Vietnam will start work on additional four bauxite mining projects from now until 2015 in the Central Highlands provinces to tap the country’s huge reserves of bauxite, the government said on its report submitted to the National Assembly last week.
Apart from Tan Rai and Nhan Co alumina projects invested by the Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), the country will develop Kon Ha Nung alumina project in Gia Lai province which will be carried out by local investors during the 2008-2010 period, said the report on bauxite exploration, production and use in the 2007-2015 period.
Three more projects, namely, Dak Nong 2, Dak Nong 3 and Dak Nong 4 will be implemented during the 2010-2015 period, stated the report, adding that some foreign investors have showed their interests in these projects.
Regarding Tan Rai project in Lam Dong province and Nhan Co project in Dak Nong, the investor will suffer losses in some years during the initial period but in the long term, the projects will prove effective as both projects have life span of over 50 years each, said the report.
Some world leading alumina producers such as Chalco, Alcoa, BHPB, UC-Russal are now keening on cooperating with Vietnam in alumina production, added the report.
The government also affirmed that all works on building bauxite mines and processing plants at the two projects will be carried by Vietnamese workers while Chinese workers and Vietnamese will jointly build alumina processing plants.
Once the plants are put in use, all workers will be Vietnamese, noted the government, adding in urgent case, Vietnam can hire foreign experts to help operate the plants in the initial period.
Vietnam ranks third worldwide in bauxite reserves of 5.4 billion tons, with 98.2 per cent concentrated in the Central Highlands region. (dantri.com.vn)
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