Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung issued a circular banning export of certain minerals to deal with the increasing violations in mineral exploration, processing and export.

The PM requested a moritorium be placed on the export of iron, copper, lead, chromite, mangan and apatite ores. The only ore which will be allowed to be exported will be refined illmenite, by the end of June 2012. 

In addition, the Government will stop the licensing of new bauxite exploration projects in northern regions, as well as titanium-zirco and stream gold exploration projects.

A large number of licenses have been given to mineral exploitation and processing projects, however many of them do not operate efficiently.

Many localities continue to violate regulations on labour safety and environmental protection rules for mineral exploitation. 

The PM has urged localities to take drastic actions to protect untapped minerals and close mines which do not operate effectively or cause serious environmental hazards.