Vietnam is a mineral supplier for the Japanese market. In 2012, Vietnam exported 1.05 million tonnes of coal to Japan. Japan has high demand for anthracite coal, and for many years, Vietnam has accounted for over 40 percent of total Japanese anthracite imports. As the major coal miner of Vietnam, Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) has continuously expanded cooperation in the coal industry with many partners from Japan.
Japan has close cooperation with Vietnam in human resource training, coal and minerals exploration and mining projects. Projects in searching and assessing coal reserves in the Red River Delta coal basin, the technology transfer in underground coal mining project; joint establishment of Khe Than coal company in Uong Bi town, Quang Ninh; building accident-free pit coal mines; and high quality limestone projects in Nghe An are just a few instances of the coal industry cooperation between the two countries.
In the process of international integration, Vinacomin has collaborated with such Japanese partners as Japan Coal Energy Centre (JCOAL), Kushiro Coal Mine (KCM) and Human Resource Company Mitsui Matsushima Co. Ltd., (MMR) and most recently the leading Marubeni Corporation.
Vinacomin focuses on developing human resources. In recent years, Japan has helped Vietnam train more than 1,200 workers and trainees and over 6,500 staff, employees and students of professional colleges for Vinacomin. The field of training focuses on the needs of Vietnam’s manufacturing sector and coal mining, such as mechanical mining, drilling, rescue techniques and safety training.
Through cooperation with Japan on personnel training, its staff has managed to improve professional knowledge, and systematize and re-test the technology being applied in Vinacomin’s mines to introduce timely improvements and better adaptation. In particular, trainees can access new knowledge in training programmes for mine design and raise awareness of workers about the importance of safety.
In addition to human resource development, the project "Improving Coal Energy and Safety in 2013" between Vinacomin, Kushiro Coal Mine (KCM) and Japan Coal Energy Centre (JCOAL), was also conducted. KCM also cooperated with Nam Mau Coal Company and Khe Tam Coal Enterprise - Ha Long Coal Company for training exploiting techniques, stone exploiting techniques, electromechanical techniques and underground drilling techniques.
Vinacomin has signed a memorandum of understanding on long-term coal supply with Japan-based Sojitz. The two companies have developed cooperation in coal trading and technical equipment supply for more than 20 years. In the coming time, Sojitz will research and propose expanded cooperation with Vinacomin in areas such as infrastructure investment, coal loading port and special equipment.
In the context of Vietnam's capital market facing many difficulties, many financial institutions and banks in Japan such as Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) are interested in investing and contributing capital to Vinacomin with valuable and preferential contracts.
Huong Ly
Vietnamese
