MAREX - Management of the Exploration of Mineral Resources in the Hoa Binh Province - Contribution to Sustainable Development in Vietnam

Vietnam is a fast developing country with a strong economic growth. Mining is a sector of high importance as raw material extraction provides a basis for the processing industry, for energy supply, and for the construction sector. The share of mining industry is 11 % of the Vietnamese GDP (2011). However, like many other resources rich countries, Vietnam is currently experiencing a severe threat to its natural environment due to increasing mining activities.

Urbanization is the crucial driving force for the increasing demand of building material and related activities in extraction of stones, gravel and sand. According to assumptions, the urban population in Vietnam is expected to increase from approximately 30% in 2013 to more than 50% in 2025.

MAREX is a joint German-Vietnamese project in interdisciplinary applied science of spatial development. The main objective of the project is to improve the management of mineral resources in Vietnam and to contribute to Vietnam’s Sustainable Development Strategy.

The project exposes the growth of Megacities and its impacts on the environment. Scientific investigations are directed on the building industry based on local finite resources, taking into consideration all related activities like extraction and processing of raw materials, transport, building sector as well as potential recycling of construction and demolition waste. The Metropolitan region of Hanoi and Hoa Binh Province serve as a comprehensive model basis for wider application within and outside of Vietnam.
Project MAREX is subdivided into 4 topic-oriented MODULES that are further explained in this section. Please get detailed information on the modules:
Module 1: Environmental monitoring of mining activities
Module 2: Cleaner Production Technologies
Module 3: Material Flow Analysis
Module 4: Management of mining and raw materials