Limestone plateau in central Vietnam defaced for cement production

Hundreds of limestone mountains, which are considered Ha Long Bay on land, in the central province of Quang Binh, have been ‘slaughtered’ to provide materials for cement production.

Although local provincial authorities admit they regret the loss of the iconic landscape, the exploitation of limestone there takes place every day by both legal and illegal miners.

Several scenic mountains, such as Cay Tro standing by national highway 12A in Thach Hoa Commune of Tuyen Hoa District, have been gnawed away in recent years.

Almost 100 mountains in the limestone plateau in Quang Binh have disappeared or been distorted in the past ten years.

Ruins

Two districts, Tuyen Hoa and Minh Hoa, are the most densely ‘dotted’ with karst mountains in Quang Binh Province, and they have suffered the most.

Tuyen Hoa has 15 limestone mines in operation, meaning that 15 mountains are being ‘slaughtered’. Just a two-kilometer road section from Chau Hoa to Thach Hoa in Tuyen Hoa has six operational limestone mines.

The largest mine - Len Bang - Len Na,in  Tien Hoa Commune, covers an area of 24 hectares. Len Bang and Len Na are also the two largest mountains in the area.

The Coserco 1 Company was granted a license in 2006 to exploit the mine at Len Bang – Len Na by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The mountains have estimated reserves of 24 million tons of limestone.

The material is mainly used to supply materials for the Song Gianh cement plant, just 100 meters from the mine.

The mine was licensed for a period of 30 years.

“It’s heart-rending to see the iconic Len Bang and Len Na mountains deformed,” said Nguyen Xuan Vanh, a resident of Bau 1 Hamlet in Tien Hoa. “Seeing the mountains slaughtered, I feel pain as if my bowels were cut into pieces.”

For centuries, Len Bang Mountain has acted as a shield to protect this hamlet from strong winds and storms, he added.

“I don’t understand why local authorities focus on mountains located by the highway to grant licenses for exploitation. It has caused traffic jams, the loss of scenery and environmental pollution,” said a local resident in Thach Hoa Commune.

Illegal exploitation

The area between Phuc Trach and Son Trach communes near Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park has been the ‘home’ of illegal stone exploitation for many years.

Though a sign posted by the road leading to Phuc Trach states, “Stone exploitation strictly banned”, Tuoi Tre journalists saw trucks loaded with stone rolling down the street.

The road leads to an illegal exploitation site spanning 20 karst mountains in the commune.

From afar, the green vegetation covering the mountains is dotted with bare sections from stone exploitation.

They even bring stone grinding machines to the foot of the mountains to aid the mining, even it is completely banned.

Hoang Minh De, chairman of the People’s Committee of Tuyen Hoa District, admitted, “I feel regret for the loss of the mountains, but it’s too late now.”

With the provincial authorities of Quang Binh defending the exploitation for its economic benefits, Luong Van Luyen, director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Quang Binh, argued that, “Economic development is necessary but it should be balanced with preserving natural landscapes.”

Currently, Quang Binh Province has over 50 operational limestone mines.

Doctor Nguyen Hieu, head of the geography department of the Natural Sciences University at the Hanoi National University, said the limestone mountains possess great geological and archaeological value.

A survey found that beneath the mountains is a network of subterranean caves with a total length of 176kms.

The exploitation of the mountains may lead to the destruction of the caves, which have not been fully explored and studied, he added.