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| PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng kick-starts the construction of the Nhân Cơ Alumina Refinery Plant, Đắk Nông, February 28, 2010 - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc |
Important kick-off of a new industry
According to experts, Việt Nam is one of the countries worldwide that is endowed with a rich potential of bauxite, an ore used to produce aluminum, with an estimated reserve of 11 billion tones, mainly in the Central Highlands, , especially in Đắk Nông Province.
PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng emphasized the need to develop bauxite exploitation and produce aluminum hydroxide, alumina and aluminum products, describing it as the country’s important socio-economic target to serve domestic consumption and export, and to promote the industrialization and modernization process of the country in general and of the Central Highlands in particular.
In 2007, the PM approved a 2007-2015 plan on exploring, exploiting, refining and using bauxite, under which Việt Nam will build a number of alumina plants with a combined output of 6.4 million tons per annum and the capacity will be raised in the following years.
In the 2012-2015 period, the first alumina plant with the annual capacity of 200,000-400,000 tons will be built.
Observe strictly the environmental standards
The PM praised the efforts made by Đắk N ông Province and the investor - Việt Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) - in deploying the project strictly.
The project is expected to ensure the sustainable socio-economic development, security and political stability in the Central Highlands and accelerate the restructuring of the regional economy from agro-forestry to a multi-sector economy with industry and service as its backbone components.
Regarding to the environmental issues, PM Dũng asked the investors and contractors not only to complete the plant’s construction on schedule but also ensure environmental standards as well as the quality of water resources in the region.
He required Vinacomin and Đắk Nông Province to pay attention to training local young people so that they can work for the project and improve their living conditions.
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| The construction site of Nhân Cơ Alumina Refinery Plant - Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc |
Springboard for the development of alumina – aluminum production
The Nhân Cơ Alumina Refinery Plant is the second of its kind invested by Vinacomin after the first project in the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng.
The US $655 million Plant will be built in two phases. In the first phase (2007-2012), the plant will have a design capacity of 650,000 tons a year. After 2015, the capacity is expected to be doubled. The plant will use Bayer technology to produce alumina and protect the surrounding environment.
By the end of 2012, the project will be fully operated and will generate an annual revenues of around US $200 million, and create about 1,350 direct and over 12,000 indirect jobs.
By Ngọc Vân
