Work to mine bauxite ore began at the Tan Rai mine in Bao Lam district, in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, on Mar. 16.

This was the first operation of the Lam Dong Bauxite-Alumina Complex, nearly four years after the project received approval.

The mining works, conducted by the Ha Tu Coal Joint Stock Company under the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), will supply materials for aluminium processing at the complex, which is scheduled to start later this year.

Addressing the opening event, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said that the Lam Dong Bauxite-Alumina project is a key industrial project in the country and the largest for Vinacomin.

So far, all construction components of the complex have followed the schedule and quality standards, said the minister. He said the project’s major component - the aluminium processing plant - will become operational by the committed time.

The Minister assigned Vinacomin to closely coordinate with Lam Dong province to complete the project’s implementation and to promptly put the complex into stable production, following the Government’s plan.

According to Vinacomin, the complex still faces difficulties in electricity supply and human resource availability. However, the group pledged to try its best to put the aluminium processing plant into trial operation by the end of the year./.