HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and Indonesia boast huge potential in energy collaboration, Indonesian Ambassador to Việt Nam, Ibnu Hadi, said at a conference held in Hà Nội yesterday. 

The event drew the participation of numerous Indonesian coal exporters and Vietnamese importers. 

In the first four months of the year, Indonesia shipped more than 1.5 million tonnes of coal to Việt Nam, he said, adding that the country would export at least 4.5 million tonnes of coal to its ASEAN peer. 

The Indonesian Embassy in Việt Nam would work to promote the connection between energy businesses from the two countries to ensure sufficient supply, he stressed. 

Regarding the coal demand of Electricity of Việt Nam (EVN), a representative from the group said that coal-fired power accounts for 30 per cent of the total electricity generated nationwide of 42,000 MW. 

Before 2016, most thermoelectric plants used domestic coal, however, the need for imported coal has shot up due to the development of thermoelectricity. 

In 2016, the country bought 680,000 tonnes of coal from foreign countries. The figure is expected to rise to 4.7 million tonnes in 2017, 11 million tonnes in 2020 and 19 million tonnes in 2025. 

At the conference, businesses from both countries exchanged experience and discussed measures to boost co-operation. 

Two-way trade stood at US$5.5 billion in 2016 and both sides are targeting $6 billion in 2017. — VNS