Vietnam produced about 46,403 thousand short tons of coal in 2012, more than half of which (26,819 thousand short tons) was domestically consumed. Vietnam exports a large portion of its coal and also imports a small amount. However, PetroVietnam is seeking to purchase 11 million short tons of coal per year starting in 2017 to supply the domestic power industry, according to a PetroVietnam Power and Coal Import and Supply Company official quoted by Reuters. The coal imports would supply three power plants: two plants built in the southern Mekong Delta and the third built in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh.