Tiếng Việt
中文 (中国)
In his presentation at the seminar “Industrial Lime Production Technology. Solutions for Energy and Cost Savings in Cement Production” held on May 23, 2011, Mr. Le Van Toi, M.Sc., Director of the Department of Construction Materials, outlined the current state of lime production in Vietnam and the development orientations for Vietnam’s industrial lime production in the coming time. Assessing the current state of lime production in Vietnam, Mr. Le Van Toi commented on the situation of lime production according to production scale in Vietnam today.
Manual/Artisanal Lime Production
Manual lime production in many localities is a long-standing traditional occupation, providing employment for workers and contributing to local economic development. Currently, these facilities are operated by cooperatives, private households, and a few joint-stock companies, using continuous lime kilns with an average capacity of 5,000 tons/year/kiln and field kilns with an average capacity of 500-1,000 tons/year/kiln. According to data from the Department of Construction Materials, Ministry of Construction, the total capacity of manual lime kilns nationwide is currently around 600,000 tons/year.
Production and Investment in Industrial-Scale Lime Production Facilities
In recent times, some production facilities have made in-depth investments to develop industrial-scale lime production to improve product quality and meet domestic and export demands. The total capacity of industrial-scale lime production plants nationwide is about 2.9 million tons/year.
Nationwide, there are 03 industrial-scale, automated vertical kiln lime production facilities that have gone into operation with a capacity of 150,000 tons/year each; this includes 01 facility in Hoanh Bo, Quang Ninh province (capacity 50,000 tons/year), 01 facility in Bim Son commune – Thanh Hoa with a capacity of 60,000 tons/year, and 01 facility in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province belonging to VNSTEEL company, supplying lump lime for steelmaking, with a capacity of 40,000 tons/year.
Additionally, there are 7 industrial lime production facilities using vertical kiln technology, automated, and large-scale, which were under construction and scheduled to go into production by the end of 2011 and 2012, with a total capacity of 1,780,000 tons/year.
Assessing the development potential of production facilities and the demand for industrial products in the coming time.
Potential of Raw Materials and Fuel
Limestone in our country is distributed relatively widely but unevenly, concentrated from the North to Quang Binh, ensuring quality for industrial lime production. Excluding limestone areas where exploitation is not permitted, the exploitable limestone resources can reach hundreds of billions of tons.
The total resources of surveyed mines (274 mines) are 44,738.53 million tons; of which, reserves of B+C1+C2 grade are 12,557.57 million tons, and P-grade resources are 32,180.96 million tons. Among the surveyed mines, 42 mines with resources of 1,669.28 million tons are located in prohibited, temporarily prohibited, or restricted exploitation areas. Thus, the number of mines that can be explored and exploited to supply fuel for cement production is 232, with total resources of 43,069.25 million tons.
Coal in our country includes many types, mainly high-quality anthracite. The total coal reserves to date are about 3.5 billion tons. Mines are concentrated in several areas such as Quang Ninh with reserves of 3.3 billion tons (including 195 million tons of open-pit coal), Thai Nguyen with reserves of about 80 million tons, and Na Duong (Lang Son) with about 100 million tons.
Forecast of Domestic and Export Demand for Industrial Lime
In recent times, the demand for lime and light calcium carbonate has grown continuously at an average rate of 15-20% per year. Calcined lime products are used as raw materials for various production sectors: industry, construction, and consumer goods. Specifically, in the paper industry (printing, writing, high-grade packaging, and coated paper), as an additive for several other fields (paint, colorants, rubber, fertilizer, chemicals, environmental treatment, steelmaking), ceramic products, plastic goods, and aquaculture.
According to calculations of lime demand for raw materials and auxiliary products for different industries in Vietnam, the specifics are as follows: By 2015, a total of 4.068 million tons, of which 3.068 million tons for domestic use and 1.0 million for export; by 2020, a total of 7.28 million tons, with 5.28 million tons for domestic use and 2.0 million tons for export; by 2025, a total of 9.91 million tons, with 7.41 million tons for domestic use and 2.5 million tons for export.
In his presentation, Mr. Le Van Toi also outlined development orientations for industrial lime production in Vietnam.
The main objectives of the industrial lime production development plan for the 2020 to 2030 period are to ensure a balance between supply and demand for lime, not only for construction needs but also for other demands, including export; to ensure sustainable development, resource conservation, environmental protection, and the preservation of historical and cultural relics, natural landscapes, and national security and defense. From these objectives, criteria regarding investment, technology, production scale, and planning layout must adhere to principles such as:
Regarding investment: Must ensure economic efficiency, products with regional and international competitiveness, rational resource exploitation, environmental protection, preservation of historical and cultural relics, natural landscapes, and national security and defense. Priority is given to vertical kiln cement plants that do not have the conditions to convert to rotary kiln technology, in order to utilize existing labor and facilities.
Regarding technology: Use advanced technology, a high level of automation, and select appropriate equipment to ensure the production of high-quality, stable products at reasonable costs, with product diversification.
Regarding production scale: Conduct selective research for projects developing large-scale plants using modern technology; research appropriate capacities for projects in areas where product consumption is not favorable.
Regarding planning layout: Lime production plants must be sited in locations with favorable conditions regarding raw material sources and infrastructure, and based on local and regional demand, taking into account national supply-demand regulation and export needs. Invested and established lime production facilities will serve as auxiliary sectors for other industries (iron, steel, bauxite, etc.), primarily concentrated in areas with limestone resources.
Mr. Le Van Toi’s presentation has practical significance for the current state of lime production in Vietnam, providing an overview of pressing issues, current affairs, as well as the potential for developing the lime production industry today. A problem posed is how to balance economic development with the protection of the natural environment – an issue that every entity must consider during the production and exploitation of resources.