Vietnam Ministry Proposes PM Halt Sand, Pebble Exports

The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction (MoC) has proposed the Prime Minister suspend the export of construction sand and pebbles from November 1 in order to ensure domestic supply and curb massive sand extraction in the Mekong Delta region in recent months, said Le Van Toi, head of the ministry’s Construction Materials Department.

 

The proposal was made after an eight-day inspection started on September 6 by the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, and Construction to check sand exploitation and export activities in the region amid rising illegal sand mining in the area, causing traffic disorders and serious landslides along local rivers.

 

Domestic sand demand from construction projects will rise to 93 million tons in 2010, between 131 million tons and 140 million tons in 2015 and between 182 million and 197 million tons in 2020 from 85.5 million in 2008, the MoC forecast.

 

The MoC added that domestic sand supplies may run out if exports continue at the current pace.

 

The Mekong Delta region exported nearly seven million tons of sand worth US$20.2 million in the first eight months of this year, quintupling the whole volume of last year, the Can Tho Customs Office said during a meeting with the ministries, attributing to Cambodia’s recent ban on sand shipments.

 

Singapore was the region’s biggest export market during the time, said the office. (Youth, Investment)