VinMetal Ha Tinh named candidate for Thach Khe mining licence application
The selection concerns a Vietnamese iron ore project halted in 2011 over technical, economic and environmental obstacles.
VinMetal Ha Tinh Industrial JSC has been chosen to submit an iron ore mining licence application for Thach Khe in Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province. The Ministry of Industry and Trade announced the decision on October 18; the selection does not constitute the award of a licence.
The decision followed an assessment by the Department of Vietnam Geological and Mineral Resources. On September 17, VinMetal Ha Tinh JSC had filed its application with the Department for Receiving and Returning Results of Administrative Procedures under the ministry.
Thach Khe’s estimated iron ore reserves amount to about 544 million tonnes. Thach Khe Iron JSC began the mining and processing project in 2008, with investment put at approximately ₫14.5 trillion. Trials of technology and removal of overburden continued until 2011, when the project was suspended.
The suspension reflected difficulties involving technology, geology, ore transport and economic viability, alongside environmental concerns. In early May 2026, the government sought a definitive resolution of the outstanding obstacles during 2026.
VinMetal Ha Tinh was formed in May as part of Vingroup’s move into metallurgy. At establishment, Vingroup ecosystem company VinMetal Production and Trading JSC invested US$190 million for a 95 per cent holding. Nguyen Minh Hong and Dang Nhat Minh each provided ₫125 billion for stakes of 2.5 per cent. By July, VinMetal Ha Tinh’s charter capital had risen to US$360 million.
