Vietnam to enact mining laws by year-end

Land tenure is uncertain and exploration investment is unprotected under Vietnamese laws, say the Canadian delegates after a 2-week tour of Vietnam recently. They expressed their concerns during meetings with Vietnam’s minister of Heavy Industry and his staff.

Advised by Canadian and Australian legal experts, Vietnam is currently developing its mining laws, which will be enacted by year-end and implemented in 1994.

“Their mining laws are non-existent and they are ponderously slow and uncertain in granting exploration permits,” says tour organizer Ronald Stokes of Vancouver. “We left strong messages about the way they could be improved. They are listening, as they need export capital.”

Stokes is a director of Hong Kong-based Vietnam Resources, which has several prospects in Vietnam. “Some are remote but the best is only 50 km from Hanoi,” he says. “Lots of work to do before it produces a return.” Vietnam Resources is a mineral exploration company funded by Canadians and Australians. Its other directors include David Seymour, Jake Gray and Max Garling of Sydney.

While most of the 16 geologists and mining engineers from Canada were interested in precious and base metals prospects, two delegates visited the anthracite mines near Hai Phong.

The Canadian government was represented by Dirk Tempelman-Kluit, western director of the Geological Survey.