Given the dwindling and projected shortage of natural sand as a construction material, artificial sand (crushed sand) is considered a viable alternative. However, for various reasons, its consumption has so far been limited to internal business operations.
Artificial sand can completely replace natural sand as a conventional building material.
According to the Department of Construction, there are currently 18 artificial sand production lines from stone in the province with a total capacity of 1,390,000 m3/year. Among them, the enterprises owning large-capacity production lines include Hoang Tuan Co., Ltd., Tan Thanh 2 Co., Ltd., Nghi Son 36 Joint Stock Company, Ha Lien Construction and Trading Co., Ltd., etc. These enterprises all have production lines with a registered capacity of 150,000 m3/year and are licensed to mine stone or produce ready-mix concrete.
According to some business owners, the new investment for each large-capacity production line (over 100,000 m3/year) ranges from over 10 billion to under 20 billion VND, mainly imported from abroad. Artificial sand, crushed from stone, has also been certified as compliant with current regulations by competent authorities. While artificial sand is considered to have more uniform particles, ensuring the strength of the stone, and being free of impurities because the crushing process involves multiple flushing cycles, it helps save cement, shorten construction time, and increase the lifespan of the structure. However, the consumption of this product is currently limited to internal company sales. This means that businesses produce and consume it for their own use.
Nghi Son 36 Joint Stock Company, located in the Vuc Industrial Cluster, Thanh Hoa City, invested in and put into operation an artificial sand production line in September 2023, valued at over 10 billion VND. The company carefully selects its raw materials from quarries in Nghi Son town and Yen Lam town (Yen Dinh district). During the production process, the stone is washed three times with high-pressure water to remove impurities and stone dust. According to Mr. Trinh Dinh Sang, Deputy Director of Nghi Son 36 Joint Stock Company, although the production line can achieve a capacity of 90m3 - 120m3/h, the company only operates the machine for an average of 8 hours per day, meeting its raw material needs for ready-mix concrete production.
Meanwhile, if production increases, this building material will become surplus. To date, the company has not received any orders or inquiries for artificial sand to produce non-fired bricks or for construction purposes. According to Mr. Trinh Van Sang, the main reason is that consumers are still hesitant about artificial sand and prefer natural sand. In contrast, the ready-mix concrete produced by Nghi Son 36 Joint Stock Company is highly regarded by consumers for its quality.
Similarly, Tan Thanh 2 One-Member Limited Company, with its two artificial sand production lines in Cam Thuy and Ha Trung districts, primarily serves its own needs. The line located in Ha Son commune (Ha Trung district) is more modern and well-invested, capable of crushing and producing five types of construction materials, including artificial sand. This investment provides the company with a source of raw materials for ready-mix concrete production while also utilizing broken rocks from quarrying. On the production line, the raw materials are flushed with high-pressure water before crushing and further washed after crushing, resulting in artificial sand with relatively uniform particle size and no impurities.
However, according to the company's deputy director, Mr. Le Duc Vu, the crushed sand product currently mainly serves the company's needs for producing ready-mix concrete, with a portion sold to Ninh Binh province to businesses producing ready-mix concrete or for use as construction sand. Artificial sand is significantly cheaper than natural sand, while also saving on cement during construction. But so far, no residents or businesses in the province have inquired about or placed orders for the company's artificial sand for construction projects. Therefore, the company only operates its production line for an average of 8 hours per day.
From a state management perspective, Nguyen Huu Duc, Deputy Head of the Construction Materials Management Department of the Department of Construction, stated: "According to the plan until 2030, the sand reserves in the province will reach approximately 18 million m3, but the projected demand is about 26.01 million m3, leaving a shortage of about 8.01 million m3. This demand does not include the sand needed for national construction projects in the province and the demand for residential construction. To compensate for this shortage, artificial sand is becoming part of the solution. This material also plays a role in reducing the demand for natural sand, reducing illegal sand mining that causes riverbed erosion, and ensuring security and order in localities with natural sand mines. However, currently, people are still not enthusiastic about this source of sand."
Due to consumer apprehension, artificial sand production lines in the province are currently limited to concrete sand. If they were to produce construction sand, businesses would only need to replace the sieve, costing less than 100 million VND. However, given the current preference for natural sand among consumers, many business owners believe that even if they produced artificial construction sand, they wouldn't be able to sell it.
With many advantages, artificial sand is being evaluated as a "green" solution for the construction industry. To stimulate production, the Government has also issued policies to encourage production. In Thanh Hoa province, the Provincial People's Council has issued Resolution 20/2021/NQ-HĐND on "Policies to encourage the development of science and technology as a breakthrough in the socio -economic development of Thanh Hoa province in the period 2021-2025". In this resolution, the province will support up to 30% of the total investment value, including: costs of purchasing machinery and equipment; technology transfer; and training costs for organizations, households, and individuals investing in artificial sand production lines with a capacity of 50 tons/hour or more. However, according to the Department of Science and Technology (the agency responsible for receiving applications for policy support), since the resolution came into effect, the department has not received any applications from businesses, organizations, or individuals. The main reason, according to many business owners, is that the criteria for support are too high, and businesses are unable to meet them.
Clearly, consumer psychology is the deciding factor in the development of artificial sand, rather than the inability of businesses to invest in more modern production lines. Even with government support for machinery and equipment, businesses still need to focus on product distribution for long-term growth. And as long as people still prefer natural sand, the future of this "green" building material remains challenging.
Text and photos: Do Duc
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cat-nhan-tao-van-kho-tiep-can-thi-truong-224972.htm
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