Vietnam Govt Okays Low-quality Coal Exports

The Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) has got a nod from the government to export low-quality coal via Van Gia Port in northern Quang Ninh province, state media reported.

 

The agreement was made after a proposal by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vinacomin.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai requested in December the Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinates with Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Defense, Police, Finance, Transport, Quang Ninh Province’s People Committee and Vinacomin to build and promulgate regulations on low-quality coal exports via Van Gia Port.

 

The deputy prime minister instructed that low-quality coal export must be strictly controlled and only Vietnam’s top miner Vinacomin is allowed to ship abroad low-quality coal. Vinacomin will be in full charge of managing low-quality coal export under the regulations.

 

Low-quality coal exports must be reported to the prime minister every month.

Earlier, Vinacomin reported a large coal volume in stock, especially low-quality coal dust, which was estimated to reach up to 7 million tons.

 

Coal sales are estimated to reduce by 15.5 per cent on-year to 35 million tons in 2008 due to impacts from the world’s economic downturn, including 17.7 million tons for export, down 27 per cent on-year. (Labor, New Hanoi)