More efforts needed to popularise use of crushed sand as an alternative to natural sand

An illegal sand mining site on the SeSan River in central Gia Lai Province. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI - As Việt Nam's natural sand deposits deplete rapidly, more efforts should be made to encourage the use of crushed sand, said industry experts and scientists.

Director of the Building Materials Department under the Ministry of Construction, Lê Trung Thành, said construction companies typically use two types of sand. The first type is used for concrete and mortar, with a consumption capacity of over 100 million cubic metres per year. The second type is sand used in construction and transport projects, which accounts for a significantly larger volume of consumption.

In Việt Nam there are over 330 river sand mines with a combined reserve of nearly 2,100 million cubic metres, however, they can only meet around 40 per cent of demand.

He said crushed sand can replace natural sand in concrete and mortar. It can be produced from several source materials, including waste and by-products from other industries. Given that natural sand deposits have been quickly depleted, replacing natural sand with crush sand seems only logical. Crushed sand offers numerous advantages over natural sand thanks to its uniformity in size, purity and strength.

However, consumers have yet to embrace the new material. The costs to set up a production line, typically around half a million to a million dollars, also discourage companies from investing.

Deputy director of Nghi Sơn 36 Joint Stock Company Trịnh Đình Sáng said the company's crushed sand production line was designed with a capacity of 90-120 cubic metres per hour. They are currently only able to run their lines for eight hours a day, mainly for their consumption. Due to low demand, longer production hours will likely result in excess inventory.

He said large sand buyers such as brick makers have yet to switch to crushed sand, largely because of the current preference for natural sand. Ironically, Nghi Sơn 36's fresh concrete products, made using crushed sand, are generally considered good quality. Several companies have been developing alternatives to natural sand in recent years, offering cheaper and more environmentally friendly materials.

Industry insiders and economists have long voiced concerns over a lack of support policies, including financial support in helping crushed sand gain popularity.

Vice President and secretary-general of the Vietnam Association for Building Materials Thái Duy Sâm, said governmental agencies could play a crucial role in encouraging businesses and the public to use crushed sand.

Meanwhile, stronger law-enforcement efforts are required to limit and stop the illegal exploitation of Việt Nam's natural sand deposits, preferably with stricter penalties for offers, he said.