Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on February 10 inspected the progress of the Nhan Co Aluminum Plant in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

The Deputy PM lauded efforts of the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) – the project’s investors - as well as the local authorities in the implementation of the project.

He asked for closer coordination between the investors and relevant agencies to speed up the project.

It is necessary to step up the construction of a red sludge reservoir, ensuring environmental protection, he said.

The minister also emphasised the need to ensure the quality of the construction of the plant, while asking the investors to give priority to the ground clearance as well as compensation and resettlement for local people.

The plant should offer training courses and employment to local labourers, especially those from ethnic groups, he said.

According to a Vinacomin report, the project is 70 percent complete with a total implementation value of 8.2 trillion VND

The plant will be put on trial operation in the third quarter this year, so that the first products can be produced by the end of 2014.

In the first phase from 2007 to 2014, Nhan Co Aluminum Plant, with a total investment of 11.76 trillion VND (552.720 million USD) is designed to produce 650,000 tonnes of aluminum a year and double its output after 2015, using advanced and environmentally-friendly technology.-VNA