Coal industry to export 19.5 million tonnes

Hanoi (VNA) - Targets have been set to excavate 41 million tonnes of coal
this year, almost half of which will be exported, said the Ministry of
Industry and Trade.

Domestic demand will swallow up the remaining 21.5 million tonnes. The power
industry will need 8.4 million tonnes - more than any other sector. Cement makers
will use 5.6 million tonnes.

Fertilise and paper production will use 400,0000 and 200,000 tonnes respectively,
according to the ministry's estimates.

There will be a clamp down on coal smuggling and coal production will be speeded
up. Both measures have been recommended by the ministry to meet the ambitious
targets.

Last year's coal output reached 40 million tonnes, according to the General
Statistics Office. As with this year, almost half was exported.

The country has planned to gradually cut coal exports to meet rising domestic
demands.

Power plant consumption alone is expected to more than double to 15.3 million
tonnes by 2010 from around 6.5 million last year as more plants spring up around
the country.

Vietnam has so far planned to build 13 large-scale, coal-fired power plants
in the next seven years to meet soaring electricity demands.

To have enough fuel for the plants, it was concerned that power plants in the
country's central and southern regions might have to use imported coal, and that
most would come from Indonesia and Australia .

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has warned that the country could face coal
shortages in the future. Domestic coal production in 2010, 2015, 2020 and 2025 has
been forecast at 47, 60, 70 and 80 million tonnes respectively. Local demand in
the coming years could grow to 37, 94,184 and 308 million tonnes, the ministry
estimated.

The country would therefore have to import large quantities of coal from 2010 to
2025, the ministry said.-Enditem