Vietnam is now likely to import coal only from 2015, not 2013 asearlier forecast since many thermal power plants have fallen behindschedule.
The steering committee managing coal imports said, however, that firmsshould start looking for foreign coal suppliers immediately to ensurethere is no delay.
"Besides Australia and Indonesia,Vietnam can also source coal from Russia by buying stakes in minesthere or purchasing the right to mine or buy coal," Nguyen Manh Quan, amember of the committee and the head of the Heavy Industry Department,said.
But he was unsure if power-plant investors would begin looking for coal sources any time soon.
Tran Chien Thang, deputy general director of the Vietnam National Coaland Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), said the Government hadtasked his firm with importing coal for power plants but no investor haddiscussed the issue yet.
"Enterprises, especiallyState-owned ones, prefer local sources because costs are partlysubsidised by the Government," Quan said.
A privatefirm recently signed an agreement with a foreign supplier to buy coalfor 20 years and was willing to import more to supply other companies,Ta Van Huong, director of the Energy Department, said.
An Vien Group and VinCom Group informed the Ministry of Industry Tradethat they could help local firms source coal from Russia, Minister ofIndustry and Trade Le Duong Quang said.
However,more companies can enter the coal import business as long as they followGovernment rules, according to the ministry .
The steering committee will draft a legal framework to regulate coal imports.
It is not clear yet but Vietnam may have to import between 3 millionand 15 million tonnes of coal a year by 2015 – and 21 million to 40million by 2020 – as more and more coal-fired power plants are built,Vinacomin has said./.
The steering committee managing coal imports said, however, that firmsshould start looking for foreign coal suppliers immediately to ensurethere is no delay.
"Besides Australia and Indonesia,Vietnam can also source coal from Russia by buying stakes in minesthere or purchasing the right to mine or buy coal," Nguyen Manh Quan, amember of the committee and the head of the Heavy Industry Department,said.
But he was unsure if power-plant investors would begin looking for coal sources any time soon.
Tran Chien Thang, deputy general director of the Vietnam National Coaland Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), said the Government hadtasked his firm with importing coal for power plants but no investor haddiscussed the issue yet.
"Enterprises, especiallyState-owned ones, prefer local sources because costs are partlysubsidised by the Government," Quan said.
A privatefirm recently signed an agreement with a foreign supplier to buy coalfor 20 years and was willing to import more to supply other companies,Ta Van Huong, director of the Energy Department, said.
An Vien Group and VinCom Group informed the Ministry of Industry Tradethat they could help local firms source coal from Russia, Minister ofIndustry and Trade Le Duong Quang said.
However,more companies can enter the coal import business as long as they followGovernment rules, according to the ministry .
The steering committee will draft a legal framework to regulate coal imports.
It is not clear yet but Vietnam may have to import between 3 millionand 15 million tonnes of coal a year by 2015 – and 21 million to 40million by 2020 – as more and more coal-fired power plants are built,Vinacomin has said./.
