Current Status of Coal Mining and Some Highlights in the 2030 Development Plan of Coal Industry in Vietnam

Coal mining is one of the key mining industries in Vietnam. Coal is also an important fuel formany other industries. Currently, coal mining is mainly concentrated in Quang Ninh coal basin, theproportion of open-pit coal mining and underground mining is quite similar. However, according toDecision 403/QD-Ttg on approving the adjustment of the Vietnam coal industry development plan up to2020, considering the prospects by 2030, the mining output will be from 51 to 54 million tons by year2025 and from 55 to 57 million tons by 2030. In which, the proportion of underground coal mining willincrease gradually compared with that of open-cast mining, specifically, by 2030, the proportion of thelater compared to that of the former will be only 11%. According to this plan, open-pit coal mines havebeen shifting to underground mining technology, due to the increasingly deep conditions of coal seams.The following article will analyze the current status of coal mining in Vietnam and some highlights of thecoal industry development plan to 2030, in order to provide a general picture of Vietnam’s coal industryin the future.