Bauxite plant's products praised
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai visited the Tan Rai Bauxite Complex in the Central Highlands Province of Lam Dong on February 11, where he applauded the quality of the plant's first products.
The plant opened last October and has since produced 260,000 tonnes of high-quality aluminum. More than 160,000 tonnes were exported to European and Asian markets while more than 855 tonnes were sold in the domestic market for US$320–330 per tonne.
Under the bauxite project in the Central Highlands region, which started in 2007, the Tan Rai plant was built in Lam Dong province and the Nhan Co plant was built in Dak Nong Province by the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group (Vinacomin).
The Deputy Prime Minister asked Vinacomin and the project's Management Board to ensure safety. He stressed the need to prevent red mud from polluting the surrounding environment and build an extra reservoir for red mud in case of emergency.
Vinacom has signed a long-term contract with Japanese company Marubeni to provide 300,000 tonnes of aluminum per year and another contract with a Chinese company to provide 150,000 tonnes per year.
The Lam Dong bauxite complex is expected to produce 540,000 tonnes of aluminum and 800,000 tonnes of hydrate in 2014.