The midland mountainous province of Phu Tho is rich with mineral resources. However, the province's mining development also poses challenges for local management and environmental protection.
By the end of last year, Phu Tho had granted 147 mining licenses to exploit Kaolin, feldspar, iron, and other industrial minerals, with the total investment for the exploitation and processing reaching VND1.91 trillion, budget revenue attaining VND762.6 billion, and the collateral environmental restoration deposit after mining in 2011 for 107 out of 147 local mines reported to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment amounting to VND3.85 million.
The implementation of environmental protection at the local mineral mining and processing bases has been emphasized. The local mining and processing enterprises have been asked to apply modern methods and technologies to waste treatment to reduce toxic dust in mining, transportation and processing, minimize environmental pollution, and improve the production value and product quality. Their products have met local market demands, especially common construction and advanced ceramic materials. Many local mining and processing enterprises have built reservoirs and sedimentation tanks, and trickling filter wastewater treatment plants according to the prescribed standards.
Phu Tho Province Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Chief of the Minerals Management Office Hoang Nhu Lo said, "In recent years, the province's management of mining, processing and trading of minerals has been enhanced. The local mining and processing enterprises have focused on mining and processing technology investment to increase production value and product quality. However, they are still facing losses during mining and processing, low effective investment, and low budget revenues. One of the main reasons for these setbacks is poor administrative mechanisms and procedures.
According to Luu Van Doanh, Director of Phu Tho Province Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Environmental Protection Division, in recent years environmental protection has gradually improved in all of the province's economic sectors. In addition to checking and controlling environmental pollution at mining sites and processing enterprises, Phu Tho's authorities have gradually opened up investment in environmental pollution treatment and protection projects to the private sector. Most mining and processing enterprises have submitted environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports and are ready to implement the related measures to minimize environmental pollution after their reports receive approval. The environmental observation and monitoring activities are carried out periodically at mining and processing enterprises. Many local mining and processing enterprises have increased attention to technology innovation, equipment investment, and waste treatment so as to reduce environmental pollution.
Although the environment in Phu Tho Province has gradually improved in recent years, it is necessary that the local authorities, enterprises and people continue improving towards ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development./.