Cracking down on coal smugglers

22:03' 28/04/2008 (GMT+7)
Thousands of tonnes of illegally-mined coal already confiscated
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has ordered government authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh to tighten controls to prevent rampant, illegal exploitation and export of coal.
Illegal mining has been reported on a large scale since the end of last year in Quang Ninh Province. Local authorities and enterprises are blamed for lax management, which caused irregularities in coal production and export.
Hai said illegal mining had been reported on a large scale since the end of last year. This had led to criminal activities and other social evils, although provincial authorities had been strict about fining violators.
Hai said hundreds of mines had been closed and tens of thousands of tonnes of coal had been confiscated.
While the illegal trade had largely been controlled, there was a danger it would re-occur in the province if authorities did not close ranks to stop it.

Hai blamed the Viet Nam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) for lax management that enabled member companies to sign contracts with many private enterprises to exploit and carry coal.

The group was required to suspend the operations of one company, the Joint Stock Company of Investment, Trade and Service, and define the responsibilities of organisations and individuals who had let illegal coal exploitation flourish.

Hai said he wanted the Industry and Trade Ministry to complete a national strategy for coal development up to the year 2015 – with a vision extending to 2025 – and submit this to the Prime Minister in the next few weeks.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has been asked to co-ordinate with Quang Ninh Province, Vinacomin and relevant ministries and sectors to check mine boundaries before granting or re-issuing licences.

The Deputy PM said the Finance Ministry should order the Customs Office to closely inspect coal exports, while the Public Security Ministry would have to guide police in investigating and prosecuting those breaking the law.

And he ordered the Defence and Public Security Ministries to support provincial police and border guards by strengthening road, sea and border-gate checks.

Lax management

Quang Ninh has already begun mobilising government departments in a crackdown on illegal coal exploitation. It has said it will resolutely punish violators, some of whom have been arrested.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Hung blames lax management by local authorities and enterprises for irregularities in coal production and export.

He even said some State officials, coal-production managers and trade enterprises had closed their eyes or joined hands with illegal coal exploiters.

"If the province fail to stamp this out, natural resources will be lost and the environment will be harmed," he said.

Hung also warned that the corruption of officials would create social disorder and break down security.

Inspections of coal movements by police, customs’ officers, border guards and port authorities have been strengthened in many areas, including Van Gia Port, to find those smuggling coal to China.

The director of Quang Ninh Police, Nguyen Huu Tuoc, said Cam Pha Township was one of the "hot" areas for illegal activities. For the past fortnight, officials had been examining all documents relating to coal production and transport.

So far they have seized more than 4,420 tonnes of coal of unspecified origin and 350 tonnes of coal without official owners, said Tuoc. At one storage place owned by the Hong Gam Company, inspectors had found another 3,000 tonnes of coal of unknown origin.

Many checkpoints had been set up in Dong Trieu District to inspect the transporting of coal in the area. About 3,000 tonnes of illegal coal was found in Hong Thai Tay Commune.

Tuoc said provincial police had closed down 92 mines and 38 open cuts where coal was being illegally removed. Already, 11 cases of theft had been uncovered and 21 alleged criminals brought before the courts.

Police have so far reported 190 cases of coal being illegally transported and nearly 5,500 tonnes of coal worth more than VND1.6bil (US$100,000) has been confiscated.

Chairman of the Vinacomin executive board, Doan Van Kien, said he proposed that provincial authorities stop exporting coal through Van Gia border gate from June 1 to minimise illegal exports.

Deputy commander of Quang Ninh Border Guard’s Headquarters, Dinh Van Tuan, said his group had inspected 104 coal ships since the middle of April and, 46 of which had been found to carry 47,000 tonnes of illegal coal.