National mineral reserve areas approved

Under Prime Ministerial Decision No. 1277/QD-TTg, signed on November 1 by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, 93 national mineral reserves areas have been identified.

They include two areas of energy coal, two of apatite ore, one of lead-zinc ore, three of chromite ore, 14 of titanium ore, 23 of bauxite ore, 14 of laterite iron ore, 17 of while marble, 15 of while sand, and two of rare earth ore.

Under the decision, the management and protection of unexploited minerals and the implementation of investment projects in national mineral reserve areas must comply with Government Decree No. 51/2021/ND-CP dated April 1, 2021 on managing minerals in the national mineral reserve areas, and with the Law on Geology and Minerals.

All mineral exploration and exploitation licensed prior to November 1, 2023 and conducted outside of national mineral reserve areas can be implemented as regulated by the license and the Law on Geology and Minerals.

Mineral areas that do not belong to national mineral reserve areas and have been included in a roadmap for relevant mineral exploration and exploitation but not yet been licensed, and those that have not been included in such a roadmap, will be mapped out and licensed for exploration and exploitation in line with the Law on Geology and Minerals, on the condition that such exploration and exploitation activities do not impact on national mineral reserve areas.