France supports Viet Nam in environmental management for mining sector

Stragic cooperation in mining sector

As Viet Nam accelerates the development of strategic minerals to support the energy transition and industrial growth, sustainable development is becoming an increasingly urgent requirement for the mining sector. France has positioned itself as a key partner in this process through technical assistance, cooperation on environmental governance, and the sharing of mining technologies.

According to French Ambassador to Viet Nam Olivier Brochet, stronger France-Viet Nam cooperation in strategic minerals, innovation, and emerging technologies forms part of the commitments under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between the two countries on October 7, 2024.

The ambassador said the cooperation is being implemented through a technical assistance program led by the French Geological Survey (BRGM), aimed at supporting the Department of Geology and Minerals of Viet Nam (DGMV) in areas including mining regulations, mining industry governance, environmental impact mitigation, and circular economy development.

In October 2026, Business France is expected to organize the “French Sustainable Mining Days” mission, bringing French companies to Viet Nam and Australia to promote cooperation on sustainable mining governance.

Through specialized workshops, BRGM has shared with Vietnamese counterparts a range of technologies and experiences currently applied in France, including geological data management systems, mineral resource management, and environmental protection solutions.

“France was once a major mining nation and possesses longstanding expertise in geological and mineral resource management and extraction, in both the public and private sectors. France stands ready to share this expertise with Viet Nam,” Ambassador Olivier Brochet said.

He added that bilateral cooperation in the sector still holds considerable potential for expansion, particularly with stronger private-sector participation.

Lessons from France’s post-mining environmental management experience

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the workshop “The Environment in the Mine’s Cycle of Life” held on April 22 during Mining & Construction Viet Nam 2026, Dr. Gael Bellenfant of BRGM said current cooperation between the two countries focuses on mining regulations, mining industry management, and especially environmental impact reduction within the context of a circular economy.

The event forms part of a technical cooperation program between BRGM and Viet Nam funded through France’s FEXTE facility under the Ministry for the Economy and Finance and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, officially launched in September 2025.

According to Dr. Bellenfant, France’s experience shows that many serious environmental risks emerge after mine closure, particularly those related to wastewater, tailings, and residential planning around mining areas.

“The approach we use emphasizes preventing risks from the outset rather than intervening after incidents occur. Environmental management must cover the entire life cycle of a mine, rather than focusing solely on the extraction phase,” he said.

He argued that environmental considerations must be integrated from the exploration and mine-planning stages onward. Urban planning and land-use management should also be closely coordinated with mining maps to avoid residential development in areas vulnerable to pollution or land subsidence.

According to the BRGM expert, the mining industry’s two biggest environmental challenges today are wastewater management and mining waste treatment.

BRGM is currently sharing several mining waste treatment technologies with Viet Nam, including dewatering processes that increase the dryness of mining sludge. The solution helps reduce pollution risks and improves conditions for long-term storage. The separated water is then treated further to remove contaminants before being discharged into the environment.

Dr. Bellenfant also praised Viet Nam’s efforts to promote a circular economy. Reusing or repurposing mining waste, he said, not only reduces environmental pressure but also creates additional economic value.

On mine closure policies, he said environmental restoration plans should be developed from the moment mining licenses are granted and accompanied by stricter monitoring mechanisms.

Need for stronger monitoring and climate adaptation

According to BRGM, recent discussions with Vietnamese authorities have highlighted the need to strengthen auditing, inspection, and environmental monitoring capacity in the mining sector.

Currently, environmental audits in Viet Nam are mainly associated with projects involving foreign investors, while domestic specialists still require additional training to effectively oversee mining operations. Viet Nam is also undergoing a transition in the implementation of environmental restoration deposit mechanisms for mining companies.

This mechanism is considered an important financial tool to ensure sufficient resources are available to address environmental impacts after mine closure.

Older mines established before the policy was introduced are not subject to the mechanism. As a result, Viet Nam remains in a transitional phase and continues to refine the system. Climate change impacts, including heavy rainfall, storms, and extreme weather events, also need to be more fully integrated into mining operations and post-closure management.

According to Dr. Bellenfant, Viet Nam must better incorporate the effects of climate change into the entire mining and post-mining management process.

AFD supports Viet Nam’s sustainable mining development

Pierrel Hugo said cooperation in the mining sector falls within the framework of the enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between France and Viet Nam.

The French Development Agency (AFD) has operated in Viet Nam since 1994 and has financed numerous projects related to infrastructure, climate adaptation, water resource management, energy transition, and sustainable transportation.

In the mining sector, AFD prioritizes technical assistance, experience sharing, and the dissemination of environmental governance standards aligned with European practices.

“Viet Nam has considerable potential in strategic minerals. If developed effectively and sustainably, the sector could make a major contribution to economic growth and the energy transition,” Pierrel Hugo said.

According to the AFD representative, France’s goal is to help Viet Nam integrate environmental standards from the exploration stage in order to minimize future remediation costs.

AFD is also considering technical cooperation with major state-owned mining enterprises such as Vinacomin, particularly on projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

“Mining is an energy-intensive industry. Improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions will help Viet Nam achieve its carbon neutrality goals,” Hugo said.