11:08:38 AM | 16/12/2005
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco), China's largest producer of alumina, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Vietnam Coal Group on December 14 to jointly develop a bauxite mine in central highlands Dak Nong province.
The project for the development of the Dak Nong mine also involves bauxite mining and alumina production, and includes a feasibility study for the construction of a power plant.
The two sides plan to produce 1.9 million tons of alumina per year in the first phase and hope the output will reach 4 million tons in the second phase. No further details were available.
According to the producers involved, around four kilograms of bauxite are needed to produce one kilogram of aluminum. Chalco is also the world's second-largest alumina producer.
Vietnam plans to actively exploit bauxite ores in the central highlands Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces between now and 2010 to process alumina for export. After 2010, it will invest in aluminum plants to meet local demand.
Thanh Nien Online
Vietnamese
