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$200m for uranium, mineral search
Viet Nam will need an estimated VND3.3-4.06 trillion (US$200-246 million) for the exploration of uranium, precious stones and rare soil between now and 2025.
The estimation is indicated in a master plan on the exploration, exploitation and processing of precious stone, rare soil and uranium resources to 2015, with a vision to 2025, which has been approved recently by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT).
Under the scheme, six precious stone mines will be put into operation in central Nghe An province and northern Yen Bai province by 2015 and further investment will be sought after 2015 for the exploration and exploitation of three more mines in Yen Bai and four more mines in Nghe An.
The plan also envisages that the country will be able to conduct certain steps in the nuclear fuel process by 2025 and move towards producing nuclear fuel from domestically-tapped uranium.
The MTI said it would encourage both local and foreign investors to join in mining and processing valuable stones and rare soil, with priority being given to processing.
The ministry would work to improve regulations on natural resources management for more efficient use of the resources in combination with environmental protection.
Primary investigations showed that uranium existed in various geological structures in Viet Nam, with the Northwest and Central regions having the most density, head of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources’s Department of Geology and Minerals Tran Xuan Huong said. Uranium ore in the Central region’s gritstones have the most potential.
According to the ministry, available figures and information estimate that uranium reserves in Viet Nam may be as large as hundreds of thousands of tonnes; however, specific and formal research and investigation remains limited.
VNS
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