Implementing the development of a trade agreement on coal trading cooperation with Laos

Also attending were Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long and leaders of the Departments and functional Departments: Department of Oil, Gas and Coal, Department of Domestic Market, Department of Asia - Africa Market, Electricity Regulatory Authority, Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Ministry Office and representatives of Corporations and enterprises: Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV), Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), Dong Bac Corporation...

In his opening remarks at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that the meeting aimed to seriously implement the Government's direction in promoting cooperation in coal trading with Laos. This is an extremely important issue, both an economic and trade development task and a political task between the two countries. Previously, at the end of July 2024, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also chaired the Conference on Promoting Cooperation in Coal Trading with Laos. At this Conference, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien assigned many tasks to Groups, General Corporations as well as relevant Departments and Offices in accordance with the direction of the Government's leaders "helping you is also helping yourself".

According to the content of the Memorandum of Understanding on Coal Cooperation signed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines, the two sides will further strengthen cooperation and investment activities in coal mining, processing and export with Laos. At the same time, Vietnam will create more favorable conditions for coal trading between enterprises of the two sides, increase experience sharing and capacity building in coal mining and processing to ensure national energy security, promote energy transition and energy cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the meeting, the leader of the Department of Oil, Gas and Coal said that in the past time, the Department has advised the leaders of the Ministry to direct and urge investors of thermal power plants and related units to consider purchasing coal from Laos for electricity production in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister , ensuring compliance with legal regulations and meeting practical efficiency requirements. The meeting also heard many opinions from representatives of corporations and general companies operating in the energy and mineral sectors such as: Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV), Oil and Gas Group (PVN), Vietnam Electricity Group, Dong Bac Corporation, Vietnam Oil and Gas Power Corporation... As well as recorded the suggestions and comments of leaders of units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

After listening to the opinions of Vietnamese corporations, general companies and specialized units of the Ministry, concluding the working session, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien agreed that the cooperation in coal trading between Vietnam and Laos is an extremely important issue, both an economic and trade development task and a political task between the two countries. Therefore, in recent times, the Government, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have had many meetings and directive documents on this issue.

In the coming time, in order to remove difficulties and obstacles, promote coal trade cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in accordance with the direction of the Government's leaders, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien requested that units strictly comply with the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister in trade cooperation activities with Laos, including the construction of a trade cooperation agreement on coal trading with Laos.

In order to have a basis for building the above Cooperation Agreement, the Minister requested that functional units in the Ministry as well as Groups and General Corporations have a comprehensive assessment report on the demand for coal trading between the two countries and the conditions to ensure smooth and proper implementation. The content of the Agreement focuses on 3 main groups of issues: import volume that can be adjusted according to actual demand; method of trading, allocation of imported coal quantity from Laos to key Groups and General Corporations.

To carry out the tasks assigned by the Government, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien requested the Department of Oil, Gas and Coal - the focal point unit - to urgently collect opinions from relevant ministries, branches and localities to soon complete the Draft Agreement to submit to the Government, ensuring the quality and progress assigned.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong/trien-khai-xay-dung-hiep-dinh-thuong-mai-hop-tac-mua-ban-than-voi-lao.html