Soc Trang's petition of difficulties in sea sand mining permits

On June 11, Mr Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang Province, presided over a meeting with the My Thuan Project Management Board (Ministry of Transport) to address issues related to the procedures for granting sea sand mining permits for use as material for roadbed construction on the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway, part of the North-South Expressway (phase 2).

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Soc Trang Province expressed his concern about sea sand mining to support the construction of key transportation projects. Recently, the province has proactively worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and reported to the Government, and the Provincial People's Council has also approved the policy of sea sand mining under a special mechanism.

However, from a legal standpoint, the current authority does not allow the province to implement it. "The locality is not afraid of responsibility, very determined, but cannot do it yet", Mr Lau emphasized.

According to the leadership of Soc Trang Province, according to current regulations, the authority has been delegated to the People's Committee of the province to grant permits for sea sand mining for ordinary purposes. However, the scope of management and responsibility over the local sea area is only within 6 nautical miles (from the shore).

Meanwhile, the B1 sea sand mine area is located about 11 nautical miles from the shore, thus beyond Soc Trang's licensing authority. In addition, the province does not have ships that can reach the sea sand mine area, which is about 20 km from the mainland. Therefore, managing and supervising sea sand mining is very difficult, especially at night.

The My Thuan Project Management Board (PMU My Thuan) stated that the unit was assigned by the Ministry of Transport to pilot and expand sea sand mining for the expressway project section from Can Tho to Ca Mau.

Based on the pilot implementation at Provincial Road 978, PMU My Thuan has been working with Soc Trang and Tra Vinh Provinces to support surveys and implement procedures for granting sea sand mining rights under a special mechanism.

Additionally, PMU My Thuan has sent a document introducing VNCN E&C Construction Investment and Engineering Joint Stock Company as the focal point unit, representing contractors to work with local authorities to obtain sea sand mining rights.

To date, the contractor has completed surveys and finalized the application for the registration area and sea sand mining reserves as guided by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Soc Trang Province.

Mr Tran Van Thi, Director of PMU My Thuan, added that regarding the scope of sea sand used, the unit, in coordination with the contractor, plans to use sea sand for levelling the roadbed of the expressway through Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau Provinces (part of the Hau Giang - Ca Mau project).

The total demand for sea sand is about 6 million cubic meters. So far, the contractor has not received a confirmation from the People's Committee of Soc Trang Province, so they have not been able to mine sea sand.

Regarding this issue, Mr Lau hopes that the My Thuan Project Management Board will report to the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for a solution. For Soc Trang Province, the locality will continue to petition the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for support.