Safety top priority for bauxite projects

Another strict condition has been set for the Central Highland’s controversial bauxite project.

The government would only allow a red sludge reservoir to be built after getting positive conclusions from foreign consultants regarding environmental protection measures, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Environmental and technology issues relating to the bauxite projects’ red sludge reservoirs were high on the agenda of the National Assembly deputies’ questions for Dung in a face-to-face session last week.

Worries over threats of red sludge spills if the reservoir breaks have been sparked by the Hungarian tragedy several months ago.

The government then required the project’s investor Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) and relevant ministries to make overall checks of the projects.

Vietnam is at the final stage of the construction of the first bauxite and alumina plant Tan Rai in Lam Dong province. The project has a designed capacity of 650,000 tonnes of alumina a year. It started construction work in November, 2008 and will be put into operation in April, 2011.

The second project Nhan Co in Dak Nong province is also undergoing preparation and will start construction in early 2011 and operate in late 2012.

According to Dung, Vietnam was among leading countries in the world regarding bauxite reserves, which was predicted to reach about 11 billion tonnes with the majority found in the Central Highlands.

That would be enough to ensure the long-term supply to the country’s alumina industry in the future, Dung said.

In early November, the consultation group including foreign experts went to the Central Highlands to make again an overall assessment of the red sludge reservoir design, construction and operation measures.

A Vietnamese delegation with members representing the investor and relevant ministries also concluded their trip in mid November to Hungary-based AJKA bauxite plant, which experienced the red sludge spilling disaster two months ago, to learn their experience and technology.

“The Hungarian experts also agreed about high safe technology and management solutions in Tan Rai reservoir,” Dung said.

Dung stressed that he would only gave nod to the continuance with the reservoir construction after the foreign consultants made a final conclusion about the issue.

The Vietnamese reservoir was designed by the Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco).

Vietnam targeted to develop three alumina projects during 2008-2010, including the Tan Rai, Nhan Co and Kon Ha Nung in Gia Lai province.

The three projects planned for 2011-2015 are the Dak Nong 2, 3 and 4, which have drawn interest from Chalco, Alcoa and BHPB.- VIR

Tags: Vietnam bauxite, Vietnam Bauxite projects