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It’s not that strange to import coal: MOIT
The information that Vietnam, a coal exporter, will have to import coal as of 2012 has been worrying people. However, Nguyen Khac Tho, Deputy Director of the Heavy Industry Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that it is not strange at all.
How much coal in reserve do we have?
It is estimated that the coal mine in Quang Ninh province alone has the reserves of 10bil tonnes lying at the depth of 300-1,000m. The coal reserves are much bigger in the Red River Delta.
However, coal reserves and exploitation capability are two different things. Therefore, we do not know for how much longer we can exploit coal. Maybe we will find new coal mines in the time to come, or we will be able to give exact calculations on coal reserves.
How many tonnes of coal will we exploit in 2008 and how many tonnes will we export?
Under the plan the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group submitted to MOIT, in 2008, the total volume to be exploited will be 40mil tonnes, and total exports will be 19.5mil tonnes, or 50% of the total output.
It is expected that Vietnam will become a coal importer by 2012. Could you please elaborate on this?
It is not that strange at all. In order to have 47-50mil tonnes of coal by 2010 to meet the domestic demand, Vinacomin right now has to make heavy investments in equipment and technology to raise the exploitation capacity gradually.
However, as the domestic demand still has not increased sharply, we have to export some kinds of coal, which cannot be used domestically, to get money for re-investment.
When Vietnam’s economy develops well, the demand for fuel will increase, especially coal to run thermopower plants. By that time, domestic output will not meet the demand, and we will have to feed the demand with imports.
As you have said above, we have anticipated that we will have to import coal. What should we do to prolong the time we can provide coal for ourselves?
The strategy on coal industry development by 2015 with the vision by 2025, which MOIT has submitted to the government, said that Vinacomin needs to prioritise domestic demand and gradually reduce exports in order to delay the time of import, as long as possible. It could be that the country will not have to import coal until 2015.
Determining when Vietnam will have to import coal will help Vinacomin prepare for this. It needs time to survey markets, negotiate with partners, programme the development of the coal industry.
When we import coal from overseas countries, will big coal consumers be able to seek their own partners?
Vinacomin will still act as the key regulator. It will cooperate with consumers to set up the plans to import coal annually.
VNN
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