Bauxite-alumina industry

Bauxite mining in Dak Nong

Striving to become the largest metallurgical center in the country.

Dak Nong is one of the localities with rich and diverse natural resources, with 218 mines and mining sites, including 16 types of minerals with large reserves and high economic value. Among them, it has the largest bauxite reserves in the country, estimated at approximately 5.4 billion tons. Most of the bauxite ore is located at altitudes above groundwater and surface water levels, as well as in open pits, making it very favorable for exploitation.

According to Decision No. 167/2007/QD-TTg dated November 1, 2007, of the Prime Minister approving the Zoning Plan for Exploration, Exploitation, Processing, and Utilization of Bauxite Ore for the period 2007-2015, with consideration to 2025, bauxite in Dak Nong province is planned into 13 mining areas, with estimated reserves and resources of approximately 1.436 billion tons of concentrate, equivalent to 3.425 billion tons of raw ore, with an aluminum content exceeding 40%. To date, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group (TKV) has conducted exploration in 7 mining areas, which have been assessed and approved by the National Mineral Reserve Council. The total explored area is 1,605 km2, accounting for 24.6% of the province's total area, with a total approved reserve and resources of nearly 993 million tons of concentrate. The Nhan Co alumina plant project, invested by TKV (Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group), with a capacity of 650,000 tons of alumina per year, began construction in February 2010 and is one of two large-scale pilot projects.

Overview of the Nhan Co alumina plant

The Dak Nong Provincial Party Committee's resolution for the 2020-2025 term identified the development of the alumina and aluminum smelting industry as one of the three pillars of the local economy. Dak Nong strives to become the largest metallurgical center in the country by 2030. At a meeting in August 2023 between the Standing Committee of the Dak Nong Provincial Party Committee, the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, and TKV (Vietnam Coal and Mineral Corporation), Mr. Ngo Thanh Danh, Secretary of the Dak Nong Provincial Party Committee, affirmed: "The province wants a breakthrough in development solely through bauxite. Therefore, the locality will research and develop a special mechanism for the development of the bauxite-alumina-aluminum industry in Dak Nong."

According to the Dak Nong Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, Dak Nong aims to become a dynamic and sustainable economic hub in the Central Highlands by 2030. Industry will be the driving force for growth, transforming Dak Nong into a national center for bauxite-aluminum and downstream aluminum industries; a regional center for renewable energy; and a center for resort and eco-tourism.

Aluminum products manufactured at the Nhan Co Aluminum Plant - Dak Nong

In April 2024, TKV worked with the People's Committee of Dak Nong province on the implementation of bauxite projects in the province. According to the "Overall Development Plan for the Bauxite - Alumina - Aluminum Sector of TKV until 2030, with a vision to 2045," in Dak Nong province, TKV will invest in expanding the Nhan Co alumina complex to approximately 2 million tons of alumina per year; and invest in a new bauxite-aluminum-aluminum complex in Dak Nong 2 with a capacity of 2 million tons of alumina per year and 0.5 - 1 million tons of aluminum per year. TKV will also implement two exploration projects and five bauxite-aluminum-aluminum projects with a total estimated investment of over 182,000 billion VND. To prepare for the implementation of these upcoming projects in Dak Nong, TKV has developed resource plans regarding investment capital. Nearly 1 trillion VND has been allocated to explore bauxite mines, to support the implementation of alumina-aluminum projects in the province…

A solar power project in Cu Jut (Dak Nong) has become operational.

Great opportunities for renewable energy development.

Besides bauxite mineral resources, Dak Nong also has great potential in renewable energy. According to the draft report on the Power Development Plan VIII by the Institute of Energy, Dak Nong has a technical potential of 59,010 MW for ground-mounted solar power, 6,318 MW for wind power (wind speed 2.5 - 6 m/s), and 116 MW for biomass power… To date, Dak Nong has put into operation 2 solar power projects with a total capacity of 106 MWp (Cu Jut and Truc Son solar power plants), and 1 wind power project with a capacity of 50 MW (Dak Hoa wind power plant). The province has proposed adding 10 solar power projects with a capacity of 872 MWp and 14 wind power projects with a total capacity of 1,004 MW to the plan. In addition, there are 22 hydropower plants currently in operation with a total capacity of 1,640 MW…

Wind power in Dak Nong has great potential for development.

With its abundant natural resources, Dak Nong province is committed to promoting the development of alumina and aluminum smelting industries. Simultaneously, it focuses on expanding the scale and increasing the proportion of wind, solar, and biomass power sources, creating momentum for the province's economic restructuring towards industrialization and modernization, and narrowing the economic gap with other localities in the Central Highlands and the entire country. Along with proactively proposing and accessing new economic development policies from the central government, the province also implements a policy of exploiting non-state resources by attracting large, strategic investors with strong financial capabilities to invest in large-scale projects with significant socio-economic benefits in the area.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/cong-nghiep-bo-xit-alumin-nhom-va-nang-luong-tai-tao-tru-cot-phat-trien-kinh-te-cua-dak-nong-230629.html