Titanium mining and processing projects in central coast provinces have left negative impact on other economic sectors and put the environment at risk of severe pollution.

A sludge tank of a titanium mining project in Binh Thuan Province breaks

The south-central province of Binh Thuan makes up around 92% of the country’s titanium reserves of 599 million tons. There are 24 titanium mining sites covering 20,840 hectares which will be tapped until 2020.

However, Binh Thuan has written to the Prime Minister listing some problems that have occurred in the process of implementing titanium mining projects.

The province plans to extract 133.3 million tons from 19,530 hectares of land by 2020. But 18 titanium mining sites overlap the locations of 37 projects in sectors such as tourism, wind power, solar energy, airport, golf course and forestation, so these projects have not been able to be carried out.

According to Binh Thuan, titanium ores are mainly found along the coast where there are also many resort projects. Some areas have faced a severe shortage of water for household use and agricultural production as well as titanium exploitation and processing.

Therefore, the province has proposed stopping titanium mining at six sites totaling 1,973 hectares as they affect local communities, water resources and other projects.

Binh Thuan now has 13 titanium mining areas covering a total of 7,730 hectares.

Recently, sludge tanks of some titanium mining projects have broken, threatening the environment and local communities.

SGT