The Nha Trang-Cam Lâm section of the North-South Expressway. — VNA/VNS Photo for illustration.

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Transport has approved the establishment of a working group to study using marine sand in traffic infrastructure projects.

Deputy transport minister Nguyễn Duy Lâm has been assigned as the head of the team, while deputy minister of natural resources and environment Trần Quý Kiên is the deputy head.

The group members include representatives from the Ministries of Transport (MoT), Construction (MoC), Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), Science and Technology (MoST), the Institute of Transport Science and Technology, Transport Development and Strategy Institute, as well as experts and businesses.

The scope of the study will include mining and use, technical requirements, physical and chemical criteria for saline sand treatment; economic and technical efficiency, environmental protection, developing standards, and running a pilot programme using marine sand in civil and traffic constructions.

The group will deliver a final evaluation report presenting research results and consult the government on the possibility of using marine sand in these projects.

Previously in a report on the demand for sand filling in expressway projects in the Mekong Delta, a MoNRE representative said that the sand volume needed for 2022-25 projects is 40 million cubic metres.

From now until 2030, it is estimated that the demand for sand as a levelling material in construction in the Mekong Delta localities is at hundreds of millions of cubic metres.

Meanwhile, the riverbed sand resources can only meet approximately 50 per cent of the required amount.

According to the Transport Construction Investment Management Authority (under the MoT), the Cần Thơ-Hậu Giang and Hậu Giang-Cà Mau sections of the North-South Expressway require a total of 18.5 million cubic metres of sand filling.

Localities involved could only respond to around 30 per cent of the demand, or three million cubic metres.

The Mỹ Thuật Project Management Unit is also assigned to pilot using marine sand as road embankments at a section of the Hậu Giang-Cà Mau route.

Following the study, if requirements are met, the MoNRE will proceed with procedures to assign the mines for authorised mining units. — VNS