In the first two months of this year, the coal industry made positive changes with a 4-percent increase in production and nearly 6 million tonnes consumed, contributing to fulfilling the yearly plan.

I n the reviewed period, the corporation mined 6.58 million tonnes of coal, fulfilling 17.4 percent of the yearly plan, the English-language Vietnam Economic News cited sources from the Vietnam National Coal andMineral Industries Corporation (Vinacomin) as saying.

Coal consumption in the first two months of this year reached 5.8 million tonnes. Of this, domestic consumption and exports reached 4.38 and 1.44 million tonnes, accounting for 18 percent and 16 percent of the yearly plan, respectively.

Vinacomin Deputy General Director Nguyen Van Bien said that in the period, coal supply to the power sector also strongly increased, reaching 2.64 million tonnes, an increase of 2 percent compared to the same period last year.

In addition, the supply of the mineral to the fertiliser, paper and cement sectors reached 226,000 tonnes, 24,000 tonnes and 791,000 tonnes, respectively.

According to Vinacomin, coal consumption would increase as Mong Duong II Thermal Power Plant is put into operation this month.

Vinacomin-Cam Pha Port and Logistics Company Deputy Director Nguyen Van Hoan said that the company was quite able to supply coal to Mong Duong II Thermal Power Plant. A 1.7km conveyor with a capacity of 2,400 tonnes per hour was completed in mid-January.

Hoan also said that the company adopted a temporary supply plan with an average volume of 60,000 tonnes per month for the thermal power plant. Once operational, the plant will consume about 20,000-30,000 tonnes of coal per day.

This is a major advantage for coal consumption in Cam Pha district. In addition, it will contribute to balancing energy source and improving efficiency for the national power grid.

Vinacomin has set targets of consuming 35 million tonnes of coal and reaching total revenues of 105.5 trillion VND (nearly 5 trillion USD) for 2014. In addition, the company will focus on stabilising production, promoting consumption and improving product quality.-VNA