Representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dak Nong Province and Tran Hong Quan Trading Ltd Company kick off the construction work on Dak Nong Power Plant in Aluminum Project, the first of its kind in Viet Nam.— Photo bizlive

DAK NONG (Biz Hub) —  Bulldozers on Thursday began clearing the 114-hectare site for the construction of the US$575-million Dak Nong aluminium smelting plant in this Central Highland province.

At the ground breaking ceremony for the project, Trade and Industry Minister Vu Huy Hoang said the plant would be the first of its kind in Viet Nam to produce aluminium bars and would play an important role in the sustainable socio-economic development of the Central Highlands.

Hoang added that the plant, with a capacity of 450,000 tonnes, would also play an important role in the comprehensive development of domestic bauxite exploitation and aluminum production projects.

Tran Hong Quan Trading Ltd Company is investing in the construction and development of the plant at Nhan Co Industrial Park in Dak R'lap District, Dak Nong, and is expected to be completed in two years.

The Nhan Co alumina project, which the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Holding Corporation will put into operation, will be supplying all materials for the plant.

The project is divided into three phases. In the first phase, the plant is expected to achieve 150,000-tonne annual production capacity by 2016. In the second phase, the plant is expected to have a 300,000-tone annual capacity by 2017. In the last phase, it is expected to have a 450,000-tonne annual capacity by early 2019.

Figures show that Viet Nam has the world's largest bauxite reserves, and Dak Nong alone has more than five billion tonnes. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is still in the process of exploration, with high hopes of finding around 11 billion tonnes in reserves.

Mr Tran Hong Quan gives a speech at the ground breaking ceremony. — VNS Photo Nguyen Viet Thang

Le Dien, chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said this was the first aluminium project in Viet Nam with a domestic company as investor, and it was expected to play a key role in the socio-economic development of his province and the country as well.

"I can confirm that the Dak Nong Aluminum Smelter project management board, which is experienced in smelter project organisation and management, is capable of selecting the best contractors and providing the expert guidance needed to ensure that the selection criteria for the project, particularly lower-priced and technically acceptable, is followed," said the project manager

"This will bring better value to the project and develop competence in Viet Nam," the manager added. "Vietnamese contractors will fabricate and install equipment and components for the smelter in line with European quality standards. It's part of the decision to choose European technology for the smelter."

Tran Hong Quan, the company director, said the Government has accepted the new aluminium electrolytic technology to be used in the project, and this was expected to attract more investors in the country's aluminium industry.

Last May 30, the Prime Minister issued Decision 822-QD-TTg, on tax exemption policies covering the Dak Nong project.

The policies include four-year total income tax exemption from the time the plant generates taxable income; 50-per cent income tax exemption to take effect for nine years after the four-year total tax exemption period, and a 10 per cent tax rate to take effect for 30 years, after the nine-year 50-percent income tax exemption. in 30 years.

In addition, the project will be exempt from tax for imported items to create fixed assets for the project. — VNS