Viet Nam, a key coal supplier to China and Japan, forecast on Monday coal exports this year would edge down to 19.5 million tonnes from 19.7 million last year.
This year's coal output will be 41 million tonnes, up 3% from 2008, the Trade and Industry Ministry estimated in a report.
Coal consumption in the Southeast Asian country is forecast to rise to 21.5 million tonnes from 20 million tonnes last year as more coal-fired power plants and steel mills start operation, the report said.
It said this year's coal demand by power plants alone is expected to jump nearly 30% from 2008 to 8.4 million tonnes.
Hanoi has been gradually cutting shipments of the fossil fuel, of which 60% went to China last year, as it moved to save more for domestic consumption.
Viet Nam plans to double its coal-fired power capicity to about 4,000-megawatts by the end of 2010, or abou 20% of total capacity. (Reuters)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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