AsemconnectVietnam - Decree No. 21/2026/ND-CP amends and supplements many important regulations on the conditions, dossiers, and authority for granting mineral exploitation licenses.

The Government has just issued Decree No. 21/2026/ND-CP amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 193/2025/ND-CP detailing the implementation of the Law on Geology and Minerals. The Decree focuses on improving regulations related to the conditions, dossiers, and authority for granting mineral exploitation licenses.
Improving the legal framework for licensing Group III minerals for construction materials
Accordingly, Decree No. 21/2026/ND-CP has amended and supplemented Article 61 of Decree No. 193/2025/ND-CP on granting mineral exploitation licenses. Notably, the decree supplements regulations specifically regarding the conditions for granting licenses to exploit Group III minerals used as common construction materials, serving projects as stipulated in Clause 1a, Article 55 of the Law on Geology and Minerals.
Specifically, organizations and individuals will be considered for mineral exploitation licenses when they fully meet the conditions under the Law on Geology and Minerals, ensuring they have the legal right to use information and results of mineral exploration; and possess documentation proving their financial capacity to implement the mineral exploitation investment project as prescribed.
In addition, the mineral exploitation project must be approved by the competent authority or have an investment policy decision in cases where the law on investment, public investment, or investment under the public-private partnership method requires it; and must have completed all environmental procedures, including approval of the environmental impact assessment report or the issuance of an environmental permit as prescribed.
For the exploitation of radioactive minerals or minerals containing accompanying radioactive substances, organizations and individuals must also obtain written opinions from competent authorities regarding the results of the safety assessment report as stipulated by the law on atomic energy.
Specifically for the issuance of licenses for the exploitation of Group III minerals used as common construction materials for key projects, the Decree stipulates additional specific conditions. Accordingly, in addition to meeting the general conditions of the Law on Geology and Minerals, organizations and individuals must have the legal right to use the results of mineral exploration; the investment project dossier must clearly state the contents regarding safety techniques, environmental protection, as well as the plan for depositing funds for environmental remediation and restoration during the exploitation process.
CK
Source: VITIC/congthuong.vn