The Black Gold Vein: Military-Owned Enterprise Unveils a Treasure Trove in the Heart of the Jungle

Mineral Exploitation Company is one of the largest open-pit coal mining units of Brigade 19. This enterprise is assigned to mine at Dong Da Mai mine (Cam Tay ward, Mong Duong, Cam Pha city). It is one of the two main mines of the Mineral Exploitation Company, with large coal reserves, sufficient for 15-20 years of production.

In early 2025, the -200 moong at seam 13-1 of the Dong Da Mai mine was put into operation. This is the deepest area since the mine started its operation, accounting for about 60% of the mine’s capacity, with an estimated output of 1.5 million tons/year.

The moong has now been mined to the -200 level, and the company continues to deploy and mobilize 6 excavator chains with about 80 trucks with a capacity of 60 tons, operating at a frequency of 3 shifts/day and night.

Quoting Major Ta Quang Khanh, Manager of Field 1, Mineral Exploitation Company (Brigade 19), the Quang Ninh provincial portal informed that Field 1 had mobilized all main machinery, equipment, and labor to ensure 3 shifts to maximize the potential of moong -200.

It is expected that the field will achieve the planned mining progress registered with the Company to create momentum for completing the 2025 production plan.

To promote the application of modern technology, expand the scale and mining methods, and contribute to improving quality and output, the unit has improved the deep processing chain to enhance coal grade and quality.

In open-pit mining, equipment and machinery are crucial for mining success. Workshop 4 currently manages and repairs nearly 200 pieces of equipment, with many skilled workers who can master almost the entire repair process of the unit’s equipment types, ensuring the unit’s mining tasks are accomplished.

Notably, the company has boldly invested in and applied advanced S&T, putting into use 5 high-capacity drilling machines (403kW), 19 excavators with a bucket capacity of 6.7m³, and 143 60-ton trucks for mining operations.

Simultaneously, the successful deployment of the engine air filter device has contributed to protecting workers’ health, reducing environmental impacts, and improving productivity. Additionally, a team of skilled and experienced workers is always ready to efficiently handle repairs, from simple to complex tasks.

Thanks to the application of modern technology, the company achieves an annual output of nearly 35 million cubic meters of soil and rock excavation and mines approximately 1.8 million tons of raw coal. As of Q1/2025, the company had completed over 30% of the annual output plan, with an excavation volume of 8.1 million cubic meters of soil and rock, equivalent to 25% of the annual plan; equipment productivity is maintained at a high level, ranging from 108% to 115%.

The company aims to improve labor productivity and average equipment efficiency by 3-5%; continue investing in equipment to increase labor productivity by 8-10% in the entire term. The expected average income of workers will increase by 3-5%.

Brigade 19 was established in April 2025 based on the Dong Bac Corporation. Dong Bac Corporation has nearly 10,000 officers, soldiers, employees, and workers and has participated in several critical projects, such as land leveling for the Vinh Tan Power Center (Binh Thuan), the Ammonium Nitrate Plant project (Thai Binh), Dong Nai 5 Hydropower Plant, and the high-speed road connecting Ha Long city to Hai Phong city.

Brigade 19 is primarily tasked with building forces, training, and staying ready for combat; ensuring combat and strategic engineering support in case of incidents; and carrying out production and business tasks, combining economics with national defense.

The unit continues to perform economic-defense tasks in mineral areas and border, coastal, and island areas of Quang Ninh province, as well as in other strategically important areas such as the Central Highlands and the South-Central region.

In 2025, the enterprise aims to produce 6.5 million tons of coal, import and purchase 5.2 million tons of commercial coal, consume 11.5 million tons of coal, and achieve a revenue of VND 29,000 billion. It strives to attain a profit of VND 850 billion and contribute VND 3,450 billion to the state budget.