Series of localities and businesses must review

Many groups and individuals were proposed for review.

In the thematic audit of state management of mineral resources in the period 2017-2021 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (TN-MT) and the provinces: Yen Bai, Thua Thien Hue, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Phu Tho, Thai Binh, Binh Dinh, Cao Bang, Binh Phuoc, the State Audit (SA) requested to review the responsibilities of many relevant collectives and individuals.

Specifically, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, this agency determines the mineral exploitation rights fee, reviews and issues annual notices for the period 2018-2022 for two mines (Dong Sin Quyen and Dong Vi Kem) not in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 4, Article 5 of Circular No. 38/2017/TT-BTNMT dated October 16, 2017 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment when determining the first time and subsequent times according to the provisions of Decree No. 67/2019/ND-CP dated July 31, 2019 of the Government.

Many shortcomings and limitations exist in mineral management and exploitation. Illustrative photo

For localities, the State Audit recommends that the People's Committee of Ha Giang province direct the Tax Department to review the collective and individual responsibilities in the failure of the Vi Xuyen District Tax Department to detect the error of Son Hai Cooperative in exploiting sand without a license since 2017 with the declared output according to the environmental protection fee settlement of 5,722m3.

Phu Tho Provincial People's Committee directed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to review the collective and individual responsibilities in determining reserves to calculate fees for granting mineral exploitation rights that are not in accordance with regulations.

The People's Committee of Binh Dinh province directed the Department of Construction to review the collective and individual responsibilities in issuing the inspection plan and implementing the inspection plan No. 08/KH-SXD dated June 19, 2018 which was not consistent with the assigned functions and tasks; not promptly reporting to the Provincial People's Committee to direct competent units to promptly handle the errors and shortcomings of mineral exploitation enterprises discovered through inspection in Conclusion No. 04/KL-SXD.

Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee directed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to review the collective and individual responsibilities for allowing many errors to occur when granting licenses to extend and transfer the Ha Lao sand mine between Ha Thanh Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company - UDIC and Dong A Company Limited; Supervising the deposit for environmental improvement and restoration to allow many errors to occur; Not fulfilling all responsibilities in inspection and examination work to allow many errors to occur in performing assigned tasks.

The State Audit also requested the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue province to direct the provincial Tax Department to review the collective and individual responsibilities for not promptly inspecting and detecting, leading to enterprises not multiplying the coefficient K = 1.1 for open-pit mines according to regulations when calculating environmental protection fees, thus calculating and paying fees less than prescribed.

Many problems at the Coal and Minerals Group

In the audit report on the state management of mineral resources in the 2017-2021 period of the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV), the State Audit Office pointed out many limitations and proposed to organize a review to clearly define the responsibilities according to regulations for relevant collectives and individuals.

In which, TKV and audited units exploited and used soil and rock mixed with coal, slag, and screening residue but did not report to competent authorities as prescribed in Clause 6, Article 20 of Decree No. 158/2016/ND-CP.

The use of 20,861m2 of land from 2010-2021 for limestone mining activities but not yet reported to the competent authority for permission to use at La Hien Cement Joint Stock Company (Viet Bac Mining Industry Corporation TKV-CTCP).

Dumping is not in accordance with the approved plan; not recording the sampling times in each shift to have enough basis to compare the time the vehicle enters and the time of sampling to confirm that the components on the car are guaranteed not to be mixed with coal (Ak > 78%); inventory discovered an excess of 21,725 tons of coal compared to the accounting books in the third quarter of 2021.

Mining beyond capacity at Hon Gai Coal Company - TKV, Mong Duong Coal Joint Stock Company - Vinacomin, Quang Hanh Coal Company - TKV, Cao Son Coal Joint Stock Company - TKV. Mining when the Mineral Exploitation License has expired and has not been renewed at Uong Bi Coal Company - TKV. Mineral exploration beyond the exploration license granted at Quang Hanh Coal Company - TKV.

For the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the State Audit Office proposed to clearly identify objective and subjective causes; organize a review to determine collective and individual responsibilities and handle collectives and individuals related to the failure to adjust and promptly notify the 2020 mineral exploitation right fee to units when the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province changed the price for calculating resource tax in 2020 in Decision No. 04/2020/QD-UBND dated March 9, 2020 on promulgating the Price list for calculating resource tax for types of resources in Quang Ninh province in 2020.

Also implementing the topic of state management of mineral resources in the period of 2017-2021 at Vietnam Cement Corporation (VICEM), the State Audit Office requested that H VICEM direct the capital representatives at the audited units to organize the assessment of objective and subjective causes, review, and determine the responsibility of the relevant collectives and individuals.

In particular, the State Audit Office noted that VICEM organized exploration without a license from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (VICEM Hoang Mai); used land without a signed land lease contract or without a land lease contract extension at Co Dam clay mine (VICEM Bim Son); exploited minerals beyond the licensed capacity (VICEM Bim Son, VICEM Hoang Mai, VICEM Hai Phong, VICEM Tam Diep, VICEM But Son).

Auditing construction activities and the management and use of investment capital for the Nui Beo Coal Mine Construction Investment Project, the State Audit Office requested TKV to review and determine collective and individual responsibilities for handling according to the provisions of law for a number of shortcomings and limitations.

That is the Board of Members of TKV Group approving the Nui Beo underground mining investment project in Document No. 594/TKV-HDTV dated February 18, 2011 when the project was not yet included in the coal industry planning approved by the Prime Minister;

TKV issued Document No. 4512/TKV-TC dated September 18, 2015 requesting Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company to consider exempting contractors in the industry from having to implement advance payment guarantees and contract performance guarantees that are not in accordance with the law;

TKV must organize an inspection and clarify the fact that Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company signed a direct contract with a contractor to implement package No. 13, which is not one of the forms of contractor selection as prescribed by the Law on Bidding, for handling according to regulations.

For the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province, the State Audit Office recommended organizing inspections, determining responsibilities and handling collectives and individuals who caused problems in granting construction permits to foreign contractors to implement package No. 19 of the Nui Beo coal mine underground mining project without proper authority.

The State Audit Office requested Nui Beo Coal Joint Stock Company to review and determine collective and individual responsibilities for handling according to the provisions of law for a number of existing problems and limitations.

That is, organizing the appraisal and approval of project investment when the project is not included in the coal industry planning approved by the Prime Minister, and has not been approved by the competent authority for the planning of the industrial yard; Signing a contract directly with a contractor to implement package No. 13 that is not one of the forms of contractor selection as prescribed in the Law on Bidding without reporting for approval from the Prime Minister; Signing a contract in which the contractor is not required to submit a contract performance guarantee as prescribed in the Law on Bidding (packages No. 13, 14A, 19, 19p, 23, 28, 29, 80); approving bidding documents that do not require the contractor to provide an advance payment guarantee as prescribed by the Government (packages No. 14A, 23, 80).