A joint venture by Viet Phuong (VPG) Investment Group and Quarzwerke Group of Germany on Wednesday began construction of a low-iron sand and quartz powder processing plant in Phong Dien District, the central province of Thua Thien–Hue.

According to Nguyen Van Phuong, vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the exploitation of Phong Dien white sand area was approved by the Government in 2008.

With a total area of 135sq.km in Phong Hoa, Phong Binh, Phong Chuong, Phong Thu, Phong Hien communes as well as Phong Dien town, the zone’s sand reserve is estimated at 127 million cubic metres. The sand in the area is suitable for processing high-grade glass, optical glass and solar cells, he said.

Covering 7.3ha in Phong Hien Commune, the 21-million-euro (more than US$24.5 million) project has a designed capacity of 230,000 tonnes of products a year. It will specialise in producing high quality low-iron sand and quartz powder. The plant’s products will be provided for domestic manufacturers of super-white glass and solar panel glass.

VPG General Director Phuong Minh Hue said this is the first plant of its kind in Viet Nam. Paez Malletz, general director of Quarzwerke Group, said that the ground-breaking showed the effective cooperation between the two firms aiming to upgrade the production chain using white sand.

In addition, the project will help attract investors that produce solar cells and glass phone screens to invest in the area, he added. — VNS