Vietnam's Vinacomin to increase coal imports

The company aims to almost double the expected imports of 9 million tons in 2023 to around 16-17 million tons. Vinacomin will procure these imports through tenders and has shortlisted 15 coal traders to participate in the process.

State-owned energy company EVN has tasked Vinacomin with procuring imported coal to meet the bulk of its coal needs by sea. This decision was taken due to the stagnation of local coal production. High-cost operations such as underground mining and the government's tight control of coal prices are complicating local production growth plans.

Vietnam's domestic coal production has declined while imports have increased and are expected to continue to do so for the next decade. According to the country's energy master plan, coal imports are projected to rise steadily to around 85 million tons by 2035.