Vietnam is urging coal miners to maximize production before the hot summer months, the latest emerging nation turning to the dirtiest fossil fuel to meet soaring power use.
Weaker output from hydro facilities is already boosting the need for coal-fired power generation — especially in the northern regions — to meet higher-than-expected demand, the government said in a statement late Tuesday. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked coal companies to increase exploration capacity, according to a notice over the weekend.