Moving toward deep processing of minerals into strategic technology products
On the afternoon of August 3, the Provincial People's Committee held a Conference on the Development of Deep Mineral Processing Industry in Thai Nguyen Province for the 2026 - 2030 period, with a vision toward 2050. The Conference was attended by Comrades: Trinh Xuan Truong, Member of the Party Central Executive Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Vuong Quoc Tuan, Member of the Party Central Executive Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Thi Loan, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee; Duong Van Luong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; and leaders of departments, boards, sectors, associations, and enterprises engaged in the exploitation and processing of metallic minerals and energy in the province.
Scene of the Conference
Delivering direction-setting remarks at the Conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan emphasized that this is a Conference of special significance, likened to a "Dien Hong Conference" for the minerals sector, aimed at unifying thinking, unlocking resources, and realizing the Government's policy through concrete results. He stated that the exploitation and processing of minerals in Thai Nguyen needs to shift strongly toward selecting strategic products, creating high added value through deep processing, and turning minerals into input materials for modern technology industries. According to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the strategy for developing the deep mineral processing industry will be one of three important pillars for forming the province's future ecosystem for producing strategic technology products.
According to documents on the adjustment of the Group I Mineral Planning, Thai Nguyen has been planned for the exploitation of 7 main types of minerals, including: coal, titanium, lead-zinc, iron, tin, tungsten, and gold, with 80 mine sites, 60 exploration schemes, and 88 exploitation projects. This is an important resource, forming the foundation for developing the mining and deep processing industry in a modern direction. To date, the province has formed a relatively diverse network of factories and processing facilities for most key mineral types, gradually raising the technology content and added value of products. Each year, mines in the province supply more than 3.5 million tons of polymetallic tungsten ore, over 1.1 million tons of iron ore, more than 700,000 tons of coal, about 360,000 tons of lead-zinc ore, along with hundreds of thousands of tons of titanium and many other minerals to meet raw material demand for domestic production and export.
Based on an assessment of the potential and advantages of each mineral type, Thai Nguyen is directing the development of the deep processing industry along three strategic value chains, including: the high-technology tungsten materials chain; the metallurgy and lead-zinc materials chain; and the titanium materials and new technology products chain. These are identified as important pillars of the deep processing industry, helping to promote the development of mechanical manufacturing, supporting industries, electronics, new materials, and high technology, gradually raising the value of the locality's mineral resources.
Delegates discussing
Discussing at the Conference, enterprises shared experience and introduced their advanced technologies, while proposing many solutions to improve resource use efficiency, develop high-value-added products, and gradually participate more deeply in the supply chains of high-technology industries.
Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Trinh Xuan Truong delivers remarks
Speaking at the Conference, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Trinh Xuan Truong emphasized that Thai Nguyen has many advantages for developing the deep mineral processing industry, with a favorable location, a developed industrial base, and abundant mineral resources. However, the added value from mineral exploitation and its contribution to the budget have not yet matched the province's potential. Therefore, enterprises need to shift strongly from exploitation to deep processing, applying science and technology to raise the value of resources, especially for minerals of strategic significance related to national security, such as tungsten.
He expressed strong agreement with the development direction of the Provincial People's Committee, while calling for continued improvement of mechanisms and policies, removal of bottlenecks, and strengthened management and supervision of investment activities to create favorable conditions for enterprise development. Alongside the province's support, enterprises also need long-term investment strategies and efficient resource exploitation and use, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development.
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan delivers remarks
Speaking at the Conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan said that after the Conference, the province will study the establishment of Thai Nguyen Mineral Exploitation and Processing Enterprise Association to strengthen connections, exchange experience, promote cooperation among enterprises, and jointly realize new development directions. According to him, the requirement now is to shift from a mindset of mineral exploitation to a mindset of product development, viewing deep processing not merely as refining raw materials but as aiming to create high-value-added technology products that participate deeply in the supply chains of modern industries.
He requested that departments and sectors coordinate with enterprises to study and select a number of potential fields and products for concentrated investment, forming strategic technology products from the province's mineral resources. Setting requirements based on the market and the final product will itself create the impetus for technological innovation, enhance processing capacity, and form new value chains.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that the province will enable enterprises to invest in deep processing projects, and will encourage joint ventures and partnerships with domestic and foreign partners to access advanced technology and expand markets, while still ensuring requirements on economic security and resource management. For investment projects oriented toward deep processing that create high-technology products, the province will study appropriate support solutions, while also changing its management approach toward prioritizing efficient use of resources rather than merely expanding extraction. In addition, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee required a comprehensive review of environmental issues at mining areas, dump sites, and mine waste containment reservoirs, and the development of specific treatment plans for each enterprise. He assigned the Department of Industry and Trade to take the lead in finalizing the province's Plan for Developing the Deep Mineral Processing Industry, based on fully incorporating opinions given at the Conference, and to develop a plan to survey and learn from localities and enterprises with effective deep processing models in order to update technology, broaden development thinking, and work toward the goal of creating strategic technology products from Thai Nguyen's own mineral resources.