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This article provides general information on mineral resources and the mining sector in Vietnam, including the reserve and locations of major minerals. It also discusses the environmental impacts of the mining sector, such as non-efficient use of natural resources, effects on landscape and morphology, and the accumulation and spread of solid waste. The article highlights the need for the application of an environmental management system to address these issues.
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ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN MINING SECTOR OF VIET NAM AND APPLICATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Dr. Le Dang Hoan- Vietnam-Korea Environmental Industry Co-operation Center
GENERAL INFORMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM PART 1
GENERAL INFORMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM • Vietnam has a diverse mineral resource with hundreds kind of minerals • including oil and gas, coal, metallic and non-metallic ores. • The minerals are found both on the mainland and offshore and about 5,000 ores occurrences and deposits have been found in the whole country. In some special areas, some reserves are concentrated in specific areas like oil and gas in the Southern off-shore, coal in Quang Ninh, bauxite in Tay Nguyen and • apatite and rare earth in the Northern provinces. • Some minerals were discovered and exploited a very long time ago such as gold, tin, lead, zinc, coal, limestone and construction minerals. Others were discovered and exploited only recently such as gas, oil, iron, copper, apatite, • ilmenite.
GENERAL INFORMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM The reserve and locations of major minerals in Vietnam
GENERAL INFORMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM • Geological investigations are still continuing and the possibility of increasing and/or upgrading the reserve of discovered minerals and discovering new • mineral occurrences are high. • The mining industry in Vietnam began 100 years ago. In the whole territory about 1,000 mines and over 50 different minerals are being exploited. • The mining technology of Vietnam is rather backward. The mining method applied on the mainland is basically open pit (coal underground mining is only 30% of the total coal production, metallic and non-metallic ores are being mined almost only by the open pit method). Artisanal and semi-mechanical • mining are also contacted • Spontaneous mining by local people is commonly concentrated to gold, precious stone, tin ores and other ores which may easily be sold on the market.
GENERAL INFORMATION OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM • The mining industry occupies an important position in the economy of Vietnam. Every year it supplies about: • ~25 million tons of crude oil; • 25-30 million tons of coal; • 0.5-0.6 million tons of apatite concentrate; • hundreds thousand tons of metal and metallic concentrate; • 10 million tons of limestone and other construction materials • Provides job for hundreds thousand of employees. • Contributed 2.5% - 3% of total GDP.
PART 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 1. Non-efficient use of natural resources • Mines have been exploited since decades and are now running out of high grade reserves artisanal methods have been introduced as a way of continuing the production and maintaining the employment of mine workers. • Artisanalrecovery of remaining resources negatively affect agricultural land and the sustainable use of soils for farming purposes. • The rate of loss of resources is a notable environmental problem in the Vietnamese mining sector. For example: • Losses in coal underground mining: 40-60% of ore • Losses in coal open pit mining: 10-15% of ore • Losses in apatite mining: 26-43% of ore • Losses in metal ore mining: 15-30% of ore
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 2. Effects on landscape and morphology • Apatite, coal and iron are mostly exploited in open pits in hills or small mountains of little alternative usage the impacts is small and less direct • Limestone and clay, used for cement manufacturing or for the production of lime. The main environmental impact is the visual effect on the countryside view, as the exploitation often is carried out in quite densely populated and tourist areas (for example in the Hai Phong delta). • The exploitation for gold or cassiterite (Sn) in alluvial river gravels affects the depth of river courses and often causes diversions of rivers. • In areas of exploitation of alluvial cassiterite deposits underlying farm land, the clay soils at the surface or/and the plantations of rice are often sacrificed in order to allow access to the mineral-bearing layers. The fertile soil is seldom or never preserved and returned to its original place farming land is lost for future use • Exploitation of titanium-bearing minerals from beach sand may cause conflicts with fishing ctivities and cause erosion. In populated areas, for example the city of Hue and it’s nearby beaches, exploitation mayaffect tourist interests.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 3. Accumulation/spread of solid waste • Large quantities of wastes in the forms of tailings and waste rock • Many older impoundments are not well maintained tailings material escapes to the surrounding land and nearby streams and rivers appear yellow brown in colour due to the high content of such suspended solids (black from coal in coal mining areas). • In some mining areas dominated by artisanal activities, or with deficient treatment methods and waste disposal, tailings material is discharged directly into the environment. For example, in certain areas of alluvial tin mining, water with high contents of solid particles are let out directly into local streams and rice fields, destroying crops and burying the fertile soil layer under tailings.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 4. Water use and pollution • The contamination of natural waters is common at most mining sites in Vietnam. This contamination can be subdivided into the following categories: • Suspended solids related to workings in alluvial deposits or discharged from beneficiation plants; • Suspended coal particles from coal mines and coal treatment plants; • Metals in true solution generated during the ore treatment process; • Acid, metal-rich solutions formed by the oxidation of sulphidic minerals in waste; • Process chemicals used in ore beneficiation plants (cyanide, xanthenes, etc.); • Chemicals from metallurgical plants, for example phenol from coking plants. 1. Clean water, pH7.7 – 2. Wastewater, pH3.1 – 3. Wastewater, pH4.8
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 5. Air pollution and dusting • Air pollution and dusting associated with mining operations are principally limited to the following concerns: • - Exhaust fumes at metallurgical plants. • - Coal dusting in coal mining areas. • - Dusting from transport on dirt roads. • Limestone dust in exhaust fumes from cement plants and lime ovens represent a major environmental problem (it’s so-called “white smoke”) • The gas emissions from the coking plant of the Vietnam Steel Corporation mainly consist of CH4 and H2. The small metallurgical plant producing tin at Thai Nguyen emits gases containing Sn, As, Pb, and the zinc plant in the same city emits powder of zinc oxide with an unknown content of other metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 6. Effects on flora and fauna • There is no mining in Vietnam carried out within national parks or other nature reserves. • However, the coal mining fields in the Quang Ninh province are situated close to the extensive Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site, an archipelago of supreme natural beauty and an important area for tourism. • The main impact on flora and fauna is the disturbance or destruction of rice plantations and their valuable soil cover. Waste rock Old mining pit
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN THE MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 7. Noise and vibration • Noise and vibration related to mining activities are matters of relatively less importance. • The mine workers may be profoundly affected by noise from machinery and rock blasting. • Ore treatment and metallurgical plants are quite often located within built-up areas and therefore cause noise and vibration disturbance to the local population. 8. Socio-economic impact • Negative influences on the environment also cause negative impacts on socio-economic conditions, primarily regarding the living conditions of mining employees and people living in the mining areas. • The products of mining are an important and imperative portion in structure of GDP of a poor country like Vietnam. • The mining industry also contributes to developing transportation, communication, power supply, trading, culture and changing socio-economic condition of backward areas. It is therefore understandable that the environment interests can be in conflict with the immediate economic interests.
PART 3 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 1. Typical features in application of EMS in the mining sector in Vietnam • So far, the number of enterprises operating the EMS ISO14001 in Vietnam are very limited and most of them are foreign-invested. These companies have modern technologies, developed infrastructure, advanced management level and strong finance. As a result the establishment of EMS at these units is fairly advantageous. • On the contrary, state-owned enterprises, especially those in the mining and metallurgy sector, which have been in operation for a long time, have outdated technologies and limited resources, consequently the EMS ISO14001 has not practically been of application . • In 2002, under assistance of SIDA (Sweden International Development cooperation Agency), the EMS introduction to the Tam Hiep Experiment Centre (belonging to National Institute of Mining and Metallurgy) is part of the Project on “Strengthening the Capacity of Environmental Protection in the Mining Sector and Related Activities in Vietnam” has been done. The success of the EMS application at the Tam Hiep Centre is as a sample to apply in other similar enterprises of mining and ore treatment organization. The project was completed but the EMS established in Tam Hiep is not applied in any mining enterprise. • 2007 project “Establishment of guideline for application EMS–ISO 14001 in coal and other mining enterprises is conducting by Science and technology Institute of Mining
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM • * Characteristics of establishment of EMS in the mining sector in Vietnam • Vietnam is high density of population country and some mining areas are located in farm or area of residents. It easy lead to contradict with local peoples in using land for mining activities. • Environmental Impacts in the mining areas are not only by reasons of present activities, but also by the mining activities in the past time, when the environment protection is not a subject for mention old miners. • Up to now small manual scale and illegal mining activities, which difficult to control are carrying on many regions of gold, tin, inmenhite, precious stone... mines. • The owner of mining enterprises in Vietnam are almost cases is State. There are some joint stock companies, but they are one member of stock company. That’s why some cases they have and production and management role. It is reasons of non effective environmental protection activities. • Environmental management bodies are not concerning in application of EMS in the sector and knowledge of minors and residents on environmental protection in mining activities is limited. These are any typical sample or guidance of application of EMS in the sector to demonstrate for upgrade the knowledge for peoples.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 2. Important components of EMS in mining industrial sector of Vietnam • General model of the EMS in mining sector: COMMITMENT & POLICY REVIEW PLANNING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT EVALUATION IMPLEMENTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 2. Important components of EMS in mining industrial sector of Vietnam 2.1. Environmental policy • Prevent pollution and continual improvement of environmental performance in mining areas and surrounding areas. • Comply with legislative and other requirements regarding the environment ensuring that all mining activities have acceptable impacts on the environment, particularly on surrounding areas. • Selection to use new technologies, appropriated for the environment. • Use energy, water and fuels effectively ensuring environmentally sound production and reducing the amount of waste in present and future operations. • Policy on treatment solid waste and on land reclamation for reuse.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 2. Important components of EMS in mining industrial sector of Vietnam 2.2. Legal and other requirements • National requirements: National LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, No. 29/2005/L/CTN December 12, 2005 passed by the National Assembly, Legislature XI of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam at its 8th Session. • National Law on Minerals. • Provincial requirements: Legal circular enforced by the Local People's Committee, where the mining activities are doing. • Ministerial and Sectorial Requirements: Legal circulars ,enforced by the Minister of Natural and Environment on application of Vietnam Standards on environment including industrial emissions, wastewater discharge, surface water, groundwater, noise and vibration. • Legal and other requirements of the Ministry of industries, management ministry on mining sector and other Instructions, decisions, official letters of related organizations
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 2. Important components of EMS in mining industrial sector of Vietnam 2.3. Determination of environmental aspects • There are two kinds of mining enterprises in Vietnam: • One is the enterprises which have began mining activities from past time with outdated technologies environmental aspects can determine by making environmental audit. • Other one is newly established enterprises with modern technologies have to make EIA • In the content of audits or EIA must include the purposes, targets and implementation stages for minimizing environmental impacts on mining areas and adjacent areas, especially on ground water and rivers water system.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN MINING SECTOR OF VIETNAM 2. Important components of EMS in mining industrial sector of Vietnam 2.4. Environmental management programme • The environmental programme element is linked to the objective and targets and to significant environmental aspects, mentioned in environmental audit or in EIA. The programme contains activities, timeframes and resources in conformity with the ISO 14001. Priority to be implemented activities in the environmental management programme must be declared. • The activities of the programme shall be reviewed, evaluated and reported to the Management Review twice a year. The programme(s) should at least once a year be authorized by the Top Management. 2.5. Commitment of organization • EMS programe , purposes, targets… will be committed to perfectly complete by top Management boad and every unit of enterprises of mining and ore treatment. It will be considered as a cultural way of live of organizations.
CONCLUSION Protection of environment in Mineral Activities, following measures have to be taken: 1. Organizations and individuals engaged in mineral resources prospecting and exploitation and mineral processing, must take measures to prevent and respond to environmental incidents, and comply with the requirements for environmental protection and rehabilitation; 2. Minerals must be stored and transported with specialized equipment and adequately covered to avoid their leakages and spillage into the environment. 3. The operation of machinery and equipment and the use of toxic chemicals in mineral prospecting, exploration, exploitation and processing shall be subject to the technical certification, inspection and monitoring by the State management agencies of environmental protection. 4. The exploration, prospecting, exploitation, transport and processing of oil, gas and other minerals containing radioactive elements and toxic substances, must comply with the regulations on chemical safety, nuclear safety and radiation safety, and the other regulations on environmental protection.
CONCLUSION (con.) The Ministry of Industry shall, in collaboration with relevant ministries, ministerial level agencies, Government bodies and provincial level People’s Committees, be responsible for all activites, related to environmental protection in the section compliance with the law . Application of Environmental Management System is very poor in the sector and knowledge of minors and residents on environmental protection in mining activities is limited. these is any typical sample or guidance of application of EMS in the sector to demonstrate for upgrading the knowledge for peoples. Environmental management organizations of Vietnam have to establish a program for the subject and international cooperation with mining development countries is very important right now.
