Coal up, Minerals down

In the first half of 2006, coal output was elevated considerably due to intensive investment concentration, technological renovation and mechanisation acceleration for mining and exploitation. The clean coal output was up 23.9 per cent to 19.46 million tonnes and the sales volume was up 23.3 per cent to 14.7 million tonnes. Of the sum, domestic consumption accounted for 7.93 million tonnes, up 7 per cent while the export volume was over 10 million tonnes, up 41 per cent. However, labour safety remains an urgent matter with 19 workplace accidents killing 33 people.

 

In contrast to coal production, the mineral exploitation in the first six months slowed down, resulting from poor production and unlicensed ores and projects, including Suoi Bac and Ban Co zinc ores, Sin Quyen bonze ore and Thai Nguyen electrolytic zinc plant.