Latest news with #NaturalResourcesandEnvironment
Int'l Business Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Vietnam Jails 23 People Over Rare Earths Exploitation
A Vietnamese court on Wednesday jailed 23 officials and business people over the illegal exploitation and export of rare earths. The trial comes after the US Geological Survey (USGS) this year significantly revised down its estimate of rare earth deposits in Vietnam, which it once considered the world's second largest. The nine-day trial in Hanoi saw verdicts handed down to 27 defendants, including former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Linh Ngoc, who was given three years in jail for "violating state regulations causing wastefulness". Others were given a range of prison sentences -- with 16 years being the highest -- for a number of offences, including violation of regulations on natural resources exploitation and causing environmental pollution. Four people were given suspended sentences. According to the court, the case concerning the exploitation, trade and export of mineral resources was "especially serious". The court said that a firm called Thai Duong Company was unlawfully granted a mining licence for rare earth exploitation in Yen Phu mine in northern mountainous Yen Bai province between 2019 and 2023. Defendants involved -- including environment officials as well as chief accountants and executives at various companies -- sold the rare earths and iron ore from the mine for close to $30 million, much of it to China. USGS slashed this year its estimate of Vietnam's rare earth reserves from an estimated 22 million tons to 3.5 million, threatening its ambitions to compete with Beijing in a sector crucial to high-tech devices. The revision meant the country dropped from the world's second largest reserve holder to the sixth, behind China, Brazil, India, Australia and Russia. USGS describes mineral reserves data as "dynamic". Reserves may be reduced as ore is mined or the feasibility of extraction diminishes, or they may continue to increase as additional deposits are developed, USGS says. Rare earths are a group of 17 heavy metals that are abundant in the Earth's crust across the globe. But mining the metals requires heavy chemical use that results in huge amounts of toxic waste and has caused several environmental disasters, making many countries wary of shouldering the heavy financial costs for production. Each of the rare earths is used in industry and found in a variety of everyday and high-tech devices, from light bulbs to guided missiles.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vietnam jails 23 people over rare earths exploitation
A Vietnamese court on Wednesday jailed 23 officials and business people over the illegal exploitation and export of rare earths. The trial comes after the US Geological Survey (USGS) this year significantly revised down its estimate of rare earth deposits in Vietnam, which it once considered the world's second largest. The nine-day trial in Hanoi saw verdicts handed down to 27 defendants, including former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Linh Ngoc, who was given three years in jail for "violating state regulations causing wastefulness". Others were given a range of prison sentences -- with 16 years being the highest -- for a number of offences, including violation of regulations on natural resources exploitation and causing environmental pollution. Four people were given suspended sentences. According to the court, the case concerning the exploitation, trade and export of mineral resources was "especially serious". The court said that a firm called Thai Duong Company was unlawfully granted a mining licence for rare earth exploitation in Yen Phu mine in northern mountainous Yen Bai province between 2019 and 2023. Defendants involved -- including environment officials as well as chief accountants and executives at various companies -- sold the rare earths and iron ore from the mine for close to $30 million, much of it to China. USGS slashed this year its estimate of Vietnam's rare earth reserves from an estimated 22 million tons to 3.5 million, threatening its ambitions to compete with Beijing in a sector crucial to high-tech devices. The revision meant the country dropped from the world's second largest reserve holder to the sixth, behind China, Brazil, India, Australia and Russia. USGS describes mineral reserves data as "dynamic". Reserves may be reduced as ore is mined or the feasibility of extraction diminishes, or they may continue to increase as additional deposits are developed, USGS says. Rare earths are a group of 17 heavy metals that are abundant in the Earth's crust across the globe. But mining the metals requires heavy chemical use that results in huge amounts of toxic waste and has caused several environmental disasters, making many countries wary of shouldering the heavy financial costs for production. Each of the rare earths is used in industry and found in a variety of everyday and high-tech devices, from light bulbs to guided missiles. tmh/aph/pdw/tc
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Wildlife ranger drowns trying to retrieve British tourist's phone after he dropped it into underground stream in Thailand
A wildlife ranger drowned while trying to retrieve a British tourist's phone after he dropped it into an underground stream in Thailand. Paisan Wanphet, 43, plunged into the cold waters to retrieve the gadget when it slipped from the tourist's hand as they trekked through the Tham Sao Hin cave. He donned safety gear and dived into the stream in total the darkness to search for the smartphone. However, the father-of-two was said to have suffered leg cramps while swimming and was swept away by the fast-flowing currents. As the situation escalated, around 120 tourists were guided out of the cave by fellow rangers. Rescue teams arrived at the tourist spot in Kanchanaburi on April 15, after the Thai worker failed to resurface. They searched the swirling depths for several hours before finding his body wedged between rocks 20ft underwater at 10pm local time. Footage shows emergency service personnel in life vests carrying Paisan's body out of the cave as the water roared around them. Chutidet Kamanonchanut, Director of the Conservation Area Management, said: 'At around 9pm, divers located Mr Paisarn's body trapped in a rock crevice deep in the Sao Hin Cave. Rescue teams searched the swirling depths for several hours before finding his body wedged between rocks 20ft underwater at 9pm local time 'Due to the darkness, heavy rain, and the steep terrain leading out of the cave, it was extremely difficult for the rescue team to retrieve the body. 'They were finally able to remove it at around 2:30am on April 16, before transferring it to Thong Pha Phum Hospital. 'His family were notified and they raised no objections about the cause of death.' Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, extended his condolences to the ranger's family. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will provide £13,000 of financial assistance to Paisan's relatives following the tragic incident. The Tham Sao Hin cave and the Tham Nok Nang Aen cave in the same national park have been closed following the incident. Authorities said forecast heavy rains had likely raised the water levels inside, sparking fears of flash floods. Tham Sao Hin is a prominent limestone cave within the Lam Khlong Ngu National Park in Kanchanaburi. It is known for its towering 200ft limestone column - said to be among the tallest in the world - and other geologic formations inside the cavern. However, conditions in the cave can become extremely dangerous during the rainy season from April to October when heavy downpours fill the caverns and make the rock surfaces slippery.
