French experience and directions for Vietnam

Within the framework of the Mining & Construction Vietnam 2026 international exhibition on mining technology and mineral recovery, held from April 21 to 23, 2026 in Hanoi, the French Embassy worked with the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) and the Vietnam Department of Geology and Minerals to organise a thematic workshop  on environmental aspects of the mining lifecycle.

The workshop provided a comprehensive analysis of environmental factors and risks throughout the mining lifecycle, from exploration and extraction to mine closure and environmental restoration. This is seen as a comprehensive approach aimed at minimising negative impacts and moving towards sustainable mining, in line with circular economy trends.

In his remarks at the workshop, Gaël Bellenfant, an expert from BRGM, said cooperation between France and Vietnam in the mining sector is being implemented across a variety of areas, including improving mining regulations, strengthening mine management capacity and, in particular, reducing environmental impacts in the context of a circular economy.

In particular, he said a notable feature of France’s approach is not only focusing on the extraction phase but managing environmental issues throughout the entire lifecycle of a mine. In practice, many serious environmental risks arise after mine closure, involving wastewater, tailings and residential planning around mining areas.

“Our approach emphasises preventing risks from the very beginning, rather than addressing them after incidents occur. This is an important difference, helping to reduce remediation costs and limit long-term environmental and social impacts,” he said.

Drawing from practical experience in France, he also laid stress on the need to integrate environmental management from the exploration and planning stages. At the same time, land-use planning and urban development should be aligned with mining maps to avoid building residential areas in zones at risk of pollution or subsidence caused by former mines.

Accordingly, in France there have been cases where residential areas have been built near former mining sites, leading to significant costs to ensure safety and deal with environmental issues. This is an important lesson for countries developing their mining sectors such as Vietnam.

He also pointed out two major environmental challenges facing Vietnam’s mining sector, namely the management of mine wastewater and the treatment of mining waste. To address this issue, BRGM has shared advanced technologies, including processes to remove water from mining waste to increase sludge dryness, thereby reducing pollution risks and facilitating long-term storage.

Sustainable cooperation in mining

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet said strengthening cooperation between France and Vietnam in strategic minerals, as well as innovation and new technologies, is an important part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, established on October 7, 2024.

This commitment is being implemented through a technical assistance programme carried out by BRGM, aimed at enhancing Vietnam’s capacity in areas such as developing mining regulations, managing the mining industry and reducing environmental impacts.

According to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, France has a long history in mining and is ready to share expertise with Vietnam, particularly in geological and mineral resource management. Through thematic workshops, BRGM has introduced various technological solutions, including advanced data management and processing methods, helping to promote Vietnam’s capacity for self-reliant resource management while ensuring environmental protection requirements.

Pierrel Hugo, Deputy Director of the French Development Agency (AFD), said cooperation in mining is part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. AFD has been present in Vietnam since 1994 and has financed projects in infrastructure development, climate change adaptation, water resource management, energy transition and sustainable transport.

In the mining sector, AFD prioritises technical support, experience sharing and promoting the application of environmental management standards in line with European standards.

According to Hugo, Vietnam boast huge  potential in strategic minerals. If developed efficiently and sustainably, the sector could contribute to economic growth and the energy transition. However, integrating environmental standards from the outset is key to minimising future remediation costs.

AFD is currently considering technical cooperation with major Vietnamese mining enterprises, including the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), particularly in projects to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

According to the French Embassy in Vietnam, the technical assistance programme between BRGM and the Vietnam Department of Geology and Minerals was launched in September 2025. After one year of implementation, the programme has become a key pillar in bilateral cooperation.

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