Target of 7 million tons of alumina, aluminum and transportation infrastructure requirements

Aluminum and alumina production is increasing rapidly and putting pressure on the transportation system. In that context, the need for investment in transportation infrastructure, especially highways, becomes...

Pressure is increasing

Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV) has invested in and put into operation two bauxite mining and alumina production projects in the Central Highlands.

Of which, Lam Dong Bauxite - Aluminum Complex Project (Tan Rai Alumina Factory) has been operating since October 2013 and Nhan Co Alumina Factory Project ( Dak Nong ) has been operating since July 2017. These two bauxite mining and aluminum production complexes both have a capacity of 650,000 tons/year.

By the end of 2024, the two factories had paid more than 10,300 billion VND to the budget, created jobs for nearly 2,400 local workers, and supported social security with more than 500 billion VND...

Nhan Co Alumina Plant is one of two mining projects.

Currently, bauxite ore from the mines to the processing plant is transported by specialized vehicles, using internal roads in the mine. Bauxite concentrate (after washing) is brought to the alumina production plant by conveyor belt, covered with a roof.

The alumina products of both factories are exported. After processing, the alumina products will be transported by trucks by road from the factory to Go Dau port ( Dong Nai province). In the opposite direction, these trucks will carry coal from the port to the factories.

According to TKV, each alumina plant transports goods back and forth about 23,000 times a year. The transport vehicles have large loads, travel on steep, narrow mountain passes and through residential areas, so they can easily cause congestion, posing a potential risk to traffic safety.

National Highway 28 through Dak Nong is cramped and degraded in many places.

In its plan, around 2030, TKV will increase capacity to 2 million tons per factory. In Lam Dong, TKV will build an aluminum electrolysis plant with a capacity of 0.5 million tons/year.

In Dak Nong, TKV will invest in a new Dak Nong 2 bauxite - alumina - aluminum complex with a capacity of 2 million tons of alumina and 0.5 million tons of aluminum/year.

It is expected that after the investment, TKV can produce a maximum output of 6 million tons of alumina and 1 million tons of aluminum per year. In Dak Nong alone, the designed output can reach 4 million tons of alumina and 0.5 million tons of aluminum. The demand for transporting goods will increase more than 6 times compared to the present, putting great pressure on the transportation system.

Not only TKV, many domestic corporations have submitted documents to invest in, exploit and process bauxite in Dak Nong with large total registered capital.

Current and upcoming aluminum transportation is a challenge for Dak Nong's transportation infrastructure.

According to the Central Government’s plan, Dak Nong will build 4 more factories for mining and processing bauxite with a total investment of not less than 1 billion USD for each project. This is a great opportunity for Dak Nong to break through and develop commensurate with its potential and advantages.

However, the transportation network of the Central Highlands region is still limited. In Dak Nong, the only mode of transportation is road. This is a major bottleneck for socio-economic development in general and the expansion of production projects along the aluminum value chain in particular.

Waiting for the highway to make a breakthrough

According to the mineral planning approved by the Prime Minister in July 2023, Dak Nong has more than 57% of the country's bauxite reserves with nearly 1.8 billion tons of ore.

In the period 2021 - 2030, the area of ​​bauxite planned for exploration and exploitation in Dak Nong is about 179,600 hectares, accounting for 27% of the province's natural area.

Ho Chi Minh Road through Dak Nong

In March 2022, the Politburo concluded and oriented the development of the bauxite - alumina - aluminum industry according to the aluminum value chain. The Prime Minister has determined to build Dak Nong into an industrial center for bauxite - alumina - aluminum mining.

Standing Vice Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen said that due to limited resources, investment in transport infrastructure in Dak Nong is not synchronous.

To promote advantages and promote development aspirations, Dak Nong identifies the special importance of investing in developing transport infrastructure.

The Resolution of the 12th Provincial Party Congress (term 2020 - 2025) continues to identify that developing transport infrastructure is one of the three breakthroughs of the province.

Most of Dak Nong's current alumina is transported via the Ho Chi Minh road.

In recent times, Dak Nong has actively coordinated with Binh Phuoc province to promote the implementation of the Gia Nghia - Chon Thanh Expressway Project. This project was approved by the National Assembly in June 2024.

At the end of April 2025, Binh Phuoc and Dak Nong provinces simultaneously organized the groundbreaking ceremony for the component project passing through the area, belonging to the expressway project. It is expected that the expressway will be invested and basically completed in 2026, put into operation and use in 2027.

In another direction, Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces have worked and agreed to invest in local connecting traffic routes. In particular, the two provinces are promoting the upgrading and expansion of National Highway 28 and the construction of the dynamic traffic route Gia Nghia (Dak Nong) - Bao Lam (Lam Dong).

Currently, the provinces are promoting the survey of the expressway connecting Phan Thiet City (Binh Thuan) - Da Lat City (Lam Dong) - Gia Nghia City (Dak Nong). The three provinces will meet and agree on the most reasonable investment plan to propose the Central Government to add this expressway to the planning.

If the roads are upgraded and the highway connecting the three provinces is formed, Dak Nong will have an additional connecting axis to the East, towards the sea.

The closed conveyor system brings bauxite after washing to Nhan Co Alumina Factory for production, contributing to reducing environmental pollution.

The transportation route for the aluminum production chain in particular and goods in general from Dak Nong will have more options when moving through Lam Dong, connecting to Ho Chi Minh City via the Dau Giay - Lien Khuong expressway which is being promoted for investment.

Standing Vice Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee Le Trong Yen emphasized: The expressway is expected to open a new chapter for Dak Nong and the Central Highlands.

These roads will contribute to removing bottlenecks, unlocking resources, and creating breakthroughs for the aluminum industry in particular and the socio-economy in general.

In addition to roads, Dak Nong is proposing that the Central Government prioritize research and investment in the construction of the Dak Nong - Chon Thanh railway to connect with the Trans-Asia railway, down to Thi Vai port to serve the transportation of alumina, refined aluminum and post-aluminum products. The province also proposed to supplement the planning of the Dak Nong - Lam Dong - Binh Thuan railway to connect the road to bring the chain of industrial aluminum goods to the seaport.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/muc-tieu-7-trieu-tan-alumin-nhom-va-doi-hoi-ha-tang-giao-thong-250542.html