Estimatedly, the demand for coal of power plants owned by EVN and companies that EVN holds the lion’s share will go up from 5.2 million tons in 2008 to 9.6 million tons in 2010 and 49 million tons in 2015. Thus, the total demand for coal of electricity manufacturing throughout the country will rise from 6.5 million tons in 2008 to 328.3 million tons in 2025.
EVN plans to use domestic coal for coal-thermal power plants located from Vung Ang No. 2 to the North, and imported coal for ones located in from Vung Ang No. 3 to the South. Among them, the demand for imported coal of EVN-owned plants will be up to 1.2 million tons in 2011 and about 27 million tons in 2015. EVN has now sent its registration and proposal to Vietnam Coal and Minerals Corporation (VIMICO) on securing a maximum coal supply in favour of EVN’s coal-fuelled thermal power plants in the 2010-2015-2025 period. EVN and VIMICO are currently negotiating about an agreement on Strategic Corporation and in the near future they will negotiate about a contract on long-term coal supply. EVN is also considering investing in coal exploitation both inside and outside the country in corporation with VIMICO.
Given imported coal source, EVN is seeking for such markets as Indonesia, Australia, South Africa and Laos. The most convinient is Indonesia owing to its short distance from Vietnam and the ability of using lower-capacity ships. Meanwhile, importing coal from Australia and South Africa needs high-load ships. EVN projects to collaborate with Vinalines which takes responsibility of shipping coal in the long term for EVN’s coal-thermal power center. In the mean time, EVN is also researching another project to transport coal if Vinalines cannot shoulder the burden.
Regarding port of importation and transmission for coal, EVN has carried out its survey on some appropiate locations and report to Ministry of Transportation to add those locations in the National Seaport Project. First, EVN find it necessary to establish a port of entry and transmission for Southern area. Then, it need another port located in Duyen Hai, Tra Vinh for 30,000-ton ships to import and transport coal for two thermal power centers in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang, which is a measure to avoid depending on the construction of canal Quan Chanh Bo. That kind of port is taken into consideration by EVN.
Mai Phuong.