Viet Nam will become a coal importer in 2017 of 2.3 million tonnes for domestic electricity production, according to Nguyen Tien Chinh from the Viet Nam Mining Science and Technology Association (VIMA).

He made this declaration at an energy conference hosted in Ha Noi on December 3.

The conference aims to find solutions for the management of science and application of advanced technologies for petroleum and coal mining in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam will become a coal importer in 2017

Currently, the country's total coal reserve is about 47 billion tones. Of this figure, the reliable coal reserve is about 3.9 billion tones, said Le Van Duan, Deputy Director of the VINACOMIN Industry Investment Consulting JSC.

By 2025, the volume of coal imports will be about 48 million tonnes and in 2030 about 80 million tonnes, according to Chinh.

He said that Viet Nam could import from major coal export countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Russia or South Africa, but each country has its own problems.

Therefore, in order to provide a stable coal supply for domestic products, Viet Nam should build and organise an import policy and strategy, he concluded.

(Source: VNA)