Vietnam's top miner Vinacomin plans to keep coal output at 40 million metric tons a year through 2030 to meet domestic demand, mostly for power generation, state media reported on Thursday, 29 October. Reuters reported the plan citing Vietnam News Agency, the country's state news agency.

Output held steady through 2030

The company will develop 18 mining projects in the northern province of Quang Ninh to maintain output, according to the report. Vinacomin will also import between 10 million and 20 million tons of coal a year to meet demand, a sign that domestic production alone is not expected to cover the country's needs even at the maintained level.

Energy security the stated priority

The company was quoted as saying that ensuring an adequate coal supply for thermal power plants plays a core role in maintaining the operation of the power system and safeguarding national energy security. Coal remains a key fuel for Vietnam's thermal power plants, and the plan underlines how central it remains to the country's electricity system despite the global shift towards other energy sources.

State to keep full ownership

Vinacomin is among the companies in which the state will maintain 100 per cent ownership until at least 2030, according to the report. The decision to hold output steady, rather than expand it, suggests the priority is reliability of supply for existing power plants over growth in production, although the report did not set out how the plan sits alongside Vietnam's longer-term climate commitments.

Sources: Reuters, MQ World (same wire).