Vietnam’s National Assembly Approves Key Laws on Geology, Mining, and Fire Safety
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) passed two critical pieces of legislation on Friday, solidifying comprehensive frameworks for geology and mineral management as well as fire prevention and rescue operations.
Geology and Mineral Law
The Geology and Mineral Law was approved by an overwhelming majority, with 446 out of 448 deputies voting in favour, representing 93.11% of the assembly. Comprising 12 chapters and 111 articles, the law provides detailed regulations on geological investigations, mineral protection, mining operations, resource recovery, financing, and the auctioning of mineral extraction rights.
Key highlights include:
- Scope of Application: Covering Vietnam’s mainland, islands, internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf.
- Exclusions: Petroleum, natural water (except mineral or hot spring water), and non-project-based mineral processing activities.
- Amendments: The inclusion of new mineral planning categories (‘Group I’ and ‘Group II Mineral Planning’) for better alignment with exploration and extraction activities.
The legislation sets a maximum mining permit duration of 30 years, extendable by 20 years, bringing Vietnam in line with international mining practices. To ensure resource efficiency, projects with remaining viable reserves can apply for permit reissuance beyond the stipulated timeframe.
Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Law
The Assembly also approved the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Law with 448 out of 450 deputies voting in favour, representing 93.53% support. The law, consisting of eight chapters and 55 articles, establishes comprehensive guidelines for fire safety and rescue operations while clarifying responsibilities for individuals, organisations, and state agencies.
Key provisions include:
- Mandatory Participation: Citizens aged 18 and above in good health must participate in local firefighting and rescue teams when required.
- Simplified Procedures: Administrative processes for fire safety have been reduced from 37 to 10, lowering costs for businesses and individuals.
- Urban Fire Safety: Alarms and extinguishers are mandated in densely populated areas in five major cities: Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng, Cần Thơ, and Hải Phòng, with other regions encouraged to follow suit voluntarily.
- Residential Conversions: Buildings converted for business use, such as karaoke bars and nightclubs, must adhere to strict fire safety and construction laws.
The Fire Safety Law also prohibits unauthorised modifications that could compromise safety, underscoring stricter enforcement to protect lives and property.
Legislative Milestone
Both laws reflect Vietnam’s commitment to enhancing governance and public safety. The Geology and Mineral Law aims to streamline mineral resource management and bolster economic efficiency, while the Fire Prevention, Fighting, and Rescue Law prioritises community safety and infrastructure resilience.
These landmark legislative efforts signify Vietnam’s dedication to sustainable development and the well-being of its citizens.
