Vietnam set to exploit coal in Red River

According to a development strategy for the coal industry approved on Jan. 16, Vietnam aims to seek domestic and international partners for investment research, technology selection, and exploration of the coal mine in the Red River basin by 2030.

The exploration and its assessment will be completed over 15 years.

Several research and experimental mining projects in the Red River basin will be invested to determine the appropriate technologies.

According to the Vietnam Mineral Resources Authority, if measured to a depth of 3,500 m, the total coal reserve in the Red River basin reaches 210 billion tons, which is 20 times greater than those in Quang Ninh Province, currently the biggest coal producer in Vietnam.

As many as 90% of the Red River coalfield lies in Thai Binh Province, which borders Hanoi.

Since 2009, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group has signed technology transfer contracts with several countries to conduct experimental coal mining in the Red River basin.

The government had approved a plan in 2016 to invest in experimental projects, using underground mining and underground coal gasification technology to exploit coal in the basin.

However, some scientists were concerned that the coal mining process in the Red River region may lead to land subsidence and affect the saltwater intrusion in the area.