Vietnam Not Have to Import Coal from 2012 but 2015

Vietnam may not have to import coal from 2012 as earlier forecast but from end-2015 or early 2016, said Deputy General Director of the state-owned Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) Vu Manh Hung.

Slow construction pace of many coal-fired power plants, including Vung Ang 1, Mong Duong 1, Mong Duong 2, Thang Long, Vinh Tan 1, Nghi Son 2 and Quang Ninh 2 will cool down the country’s coal demand in the next years, according to Mr. Hung.

He attributed that the government estimates the nation would lack five million tons of coal by 2015.

Earlier, Vietnam is forecast to fall short of 6.7 million tons of coal by 2015 and 27 million tons by 2020; and will have to start importing coal from 2012 and its total import volume will be 34 million tons of coal by 2015, 114 million tons by 2020 and 228 million tons by 2025.

The Southeast Asian nation is still trying to increase coal exports despite the shortfall forecast and it could hardly import coal from 2015 due to capital shortage and fierce competition to win import orders in the world.

Laodong

Tags: Vietnam coal import, Vietnam mining