Friday, October 22, 2010

Viet Nam, Japan discuss minerals policies

The first-ever Viet Nam-Japan talks on coal and minerals policies was held in northern tourist city of Ha Long on December 3. It brought together officials from the Japanese ministries of Economy, Trade and Industries and the Vietnamese ministries of Industry and Trade, Planning and Investment, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment and the Viet Nam Coal and Minerals Group (VinaComin - TKV).

The talks were held to exchange information and share experience on the countries’ demand and supply as well as development policies related to coal and minerals.

The Japanese representatives reported their country has a big demand for anthracite coal and it began since the beginning of 2007 importing this coal from Viet Nam, which now provides 43 percent of Japan’s anthracite coal imports.

According to statistics provided by the Viet Nam Coal and Minerals Group, Viet Nam possesses a coal reserve of more than 6 billion tonnes, of which the northern Quang Ninh province alone houses more than 4 billion tonnes.

The total reserve include 4 billion tonnes of anthracite coal, 1.5 billion tonnes of bituminous coals and the remaining 0.5 billion tonnes of peat and lignite coal.

Recent explorations have discovered a coal stock in the Red River delta and on the continental shelf.

In addition to coal, Viet Nam also boasts an abundant reserve of minerals, including 8 billion tonnes of bauxite, 940 million tonnes of iron ore, 746,000 tonnes of copper, 8.4 million tonnes of lead and zinc, more than 8 million tonnes of titan, and others.

At the talks, the Viet Nam Coal and Minerals Group suggested a cooperation program with Japan on exploring and assessing a coal reserve found in the Red River delta.

The Vietnamese officials also asked the Japanese side to extend the duration of projects on the transfer of exploratory technology applied on coal mines.

The Japanese side was asked to partner in the Khe Than coal sorting company in Quang Ninh’s Uong Bi town and build non-accidental coal pits and to team up in projects to explore limestone in central Nghe An province, and rare earth in northern provinces of Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Yen Bai.

The Japanese side said they were eager to work with Viet Nam in human resource training as well as in coal and mineral exploration and exploitation projects.- (VNA).

Source: http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/nr040807104143/nr040807105001/ns101012095408#dwS1vyWBHFVe

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