Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam National Coal-MineralIndustries Holding Corp., Ltd., (Vinacomin) needs to live up to its main dutyof coal supply to serve the country’s socio-economic development, said DeputyPrime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at a conference in Hanoi on January 9.

He pointed out that the demand for coal has increased,especially for electricity production.

It is estimated that Vietnam needs 58 million tonnes of coal for electricitygeneration in 2019, 90 million tonnes in 2025 and 130 million tonnes in 2030,he said.

According to the Deputy PM, although the group facesmany difficulties in production, it still strives to create breakthroughs in improvingthe quality of coal through renovating production technology and promotingmechanisation. It has also paid attention to protecting the environment and savinghuman resources.

Dung stressed the need for Vinacomin to continue effectively implementing bauxiteprojects in connection with protecting the environment and promotingdevelopment in relevant localities, as well as taking comprehensive measures relatedto labour safety, noting that these should be its top priorities in coalproduction.

Speaking at the event, Vinacomin General Director Dang Thanh Hai said the groupwill focus on boosting innovative technology, perfecting its managementmechanism, streamlining personnel, enhancing mechanisation and automation toincrease productivity, reduce production costs, and improve competitiveness, thuspromoting effective and sustainable growth.

The group set to produce 40 million tonnes of coal and earn 128 trillion VND(5.51 billion USD) in revenue in 2019. Its mineral mining, electricity andmechanical production, and business  activities are expected to see stable growth.

Hai said the firm has directed its units to review and build detailed plans,aiming to improve the effectiveness of production and business in early 2019.

It will have to import an estimated 4 million tonnesof coal to ensure an adequate supply of coal to customers under signedcontracts.

Vinacomin will strive to exceed current coal production by 15.5 percent bymeans of mechanisation, he said, adding that it will use large-capacityequipment and automatic control systems in open-cast mining and transportactivities.

Vinacomin produced 16.95 million tonnes of coal in 2018, equal to 104 percent ofthe set plan. It sold 40 million tonnes last year, 4 million tonnes higher thanthe plan, and a year-on-year increase of 5 million tonnes.

The group produced and sold 1.31 million tonnes of aluminium over the year,representing a yearly rise of 170,000 tonnes. The export turnover of aluminium was520 million USD. The company’s electricity output was 9.4 billion kWh,equivalent to 100 percent of the plan set for the year. –VNA