As more cement plants are up and running in Vietnam while the cement oversupply is far from over, the nation should set out rigorous standards for the industry to choose those projects saving energy and protecting the environment.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said at a recent inauguration ceremony of a cement factory in the northern province of Ha Nam that the Ministry of Construction would have to review the master plan for the cement industry in the 2017-2025 period with a vision towards 2035, and the master plan for exploration, exploitation and use of minerals for cement production by 2025.
He urged domestic cement manufacturers to strictly comply with environmental protection requirements, and invest in new technology to improve the quality of their products and protect the environment.
Pham Van Bac, head of the Building Materials Department under the Construction Ministry, told the Daily on July 3 that the ministry has been reviewing the master plans for the industry. More stringent standards for quality and environmental protection will be set out, he added.
Nguyen Quang Cung, chairman of the Vietnam Cement Association, said 60 cement manufacturers in the country have around 80 production lines with a combined capacity of 88 million tons a year, which is forecast to surge to more than 100 million tons by 2020.
According to the association, domestic cement consumption is projected to reach about 82 million tons by 2020.
Vietnam became one of the largest cement and clinker exporters worldwide with 20 million tons shipped abroad in 2014. However, 2015 cement exports dropped 18% versus the previous year to 16.2 million tons and slid a further 2% last year.
Data of the General Statistics Office shows indexes for non-metallic mineral products, mainly cement, in the first half of this year rocketed to 31.1%. Besides, the industry produced about 40.1 million tons, a year-on-year rise of 8.2%.
Last year saw the nation’s cement and clinker exports totaling 14.7 million tons worth US$561 million, down 7.1% and 16% respectively against 2015.
Exports of cement products are forecast to be tougher due to fierce competition at home and abroad.