VNA reported that Vinacomin of Vietnam will collaborate with Thai Binh province authorities to explore and exploit any reserves in the Red River coal basin.

Under the terms of an agreement signed on January 9th 2009 Vinacomin will carry out a geological study within the province and then formulate an overall plan governing exploitation of the coal basin.

Vinacomin plans to use underground coal gasification technology on a trial basis or utilize modern mining technology to remove the coal in Tien Hai or Thai Thuy districts. The project will be expanded to the districts of Hung Ha, Dong Hung and Kien Xuong from 2020 in combination with an electricity production program.