Engineering Perspectives and Environmental Life Cycle Optimization to Enhance Aggregate Mining in Vietnam

Petra Schneider, Klaus-Dieter Oswald, Wolfgang Riedel, Andreas Meyer, Georg Schiller, Tamara Bimesmeier, Viet Anh Pham Thi and Long Nguyen Khac
Additional contact information
Petra Schneider: Department for Water, Environment, Civil Engineering and Safety, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal, Breitscheidstraße 2, D-39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Klaus-Dieter Oswald: C&E Consulting and Engineering GmbH, Jagdschänkenstrasse 52, D-09117 Chemnitz, Germany
Wolfgang Riedel: C&E Consulting and Engineering GmbH, Jagdschänkenstrasse 52, D-09117 Chemnitz, Germany
Andreas Meyer: Department for Water, Environment, Civil Engineering and Safety, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg-Stendal, Breitscheidstraße 2, D-39114 Magdeburg, Germany
Georg Schiller: Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Weberplatz 1, D-01217 Dresden, Germany
Tamara Bimesmeier: Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Weberplatz 1, D-01217 Dresden, Germany
Viet Anh Pham Thi: Department of Environmental Management, The Faculty of Environmental Sciences, VNU University of Science, 334 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, Vietnam
Long Nguyen Khac: Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Hoa Binh Province, Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoa Binh Province, 350000 Hoa Binh City, Vietnam

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: Cleaner Production (CP) addresses precautionary, site-specific environmental measures to reduce emissions and assess resource efficiency potentials at the point of origin by analyzing operational material and energy flows. The approach is generally based on the criteria quality as well as environmental/occupational health and safety, and promotes their integration. The paper presents options for applying CP to aggregate mining, based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and illustrated by results from a study of small-scale industrial aggregate mining in Hoa Binh Province (Vietnam). The regulatory framework to limit the impact of mining on the environment is largely comparable to international standards and is suitably enforced. Despite gaining experience through the practical handling of enforcement procedures over the long term, there is still a considerable potential to optimize CP strategies in Vietnam’s aggregate mining industry. This is shown by the results of a survey of aggregates mining companies in Hoa Binh Province as well as on-site data collection to determine the technological characteristics of production facilities alongside economic and environmental factors. The assessment of the survey is supported by LCA results for: (a) the existing situation; and (b) the scenario of a merging of companies, undertaken to improve the resource efficiency of the aggregate mining in Hoa Binh. Findings can help implement an integrated approach to foster the sustainable mining of building aggregates.

Keywords: cleaner production; aggregate mining; responsible mining strategies; life cycle assessment; best mining practice; material flow analysis; urbanization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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