Starting exploitation of 6 million m3 of sea sand in Soc Trang to build an expressway

On June 29, the Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee coordinated with the My Thuan Project Management Board and the contractor VNCN Engineering Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company (VNCN E&C Company) to organize a groundbreaking ceremony to exploit sea sand mines as foundation material, according to the specific mechanism of the National Assembly that serves the Eastern North - South Expressway Construction Project, Period 2021–2025 (Component Project of Can Tho - Hau Giang and Hau Giang - Ca Mau Sections).

The sea sand mine area in sub-zones B1.1 and B1.2 of zone B1 in Soc Trang province's waters has an area of 99.95 hectares and is limited by four corner points with specific coordinates. The allowed depth of use is up to 7.5 m, and the allowed height of use is up to 5 m from sea level.

The expected mining time is from now until July 1, 2024, with an exploitation demand of about 6 million m³, which will be transported to the job site for pilot construction to expand the highway section passing through the provinces of Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, and Ca Mau.

Specifically, the expanded pilot construction scope was selected from Km 81+000 to the end of the main route at Km126+223 (in Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province; Vinh Thuan district, Kien Giang province; and Thoi Binh district, Ca Mau province) and from Km 6+522 to Km 16+510 section connecting Ca Mau (belonging to Thoi Binh, Tran Van Thoi, and Cai Nuoc districts, Ca Mau province).

Mr. Vuong Quoc Nam, Vice Chairman of the Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee, assessed the event as a historical milestone for the Soc Trang sea area. In order for the construction of sea sand to be smooth, Mr. Nam required the contractor to organize the exploitation and transportation in strict compliance with the provisions of the law throughout the exploitation process until the end, ensuring labor safety, navigation, and eco-environmental protection.

The important issue is that the pilot sea sand mining contractor only serves the Eastern North - South Expressway, and the location of use is determined by the Ministry of Transport. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate closely with the interdisciplinary working group of Soc Trang province in the process of implementation, supervise the transportation, and well comply with the State's regulations on financial mechanisms and environmental restoration.

For the interdisciplinary working group assigned tasks by the Soc Trang Provincial People's Committee, it is necessary to prepare for implementation and coordinate with departments and branches to assign members to closely monitor the use of sea sand for leveling.

Timely report issues that arise beyond authority to ensure effective sea sand exploitation, in accordance with the direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Resolution of the National Assembly.

Mr. Tran Van Thi, Director of My Thuan Project Management Board, said that for the Mekong Delta region, construction of the Can Tho - Ca Mau expressway project, the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang project, the An Huu - Cao Lanh project, and a number of other key projects is being implemented with a total demand for leveling sand material of about 50 million m³.

Although the Government's specific mechanism has been applied to providing material mines, the river sand source and exploitation capacity still cannot meet demand and construction progress. Therefore, the Government and the Prime Minister have directed the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with relevant Ministries and branches, experts, and scientists to research alternative material solutions.

Previously, the Ministry of Transport organized the implementation of a pilot project on using sea sand to build roadbeds in the scope of the return of DT.978 (in Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province) on the Hau Giang - Ca Mau expressway. The results show that sea sand meets the standards for roadbed construction materials and performs similarly to river sand.

In order for the construction of sea sand to be smooth and not affect the environment or daily lives of people in the area, Mr. Thi said, the Ministry of Transport, along with the People's Committees of localities with the project passing through, coordinates with the investor in inspecting, supervising, and monitoring the process of organizing and implementing the project's pilot expansion.

The expansion of pilot construction on the Eastern North - South Expressway project is extremely important and is the basis for specialized agencies to evaluate and expand the scope of use.