Vietnamese Province Proposes 160-km Conveyor Belt to Import Coal from Laos

Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam has proposed the construction of a 160-km conveyor belt to transport coal from Laos to a local seaport. The province has sent a document to the government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, stating that Vietnam’s coal demands have been increasing, but infrastructure at the La Lay border gate in Dakrong District cannot keep up with the demand, resulting in traffic congestion and lost business opportunities.

The proposed belt would transport coal from Laos’s Sekong and Salavan provinces to Vietnam’s My Thuy seaport, capable of transporting 1,500-1,600 tons of coal an hour and 15-20 million tons of coal annually. The belt would span 85 km in Laos and 75 km in Vietnam, costing around VND10.8 trillion ($459.77 million). Investors would build a 5-km section first at the border gate, capable of transporting 6,000 tons of coal an hour. A team of experts from both countries surveyed the site on May 17 and proposed investments for the conveyor belt.

The belt would increase efficiency in coal imports, protect the environment, and prevent damage to traffic infrastructure. Quang Tri has proposed the construction of the belt and warehouses at the La Lay border gate to the Prime Minister and requested support from ministries and customs authorities to complete investment procedures. Vietnam wants to import 20-30 million tons of coal every year, but Quang Tri can only import around 2 million tons annually due to uncoordinated infrastructure and frequent congestion.