The colossal coal basin with reserves estimated at 210 billion tonnes under the Red River Delta will be harnessed to serve rising domestic demand. The State-owned Vietnam National Coal, Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) is preparing exploring and production plans to tap this huge coal basin.
Potential of a huge coalfield
Vinacomin cited explorative and analytic data as saying that the coal basin lies thousands of metres underground and covers a vast area of 3,500 square kilometres stretching from Hanoi to Thai Binh via Hung Yen, Hai Duong and other localities. The reserve is estimated at 210 billion tonnes, much larger than the coal basin being exploited in northeast Vietnam.
Based on tectonic blocks and natural conditions, the entire Song Hong (Red River) coal basin is divided into eight coal beds, with three in Hung Yen province, four in Thai Binh and one in Nam Dinh. These coal beds will be divided into coal mines whose reserves are enough for continuous production over 50-100 years. Each coal mine will have an annual output of 3 - 10 million tonnes.
The reserve of the Song Hong basin is huge but Vietnam, given its resources and technologies, is now capable of exploiting 65 billion tonnes covering on some 1,200 square metres. This exploitable coal is mainly located in Thai Binh province (accounting for nearly 90 percent, followed by Hung Yen and Nam Dinh with 8.5 percent up 1.5 percent, respectively. Hence, the focus of exploiting the Song Hong coal basin will be coal beds in Thai Binh province. Kien Xuong - Tien Hai coal bed has the largest reserve and highest prospect, accounting for 35 percent of the Song Hong coal basin reserves.
Cooperation in coalmining
In 2010, the State-owned Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Vinacomin signed a strategic cooperation agreement on exploring, mining and transporting coal, exchanging and processing information on coal seams in the northern delta, like the coal basin in the Red River Delta.
Vinacomin and PetroVietnam will also jointly explore and exploit coal mines in Thai Binh province, seek coal investment opportunities in foreign countries, import coal into Vietnam to supply coal-fired power plants, and contribute capital in coal transporting companies to transport coal for Vung Ang and Thai Binh thermal power plants.
Vinacomin and PetroVietnam will cooperate in processing geological information of coal seams obtained in exploratory activities in the Song Hong coal basin; build a Nitratammonium production factory fuelled by gas produced by PetroVietnam; invest in real estate development, port construction and other infrastructure development; train and develop information technology; and invest in finance, banking, insurance and securities.
In addition, Vinacomin will develop the Song Hong coal basin, using advanced technological solutions in all stages, from geological exploration to commercial production and processing, to preserve residential and industrial works on the ground and avoid major impacts on land subsidence, groundwater sources, and mineral water.
According to the Vietnamese coal industry development strategy from now through 2015, with vision to 2025, the country’s coal output will reach 48 - 50 million tonnes in 2010 and 60 - 65 million tonnes in 2015. The coal industry will be invested to become a developed sector, highly competitive in the region with advanced technology, meet all domestic demand for coal, and ensure energy security.
Huong Giang
Vietnamese
