The Red river coal basin has an estimated coal reserves of 210 billion tonnes. — Photo www.thanhnien.com.vn

THAI BINH (Biz Hub) – The Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) launched a coal exploration project in Tien Hai District in the northern Thai Binh Province on September 21.

Spread over 5.29sq.km with a depth of 1,200m, the project will comprise 18 geological and five hydrogeological boreholes.

The two-phase project is scheduled to last 36 to 42 months and is expected to explore 236 million tonnes of coal.

The results of the exploration will be used to compile a geological report that will be submitted to the National Minerals Reserve Appraisal Council for its approval.

The project is part of the Hong (Red River) Coal Basin Development Programme between Vinacomin and the Thai Binh People's Committee.

Covering an area of about 2,500sq.m, the Red River coal basin stretches across Thai Binh, Hung Yen and Nam Dinh provinces and has total coal reserves of about 210 billion tonnes. About 90 per cent of the reserves are in Thai Binh Province.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung said the project was a significant one and an initial step in the strategy to develop a potential coal basin in the Red River Delta.

Exploratory efforts in the locality would contribute to determining the geological structure and reserves, analysis of the geological condition and the quality of coal in the area, and research and selection of suitable technologies for exploitation in the future, he said.

Chairman of Thai Binh People's Committee Nguyen Hong Dien said the project would not only help boost socio-economic development of the province in particular and other localities in the Red River Delta region in general, but also help to ensure coal supply for a long period. — VNS