bauxite, glass sand, and some other minerals; to ensure the balance between mineral exploitation and the national mineral reserves for a number of strategic, important and large-reserve minerals (uranium, rare earths, apatite, bauxite, titanium, coal, white sand, and white marble) for use as a basis for sustainable socio-economic development.

- To strictly manage and economically and efficiently use mineral resources; to invest in mineral exploitation and processing technologies up to the levels of the advanced countries in Asia and other developed countries, thereby forming an advanced and modern mining industry in association with environmental protection, circular economy and green economy models, adaptation to climate change and aiming toward the goal of carbon neutrality; to eliminate small-scale mineral exploitation and processing facilities applying obsolete, economically inefficient and polluting technologies.

2. Specific objectives

a/ Objectives by 2025

- To complete the drawing of geological and mineral maps of a 1:50,000 scale for 80% of total inland areas; to complete the survey and evaluation of mineral potential in structures with potential in the northwestern region and North Central Coast.

- To carry out geological and mineral surveys in a number of marine areas of up to 300 meters and 1,500 meters in depth of a 1:500,000 scale; to survey geological structure, engineering geology, geodynamic, resource and environmental characteristics in marine coastal areas of a 1:100,000 scale.

- To survey and zone off areas for giving warnings about rockslides and landslides and flashfloods in mountainous provinces prone to high risks; to survey and draw geological and environmental maps of areas containing hazardous and radioactive minerals.

- To establish a synchronous geological and mineral database and information system integrated with relevant national databases.

- To explore minerals in order to meet the demand for exploitation and processing of such minerals as coal, bauxite, titanium-zirconium, apatite, iron, lead-zinc, copper, nickel, tin, manganese, chromite, glass sand, and some other minerals.

- To eliminate small-scale mineral processing facilities applying obsolete, economically inefficient and polluting technologies.

- To bring into full play the efficiency of existing mineral processing plants in association with stable material sources, invest in new technologies, renovate and upgrade equipment in order to improve the quality of products to be competitive on the market; to promote development of the processing minerals of all kinds under relevant master plans in association with stable concentrated material sources; to efficiently invest in the chromite ore exploitation and processing project in Co Dinh (Thanh Hoa province); to tackle problems facing Lao Cai Cast Iron and Steel Plant and devise solutions to exploit and efficiently operate Quy Xa iron mine.

b/ Objectives by 2030

- To complete the drawing of geological and mineral maps of a 1:50,000 scale for 85% of total inland areas; to complete the survey and evaluation of mineral potential in structures with potential in the North and South Central Coast.

- To carry out geological surveys in centrally run cities.

- To survey, evaluate and draw maps of geo-hazards and environmental geology in the mountainous and coastal provinces in the Mekong River delta; to survey and draw maps of national geological heritages; to complete the survey and drawing of maps of environmental geology of areas containing hazardous and radioactive minerals; to survey and evaluate sand, gravels and construction materials in river basins.

- To complete geological surveys and evaluation of mineral potential of marine coastal areas with potential of placer deposits and construction materials; to carry out 1:500,000-scale geological surveys in a number of deep-sea areas and contiguous international sea areas in association with prospecting and discovery of deep-sea minerals (nodules, ferromanganese crusts, gas hydrate, etc.).

- To additionally invest in the complete and modern equipment system to effectively serve geological and mineral surveys.

- To continue mineral exploration to meet the mineral exploitation and processing demand through 2045 for strategic and important minerals of a large scale, such as coal, bauxite, rare earths, uranium, titanium-zirconium, apatite, copper, nickel, glass sand, and some other minerals; to prioritize the exploration of deep-lying ore mines in order to meet the demand for exploitation and processing of large-reserve minerals.

- To form industrial parks for mineral processing with application of advanced technologies which are of a scale commensurate to potential of each type of minerals and development level of regional infrastructure facilities; to promote the development of projects on exploitation and processing of such minerals as bauxite, titanium-zirconium, rare earths and nickel; to evaluate the investment efficiency and sustainable socio-economic efficiency so as to consider making investment with advanced and environmentally safe technologies in ore exploitation and sorting projects in Thach Khe iron mine and Binh Thuan titanium mine.

- To complete the comprehensive transformation of technologies and equipment of small-scale mineral exploitation and processing facilities and small-sized facilities processing stones into construction materials in order to ensure safety and mitigate environmental pollution before 2030.

- To develop technologies for deep processing of minerals of all kinds on the basis of bringing into full play internal strengths, intensifying cooperation in scientific and technological research and technology transfer, training and developing geological and mineral human resources to serve mainly the economy’s demand; to export processed minerals on the basis of balancing investment in mineral exploitation and processing for large-reserve minerals other than strategic minerals, while exploiting and processing other minerals to meet the domestic demand; to balance the national mineral reserves to serve as a basis for sustainable socio-economic development.

c/ Vision toward 2045

- To complete the survey and drawing of geological and mineral maps of a 1:50,000 scale, and evaluate the mineral potential for inland areas with potential; to complete the drawing of marine geological and mineral maps of a 1:500,000 scale for deep-water areas and contiguous international sea areas and maps of a 1:100,000 scale for marine coastal areas of up to 300 meters in depth; to discover and survey minerals in Vietnam’s sea areas.

- To complete the survey and drawing of maps for geological heritages and geological parks nationwide.

- To carry out geological surveys for underground spaces of major cities and urban areas.

- To survey and draw maps of earth geochemistry and weathering crusts and detailed forecasts of geo-hazards for mountainous and midland areas; to carry out environmental geological surveys to serve post-mining environmental remediation and rehabilitation.

- To continue exploring important and strategic minerals (uranium, copper, nickel, apatite, rare earths and rare metals), prioritizing the exploration of deep-lying ore mines to meet the exploitation and processing demand for large-reserve minerals.

- To form an advanced and modern mineral mining and processing industry in association with circular economy and green economy models as in the advanced Asian countries.

III. DEVELOPMENT ORIENTATIONS

1. Regarding geology

- To prioritize the drawing and completion of geological and mineral maps of a 1:50,000 scale for inland areas and islands; to carry out marine geology and mineral surveys of a 1:500,000 scale, and survey, discover and zone off areas with mineral potential, particularly strategic and important minerals.

- To make overall evaluation of potential in strategic and important minerals, including rare earths, radioactive minerals (uranium and thorium), rare metals (lithium, beryllium, cobalt), metals currently suffering shortage (gold, tin-wolfram, copper, nickel), industrial minerals, minerals for use as construction materials, and minerals for use as substitutes for sand and riverbed gravels.

- To focus on surveying and forecasting geo-hazards in mountainous and midland provinces; to establish a comprehensive remote-sensing technology system for areas with latent risks of geo-hazards, zone off risk-prone areas, sum up data and form models of management of geo-hazard risks to serve disaster prevention, control and mitigation; to monitor and make early warnings for areas with latent risks of typical geo-hazards; to build the national network for geological disaster monitoring and early warning; to carry out engineering geology surveys and evaluate latent risks of geo-hazards in order to serve national important projects and the planning and construction of key urban clusters; to build the national geo-hazard information platform for connection and sharing of information on geological disasters and updating of dynamic links, thereby effectively supporting and serving the management, prevention and control of geo-hazards.

- To survey, evaluate, and draw detailed maps of environmental geology and maps of earth geochemistry and weathering crusts for mountainous and midland provinces; to complete surveying and drawing maps of environmental geology for areas containing hazardous and radioactive minerals; to complete engineering geology, geodynamic, resource and environmental surveys for marine coastal areas; to survey, evaluate and zone off favorable geological structures for burial of carbon and other hazardous substances.

- To survey and evaluate resources of important geological heritages in key areas for tourism development, and draw maps of national geological heritages; to propose policies to protect, and support the management of, geological resources and heritages, and develop the value of geological resources in local tourism, economic and social development; to intensify geological surveys in a number of centrally run cities.

2. Regarding minerals

- To review and zone off areas of national mineral reserves (coal, apatite, chromite, lead-zin, titanium, bauxite, laterite iron, white marble, white sand, rare earths) on the basis of results of basic geological surveys of minerals and in compliance with current regulations; to balance the use demand under master plans and long-term reserves for socio-economic development, assurance of national defense and security, and environmental protection.

- To carry out mineral exploration activities under relevant master plans and in conformity with potential of each type of minerals.

- For fuel and energy minerals:

+ Coal minerals: To comply with the Strategy for development of the coal industry through 2030, with a vision toward 2045, and the National Energy Master Plan for the 2021-2035 period, with a vision toward 2050.

+ To continue exploring uranium and thorium ores in potential areas in Quang Nam province and some other potential areas.

+ To promote the exploration of geothermal energy sources.

- For metal minerals:

+ Titanium ores: To complete licensed exploration schemes and carry out exploration in new mineral areas in Thai Nguyen, Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Binh Thuan provinces to meet the demand for ores for deep-processing projects.

+ Bauxite ores: Before 2030, to additionally explore potential areas in order to meet the demand for exploitation and supply of raw materials for alumina plants built under master plans; to prioritize exploration for early exploitation in areas planned for urban development and urgent projects on development of traffic infrastructure facilities and socio-economic development.

+ Iron ores: To complete licensed schemes and carry out new exploration or expanded exploration in Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa and Quang Ngai provinces. After 2030, to carry out new exploration and deeper exploration in potential mines; to explore laterite iron ores in Gia Lai province; to complete the additional research and comprehensive evaluation of geological and environmental conditions in Thach Khe mine before 2030.

+ Rare earth ores: To complete the exploration in licensed rare-earth mines in Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces. After 2030, to carry new exploration and additional exploration in areas licensed for exploitation in order to meet the demand of rare-earth processing projects.

+ Copper ores: To accelerate the exploration in copper mines in Lao Cai, Son La, Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces, focusing on deep exploration and exploration in deep-lying mines.

+ Nickel minerals: To complete licensed exploration schemes and accelerate the exploration in Son La province before 2030.

+ Lead-zinc ores: To accelerate deep exploration and extensive exploration in mines currently under exploitation to serve lead and zinc processing projects.     

+ Gold minerals: To carry out exploration only in initial gold mines.

+ For other metal minerals: To carry out exploration under master plans, ensuring material sources for processing projects and meeting first of all the domestic demand.

- Non-metallic minerals:

+ Minerals for use as cement production materials: To explore limestone and clay mines already planned for cement projects in order to meet the use demand.

+ Minerals for the lime industry: To explore limestone and dolomite in planned areas.

+ White marble minerals: To complete licensed exploration projects and carry out new exploration in a number of areas when the demand arises.

+ Minerals for use as ceramic, porcelain and glass production materials: To intensify the exploration of such minerals as kaolin, feldspar, dolomite and white sand for use as materials for development of the ceramic, porcelain and glass industry.

+ Minerals for use as tiling, flooring and fine-art production materials: To explore stones that are up to standards on tiling, flooring and decorating materials under master plans.

+ Apatite ores: To continue carrying out extensive exploration in deeper parts of mines currently under exploitation.

+ Minerals for use as normal construction materials: To carry out planned exploration to ensure material sources for socio-economic development.

- Thermal water and mineral water: To intensify the exploration to determine the reserves and quality of mineral water and thermal water sources for rational and efficient exploitation and use to meet the socio-economic development demand.

- For petroleum: To comply with the Strategy for development of Vietnam’s oil and gas industry and the National Energy Master Plan for the 2021-2035 period, with a vision toward 2050.

    3. Regarding mining industry

- Mineral exploitation and processing activities must comply with relevant master plans, and use advanced technologies and equipment suitable to the potential of each mineral for maximum recovery of useful ingredients and ensure environmental control and protection.

- For minerals of large and concentrated reserves, exploitation projects must be associated with deep-processing projects using advanced technologies and modern equipment to ensure sustainable environmental protection.

- To research and use advanced technologies in the exploitation of construction materials at the foot of mountains or hills along the side of national and provincial highways so as to protect landscapes and the environment and assure security and national defense.

- To ensure balance and harmony between import and export in the use of minerals, prioritizing domestic use and provision of materials to processing projects. To export only processed minerals up to export standards in order to ensure economic efficiency.

- Fuel and energy minerals:

+ Coal: To comply with the general master plan on energy through 2030, with a vision toward 2045; to research and select technologies approaching the world’s development level for trial exploitation, proceeding to carry out industrial exploitation in some areas of the Red River delta coalfield, thus ensuring environmental protection and sustainable development.

+ To promote the exploitation and use of geothermal energy sources.

- Metal minerals

+ Titanium ores: To use advanced technologies and equipment for mineral exploitation, sorting and processing for maximum recovery of primary minerals and secondary minerals, ensuring economic efficiency and environmental protection; to gradually form processing titanium ore processing complexes in the northern Central Vietnam and Central Coast with complete infrastructure facilities, thus protecting the environment; to prioritize the use of material sources for intensifying investment in the deep processing of pigments and other products requiring deeper processing.

+ Bauxite ores: To exploit bauxite ores and produce alumina and metallic aluminum in synchrony with the development of transport infrastructure facilities, seaports and power supply systems, thereby ensuring the balance of water sources for all projects, economic efficiency and environmental protection in combination with national defense and security; to process bauxite ores along the line of turning out industrial products suitable to the domestic market; to develop Dak Nong province into a bauxite-alumina-aluminum processing center commensurate with the bauxite mineral potential of the Central Highlands.

+ Iron ores: To prioritize the exploitation of iron ores to serve domestic cast iron and steel production projects; to research technologies for enrichment and use of lateritic iron ores in the Central Highlands and poor iron ores; to overcome shortcomings of, and consider investing in an efficient and safe manner in, projects on iron ore exploitation and sorting in Thach Khe and Quy Xa iron mines and Lao Cai cast iron and steel project.

+ Rare earth ores: To develop the rare earth exploitation, processing and use industry in the northern midland and mountainous region in a synchronous, efficient and sustainable manner; post-processing products must be conformable with the domestic technological level and market demand, ensuring socio-economic efficiency and environmental protection. By 2025, to complete capital construction of mines licensed for exploitation, and invest in researching technologies for processing mixed rare earth in the carbonate form with the purity rate of 99%.

+ Copper ores: To invest in expanding copper processing establishments in Lao Cai and other regions. Copper exploitation projects must be associated with domestic processing establishments.

+ Lead-zinc ores: To maintain mines currently under exploitation to serve projects on processing lead or zinc; to invest in new projects in Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Dien Bien and Quang Binh provinces; to adopt mechanisms to promote the exploitation and processing of poor ores.

+ Gold minerals: To exploit and process gold ores with advanced technologies to avoid adverse impacts on the environment and water sources.

+ Other metallic ores: To exploit these ores in association with processing projects with priority given to domestic demand.

- Non-metallic minerals

+ Minerals for use as cement production materials: To exploit limestone and clay mines planned for cement projects to meet the use demand.

+ Minerals for the lime industry: To exploit limestone and dolomite for the rational development of the lime and metallurgy industries.

+ White marbles: To exploit and process white marbles in Nghe An and Yen Bai provinces and other regions; to restrict small-scale exploitation.

+ Minerals for use as ceramic, porcelain and glass production materials: To intensify the exploitation of minerals (including kaolin, feldspar, dolomite, white sand, etc.) for use as materials for development of the ceramic, porcelain and glass industry; to carry out the mineral processing on the basis of balancing the domestic demand and mineral reserves.

+ Minerals for use as tiling and flooring materials: To exploit different types of stones up to standards for use for tiling, flooring and decorating purposes to meet the domestic demand.

+ Apatite ores: To carry out apatite exploitation in combination with deep processing; to intensify the application of technologies for sorting and utilizing poor ores, to invest in researching and improving technologies for sorting grade-II ores, and technologies for selecting grade-IV ores to ensure the efficient and economical use of natural resources; to strictly control the environment at apatite processing establishments; to balance use demands for adjustment of national mineral reserve zones.

- Group of minerals for use as common construction materials: To exploit and process minerals for use as common construction materials while ensuring occupational safety; to promptly promulgate regulations on strict and efficient management of riverbed sand and gravels, sea sand, and ground-leveling earth; to promote the use of minerals, materials and other industrial wastes to replace riverbed sand and gravels.

- Thermal water and mineral water: To invest in the exploitation and use of thermal water and mineral water in an efficient and economical manner, and take measures to protect water sources and the environment in association with sustainable development.

IV. MAJOR TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Improving the legal system on basic geological and mineral surveys and mining industry

- To fully institutionalize viewpoints, policies, tasks and solutions of the Party on strategic orientations on geology, minerals and mining industry.

- To organize final review and evaluation of results of 10 years’ implementation of the 2010 Law on Minerals; to add adequately new policies on basic surveys of geology and geological resources; to amend, supplement and improve policies on minerals and mining industry; to complete the formulation of the draft revised law on minerals for submission to the 15^th National Assembly in 2024.

- To specify contents of basic surveys of geological resources (mineral resources; position resources, geological heritages and geological parks) and other geological conditions (geological catastrophes, environmental geology, hydrogeology-engineering geology, etc.); to continue improving regulations on drawing of mineral geological and urban geological maps and other specialized geological maps.

- To supplement and improve regulations on auctioning of mineral exploitation rights, licensing of the exploration and exploitation of minerals for use as common construction materials in conformity with the practical conditions; to improve the market mechanism-based management; to strictly control exploitation activities, ensuring the fairness, publicity and transparency, avoiding wastage of minerals and increasing state budget revenues.

- To review and adjust royalty rates for a number of minerals in order to promote the investment of advanced and modern technologies in the mineral exploitation and processing in mines with complicated geological and mining conditions, low mineral contents and limited technical infrastructure facilities.

- To improve policies on mineral import-export and reserves, ensuring the balance between the immediate-future demand and long-term mineral reserves, and exporting minerals on the basis of balancing investment efficiency of the mineral exploitation and processing.

- To clearly define responsibilities of organizations and individuals engaged in mineral exploitation; to re-invest revenues from mineral exploitation in social development and welfare for localities where minerals are exploited and local residents.

- To improve policies on promotion of foreign cooperation and investment in the application of advanced and modern technologies in mineral exploitation and processing in order to master advanced technologies transferred from developed countries, and narrow development gap with advanced countries in geology, minerals and the mining industry; to encourage domestic enterprises to make offshore investment in the fields of geology and minerals, especially for important minerals, with a view to increasing mineral reserves in the country.

2. Improving the effect and effectiveness of state management of geology, minerals and mining industry

- To complete the formulation and approval of the master plan on basic geological and mineral surveys for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050; and the master plan on mineral exploration, exploitation, processing and use in accordance with the Planning Law in 2023.

- To perform the uniform state management of geology and minerals; to manage in a centralized and uniform manner the national database on geology and minerals serving multiple targets (national defense, security, transport, construction, industry and trade, agriculture, etc.); to improve the model of organization of state management agencies in charge of geology and minerals, including also agencies performing the function of specialized inspection of minerals from the central to local levels before 2025 toward increasing human resources for forming region-based specialized mineral inspection units to strictly control mineral exploration and exploitation activities and rationally and efficiently using mineral resources.

- To enhance the coordination among ministries, sectors and localities in planning and licensing mineral exploration and exploitation.

- To improve the effectiveness of mineral resource statistics and inventory work; to promptly update volatilities of mineral resources and annual mineral reserves.

- To raise capabilities of specialized inspection agencies to apply science and technology for early, remote and constant examination and supervision, integrate digital transformation in the inspection and examination of mineral exploration and exploitation, especially the making of statistics on, and inventory of, mineral reserves, determine actually exploited mineral outputs, and ensure environmental protection in the mineral exploitation and public and transparent mineral resource administration.

- To intensify information technology application in geological and mineral surveys to develop a uniform and complete database from the central to local levels, ensuring the progress of digital transformation in the geology and mineral sector as approved by the Government. By 2025, the licensing of mineral activities shall be carried out on the digital platform with uniform procedures nationwide.

- To apply the world’s transparent and effective mineral resource administration models in Vietnam; to enhance the role of administrations and people in localities where minerals are exploited in the examination and supervision; to quantify and fully account the value of mineral resources into the economy.

- To prioritize licensing mineral exploitation projects for organizations and individuals with capabilities and experience in the mineral exploitation in association with identified mineral users that use advanced and modern technologies; to renovate, expand and upgrade mineral exploitation and processing facilities, recover to the maximum primary minerals and secondary minerals, and protect the environment after circular economy models.

3. Increasing resources for basic geological and mineral surveys

- To prioritize allocating state budget funds for speeding up basic geological and mineral surveys.

- To diversify investment funds for basic geological and mineral surveys; to renew policies to encourage organizations and individuals to invest in mineral assessment projects.

- To increase the capacity and renovate equipment and technologies for geological and mineral surveys and mineral exploration, exploitation and processing.

- To improve policies on attracting, training and developing human resources and building the contingent of highly qualified experts and skilled workers in the geology and mineral sector; to implement preferential regimes toward cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers in the geology and mineral sector suitable to specific occupational characteristics.

- Annually, localities shall formulate plans on allocation of funds from their local budgets for protection of unexploited minerals, and review and supplement financial mechanisms for localities to perform their tasks according to their competence.

4. Improving the quality of mineral exploitation and processing projects

- To improve the quality of market forecasts.

- To improve the quality of projects and capabilities of project owners upon licensing of exploitation activities and grant of project investment licenses; to prevent and control environmental pollution, degradation and incidents in mineral exploitation and processing activities.

- To intensify technical and safety inspection, examination and management in mineral exploitation and processing projects.

- To intensify coordination among ministries and localities in the state management of minerals.

- To review and propose adjusted exploitation outputs of a number of minerals, giving priority to the domestic demand.

5. Intensifying advanced and modern science and technology application and international cooperation in geology, minerals and the mining industry

- To promote investment in the renewal of technologies and equipment to be advanced, modern, efficient and highly reliable for use in basic geological and mineral surveys.

- To complete the comprehensive transformation of technologies and equipment in small-sized establishments exploiting and processing stones for use as construction materials in order to ensure safety and mitigate environmental pollution until 2030; to promote coordination in the transfer of advanced and environmentally friendly technologies for mineral exploitation and processing.

- To use advanced and modern exploitation and processing technologies and equipment after circular economy models in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and rationally use coal for the target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

- To intensify international cooperation and learning of experience in researches and surveys of underground spaces, surveys of deep-lying minerals and geological heritages, development of the geology-mineral database, and administration of mineral resources; to carry out coordination in researching technologies for exploitation of brown coal in the Red River delta; and to embellish and restore the post-mineral exploitation environment and landscapes.

Article 2. Organization and implementation

1. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of related government-attached agencies, chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees, and heads of related agencies shall, based on the tasks set forth under the Government’s Resolution No. 88/NQ-CP of July 22, 2022; tasks and solutions set forth under this Strategy, and their assigned functions and tasks, formulate plans on implementation of the Strategy.

2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall:

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, sectors and localities in, guiding and directing the implementation, and examination and supervision of the implementation, of the Strategy, organize a mid-term review of implementation results of the Strategy, and report and propose to the Government or Prime Minister necessary measures to ensure the effective and uniform implementation of the Strategy.

- Assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, sectors and localities in, formulating and implementing the master plan on basic geological surveys of minerals for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

- Formulate mechanisms for coordination among ministries, sectors and localities in the course of performance of their geology and mineral state management functions and tasks.

- Direct the improvement of effect and effectiveness of state management of exploitation activities; intensify the inspection and examination of exploitation activities, and handling of law violations in mineral exploration, exploitation and processing activities.

- Promote international cooperation in researches and surveys of underground spaces, surveys of deep-lying minerals and geological heritages, development of the geology-mineral database, and administration of mineral resources; coordinate with other ministries and agencies in researching technologies for exploiting brown coal in the Red River delta.

3. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall:

- Base itself on its assigned state management functions, tasks and scope to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ministry of Construction, and localities in, formulating master plans on exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

- Direct, examine and supervise the implementation of the Strategy according to its assigned state management functions, tasks and scope; and submit annual reports on implementation results of the Strategy to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

4. The Ministry of Construction shall:

- Base itself on its assigned state management functions, tasks and scope to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Industry and Trade, and localities in, formulating master plans on exploration, exploitation, processing and use of minerals for use as construction materials for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2050.

- Direct, examine and supervise the implementation of the Strategy according to its assigned state management functions, tasks and scope; and submit annual reports on implementation results of the Strategy to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

5. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance in, submitting to the competent authority for balancing the state budget investment funds reserved for medium-term and annual public investment for effective performance of basic geological and mineral surveys under the Strategy in accordance with the Law on Public Investment and Law on the State Budget.

6. The Ministry of Finance shall base itself on the balancing capacity of the central budget and proposals of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and related ministries and sectors which are incorporated in estimates of annual central budget current expenditures to submit to the competent authority for balancing and allocation funds in accordance with the Law on the State Budget and guiding documents  for implementation of the Strategy.

7. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries, sectors and localities in, studying and reviewing mechanisms, policies and regulations to promote the research, transfer and application of science and technology advances to modernize basic surveys.

8. Other ministries and sectors shall base themselves on their assigned state management functions and tasks to propose, and organize the implementation of, schemes and projects in conformity with the targets, tasks and solutions set forth in the Strategy.

9. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall:

- Submit to same-level People’s Councils for allocation of funds for implementation of the Strategy regarding tasks falling under local budgets’ responsibility in accordance with current regulations on state budget decentralization.

- Submit annual reports on implementation results of the Strategy for tasks falling under their responsibility to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for summarization and reporting to the Prime Minister.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies, and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decision.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
TRAN HONG HA