Coal industry urged to provide enough coal for economic development

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corp., Ltd., (Vinacomin) needs to live up to its main duty of coal supply to serve the country’s socio-economic development, said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at a conference in Hanoi on January 9.

He pointed out that the demand for coal has increased, especially for electricity production.

It is estimated that Vietnam needs 58 million tonnes of coal for electricity generation in 2019, 90 million tonnes in 2025 and 130 million tonnes in 2030, he said.

According to the Deputy PM, although the group faces many difficulties in production, it still strives to create breakthroughs in improving the quality of coal through renovating production technology and promoting mechanisation. It has also paid attention to protecting the environment and saving human resources.

Dung stressed the need for Vinacomin to continue effectively implementing bauxite projects in connection with protecting the environment and promoting development in relevant localities, as well as taking comprehensive measures related to labour safety, noting that these should be its top priorities in coal production.

Speaking at the event, Vinacomin General Director Dang Thanh Hai said the group will focus on boosting innovative technology, perfecting its management mechanism, streamlining personnel, enhancing mechanisation and automation to increase productivity, reduce production costs, and improve competitiveness, thus promoting effective and sustainable growth.

The group set to produce 40 million tonnes of coal and earn 128 trillion VND (5.51 billion USD) in revenue in 2019. Its mineral mining, electricity and mechanical production, and business  activities  are expected to see stable growth.

Hai said the firm has directed its units to review and build detailed plans, aiming to improve the effectiveness of production and business in early 2019.

It will have to import an estimated 4 million tonnes of coal to ensure an adequate supply of coal to customers under signed contracts.

Vinacomin will strive to exceed current coal production by 15.5 percent by means of mechanisation, he said, adding that it will use large-capacity equipment and automatic control systems in open-cast mining and transport activities.

Vinacomin produced 16.95 million tonnes of coal in 2018, equal to 104 percent of the set plan. It sold 40 million tonnes last year, 4 million tonnes higher than the plan, and a year-on-year increase of 5 million tonnes.

The group produced and sold 1.31 million tonnes of aluminium over the year, representing a yearly rise of 170,000 tonnes. The export turnover of aluminium was 520 million USD. The company’s electricity output was 9.4 billion kWh, equivalent to 100 percent of the plan set for the year. –VNA