Vinacomin Seeking to Exploit Bauxite Nationwide

The Vietnam National Coal and Minerals Group (Vinacomin) is seeking the Government’s permission to explore bauxite on Vietnam’s entire territory, state media said.

 

At present, Vinacomin is carrying out a number of projects on bauxite ore exploitation and alumina production in the Central Highlands provinces of Lam Dong and Dak Nong, including the Lam Dong bauxite-aluminum complex with an annual capacity of 600,000 million tons of alumina and the Nhan Co alumina plant capable of turning out 300,000 tons a year in Dak Nong.

 

Besides, the group is cooperating with China-based ALUMINUM CORP OF CHINA LTD. (CHALCO), the world's second-largest alumina producer, to implement the alumina project in Dak Nong province. It also plans to join hands with leading US aluminum manufacturer Alcoa to carry out the Gia Nghia alumina project in the same province.

 

The above-mentioned projects are expected to supply 900,000 tons of alumina a year by 2009.       

 

Geological surveys reveal Vietnam has reserves of more than eight million tons of bauxite, used in alumina production, ranking the country 4th behind only Australia, Guinea and Brazil.

 

The northern provinces of Cao Bang and Lang Son contain 120 million of bauxite deposits while central highland provinces have an estimated 7.9 billion tons, none of which has been exploited to date.
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