VietNamNet Bridge – Vice Chair of the National Assembly’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, Nghiem Vu Khai, told the media on November 2 that exploration for rare earth minerals may not bring about economic benefits but it can help Vietnam develop a cooperative model with Japan.

 

Vietnam chooses Japan as partner for exploring rare earths  

 

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Geology and Mineral Department, Vietnam is in the world’s top five countries for rare earth reserve.

 

This mineral is located in the northwestern region, particularly Lai Chau and Yen Bai provinces.

 

Vietnam has not mined rare earths yet. Surveys have been completed at a mine in Lai Chau. Exploration will be conducted at 3-4 other mines.

 

Besides environmental impacts like other mining projects, exploration of rare earths can disperse radioactive substance because rare earths in Vietnam contains high content of radioactive substances.

 

The department also says that Vietnam doesn’t sell crude rare earths. For the newly-licenced mine in Lai Chau, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group (Vinacomin) and its partner must build a plant in Vietnam to refine.

 

Other rare earth projects will have to obey this principle.
Some said that we should not be too cheerful with rare earths because Japan’s demand for it is quite low and the annual revenue from these minerals is not high. What do you think about it?

 

Scientists said that Vietnam’s reserve of rare earth minerals ranks third or fifth in the world, with around 22 million tons. This is the strategic substance for the hi-tech industry. I know that some countries and foreign groups are interested in this but Japan has directly showed their interest.

 

The relationship between Vietnam and Japan is strategic and comprehensive ties in all fields. If we meet Japan’s demand and mining rare earths benefits both countries, the two sides should cooperate to explore the minerals.

 

The economic value of rare earths in the next five or ten years may not be high but its potential is huge in the future. Rare earth ore contains 17 elements with small contents in the earth’s crust. Most of these elements are used in industries and defense and to manufacture components in cell phones, solar batteries, electric motors, auto engines, magnets in extremely small hydro-electric generators and even space equipment.

 

There are many different opinions about the economic effect of bauxite projects, how about rare earths?

 

This is a highly value mineral. However, it doesn’t mean that any form of exploration can bring in profit. So we have to weigh carefully. The two governments are determined to explore it but the mining project will have to pass many steps.

 

The output and mining scale of bauxite is very large while rare earths are located in a small area. The output and mining scale of rare earths is not big but we will cooperate with a strategic partner, with the support from the top to the bottom, so the cooperation will be long term. I believe that rare earths mining will be highly effective.

 

Does rare earth mining require substantial capital and complicated technology like bauxite?

 

Much more complicated. I think a rare earth mineral is highly valuable  but it is different from bauxite because the output can be measures in grams, not tons. The mining technology is very modern. I’ve met with some Japanese congressmen and companies. They all pledged to explore rare earths by advanced technology to take full advantage of the rare earth content in ore.

 

How will rare earth mining affect the environment?

 

Going with rare earths are substances that can harm the environment. Briefly, mining always affects the environment. But we should realize that Japanese enterprises are pioneers in labor safety.

 

Some companies from the former Czechoslovakia entered Vietnam to explore rare earths. How does research works benefit the current exploration?

 

These companies just collected some samples for test, not exploring rare earths yet because the socialist system in East Europe started breaking out and they could not pursue the exploration.

 

Research works by Czechoslovakia firms provide useful information. However, Japan will have to verify the old documents to define the mining technology and the site for the ore refinery.

 

When will the rare earth mining project start?

 

The survey may be carried out this year and the refinery will start running in 2015.

 

Source: VNE