People’s Committee Chairman Le Tri Thanh issued a decision that funding would be provided to remove illegal gold mining across 368 hectares at the mine.
The illegal Bong Mieu gold mine
This is aimed to protect untapped gold resources, prevent illegal gold mining, and maintain security and order as well as environmental protection in the area.
The task would be carried out between 2022 and 2024.
During the process, local authorities would have to level the site, collect wastewater and mud discharged into the environment by illegal mining activities, and grow trees.
Bong Mieu is Vietnam’s largest gold mine. In 2005, the Bong Mieu Gold Mining Co., Ltd. was approved to exploit the mine until 2016. After that, Quang Nam asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to shut the mine, but it was not until May this year that the ministry finally agreed on this.
Many people have prospected at the site in recent years, badly affecting the environment.
Illegal gold miners in the area have been continuously driven away by Quang Nam authorities.