QUẢNG NINH — Quảng Ninh Province should prepare plans to transport coal via the seaway instead of the roadway, which it was doing presently, the province’s Party Committee Secretary Nguyễn Văn Đọc stated.

He said this at a conference held on Tuesday in the province on coal and construction materials management, which drew the participation of the Việt Nam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) and other local concerned organisations.

Đọc said the province was determined to stop transporting coal on highways 18A, 10A and Road 188 from next year.

From the end of July 2016 until now, the province uncovered and penalised 59 cases of illegal dredging, transporting and trading of sand, with total administrative fines of more than VNĐ800 million (US$35,500), according to the province’s report.

Nearly 4,000cu.m of sand and 21 sand dredging equipment items were withdrawn.

The province also seized more than 5,800 tonnes of coal, withdrew 11 coal transporting vehicles and imposed administrative fines of more than VNĐ1 billion ($44,400).

Đọc said the province had recently successfully dealt with coal exploitation, and therefore one did not see illegal coal exploiting hot spots, but management of coal transportation was weak, hence some drivers still transported coal via roads to other provinces for sale.

Đọc asked the coal sector to better manage coal mines, especially in the border areas, and impose strict penalties on workers flouting norms.

Đặng Thanh Hải, general director of Vinacomin, said the corporation was prepared to transport coal via the seaway. — VNS