Ships carrying sand mining equipment near Móng Cái City, Quảng Ninh Province. — Photo baogiaothong.vn

QUẢNG NINH — Móng Cái City People’s Committee in the northeastern province of Quảng Ninh on Wednesday halted a sand mining project as the project's investor did not complete investment procedures properly.

Last Friday, provincial authorities discovered Đông Bắc A Construction and Trade Joint Stock Company had been running a sand-mining project on 100 ha in Bình Ngọc Ward, Móng Cái Province without proper documents, including a land-use right certificate, a decision appointing the director of the mining area or a mine design approved by authorities.

Last December, the company asked the province for permission to exploit sand at the mine with estimated production of 4.5 million cu.m yearly but it had not completed procedures.

Early last month, the province Border Guard Command asked the province’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources to stop the project for fear it would harm local inland waterway transport and aquaculture production.

Local residents reported that the sand was taken from Mũi Ngọc border area, which is not included in the proposed project area.

According to Móng Cái City People’s Committee, the project can resume once the investor completes all necessary procedures. — VNS