Quang Nam is confused in the auction of sand from Co Co River.

Unsuccessful auction

The project of dredging, emergency flood drainage and saltwater intrusion prevention of Co Co River was approved by Quang Nam province in 2018 and started in July 2020. In parallel with the project construction, the province assigned the Quang Nam Traffic Construction Investment Project Management Board (PMU) to coordinate with the departments to develop a plan to manage and collect materials after dredging (sand) to submit to the province for decision.

In July 2021, the Project Management Board was assigned by the People's Committee of Quang Nam province to organize the auction of 1,015,780 m3 of sand for pouring the foundation after dredging at the project. Specifically, the sand after dredging gathered at the site was about 767,510 m3; the sand that had not been dredged was about 523,270 m3.

Sand left unused for many years is at risk of being wasted.

The Project Management Board has selected Quang Viet Joint Stock Auction Company to organize the auction. The auctioned assets are all dredged and undredged sand of the project with a starting price of VND 144,000/m3, according to Decision No. 2216/QD-UBND dated August 24, 2022.

However, after two announcements (from October 2022 to December 2022), no individual or organization registered to participate in the auction. The reason is that the volume of the auction at one time is too large, after winning the auction, a large sum of money must be paid immediately (about 200 billion VND).

In a recent submission, the Project Management Board said it had contracted with the consulting unit, FAC Company Limited - Central Branch, to determine the starting price. However, according to the Department of Finance, the price of 144,000 VND/m3 was approved long ago and is no longer suitable at the present time. Therefore, the consulting unit has organized a survey to determine the new starting price.

However, after many times of implementation, it is still impossible to determine because currently on the market there is no price information of similar materials as a basis for implementation. From there, the consulting unit proposed to terminate the contract because it is impossible to determine the starting price at the present time.

The Project Management Board also invited other consulting units in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai provinces and Da Nang city to determine the starting price, but no consulting unit registered to participate.

Divide into many lots to compete

Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong, Director of the Project Management Board, proposed that the Provincial People's Committee allow the application of the starting price approved by the Provincial People's Committee in 2022 at 144,000 VND/m3 to continue organizing the auction.

But first, only the volume of sand dredged and gathered at the site with a volume of 767,510m3 will be auctioned. Regarding the form, the province is requested to unify the division into many lots for auction. For the volume of sand not yet dredged, about 523,270m3, the Board will coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment to specifically advise the Provincial People's Committee to ensure compliance with regulations.

Quang Nam provincial leaders have repeatedly gone to the field to conduct field visits and give instructions.

Previously, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Tran Nam Hung also agreed on the policy of dividing into many lots for auction. Urgently organize the auction for the volume of sand that has been dredged and gathered at the site. Assign relevant departments and branches to coordinate with the Project Management Board to advise the Provincial People's Committee to consider and handle undredged materials (sand) in accordance with regulations.

Also related to the dredged sand on Co Co River, Hoi An City People's Committee has submitted a document requesting the province to agree to allow the use of dredged sand to repair the erosion of Tan Thanh beach (Cam An ward).

According to Hoi An City, the source of sand materials on the market is currently scarce and expensive. Therefore, the City proposed the Provincial People's Committee and the Project Management Board to consider and agree on the policy of allowing the use of sand dredged from the Co Co River to reinforce coastal erosion with a volume of about 3,000 m3.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/quang-nam-lung-tung-trong-viec-dau-gia-cat-song-co-co.html