Coal mining along Cua Lon river

Along the Cua Lon River in Tan An Commune, Ca Mau Province (formerly Tan An Tay Commune, Ngoc Hien District), there are dozens of large coal kilns burning day and night. Coal prices are currently quite high, helping people have a good income.

Charcoal mining is a traditional occupation of a group of people living under the mangrove forests of coastal districts such as Ngoc Hien and Nam Can of the old Ca Mau province. Charcoal mining is gradually disappearing, however, some households still maintain the profession thanks to the large consumer market and increasingly valuable coal.

Along the Cua Lon River, in Tan An commune, there is a cooperative named Tan Phat that is doing business effectively.

HXT currently has 21 coal kilns that are burning day and night with an output of hundreds of tons shipped to all provinces in the West, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai every month.

The family of Mr. Le Hai Lam is the "soul" of the coal industry here. The family started with the business of transporting mangrove trees to supply coal kilns in Phung Hiep district, old Hau Giang province.

The by-products of branches, roots, and tops of mangrove trees transported up can only be sold at very cheap prices. In 2012, Mr. Lam's family hired craftsmen to build a charcoal kiln along the Cua Lon River to cook charcoal.

The coal mining business was profitable, so Mr. Lam's family expanded and developed into Tan Phat Cooperative.

Currently, the cooperative's smallest charcoal kiln can hold 7 tons of firewood, while the largest kiln can hold more than 20 tons.

The time to complete a charcoal pit cycle from loading firewood into the furnace, lighting the fire, pitting and producing charcoal takes nearly 2 months.

Sticking with the coal mine profession means accepting hardship, but in return they have a fairly high income.

Phat Loi Cooperative is employing about 100 workers to ensure operations from mining, transportation and coal tunneling.

The average income of each worker is about 8 million VND/month. Those who are skilled in coal mining are paid 400 - 500 thousand VND/day.

Coal supplied to markets in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, and Tay Ninh is priced from 8,000 to 11,000 VND/kg.

This coal price is currently quite high, helping the cooperative and coal miners in Ca Mau to make a living from their profession.

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/nghe-ham-than-ven-song-cua-lon-3182473.html