Vietnam News Agency reported that the coal mining industry has set a target of pairing its activities with environmental protection while ensuring national energy security for socio economic development.

The target was raised in the Coal Industry Development Plan to 2020 with a vision to 2030 which was recently approved by the Prime Minister. Under the plan, all coal mining areas throughout the country to 2020 would meet environmental protection standards in an effort to preserve the surrounding ecology. The volume of annual coal exploitation was also expected to increase year by year.

This year's yield target is 47 million tonnes and is expected to increase by 40% in 2020 and by 60% in 2030. A large proportion of the yield will be used to generate electricity.

Under the plan, a geological survey of the two biggest coal basins in the north eastern region, including Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Hai Duong provinces and in the Hong (Red) River Delta, which includes Thai Binh, Hung Yen and Nam Dinh provinces, will be enhanced to explore potential coal mines.

The industry also targeted a gradual reduction in coal exports while also seeking import sources to ensure the country is well prepared for its long term energy security.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in order to achieve the goals, the industry needed more than VND 690.9 trillion for development of the industry to 2030.

The investment would cover mine and road upgrades and installations as well as road, railway and conveyer belt systems to serve coal exploitation activities.

Viet Nam's total coal reserve is estimated to be 48.7 billion tonnes, about 15% of which is targeted for exploitation by 2030. More than 130 coal mines are expected to be operational during the period.

(Sourced from Vietnam News Agency)