VINACHEM

At the cabinet meeting that ended in Ha Noion Saturday, the PM also said it was necessary to consider mineral projects' short and long term impact on the environment.

During the three-day meeting, cabinet members heard the draft strategy on minerals exploitation until 2020, with a vision to 2030 and the government's draft action programme to implement the Politburo's resolution on the issue.

They said minerals exploration and exploitation licence granting have been carried out in accordance with the law and the minerals scheme approved by the PM.

However, they said, there remained violations in licensing, including granting licences when businesses are yet to show exploration results.

In addition, illegal mining for minerals, especially rare metal minerals, and sand and gravel from the river bed in many localities have caused labour insecurity, social disorder and affected the environment, they added.

Dung asked relevant ministries and branches to review licensed and operating mineral exploitation projects and immediately halt projects that fail to meet requirements and affect people's lives.

Projects applying for licences must be carried out with feasible studies and under a strict examination process, he added.

It is necessary to review the natural resources export tax and strictly control the export of minerals, he stressed. — VNS