ĐẮK NÔNG — Enterprises have a responsibility to help locals improve living conditions, Deputy PM Trịnh Đình Dũng told people, businesses and workers in Nhân Cơ Commune in Central Highland’s Đắk Nông Province.

Dũng made the request at a working visit on Thursday to the Nhân Cơ Alumina Plant, the country’s first alumina production project, and the Đắk Nông Alumina Extraction Plant in the Central Highland province.

He emphasised this responsibility, saying enterprises must pay tribute to locals who move their premises to make room for the plants.

Điểu N’Tới, a resident who persuaded other locals to move while working at the Land Clearance Board of the alumina plant project, said locals understood and supported the development of the plants.

They hoped the plants’ operation would help create more jobs, thus helping in increasing their income and improving living conditions.

Deputy PM Dũng also said environmental protection and community health must be given priority during operation of the Nhân Cơ alumina plant. The Government leader commended the plant investor -- Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin) -- on selecting advanced technology for both production and waste treatment for the plant.

He noted that the plant has contributed significantly to economic growth in the Central Highlands in general and Đắk Nông in particular, creating jobs for locals. The plant’s products are input materials for the alumina industry and other industries in Việt Nam.

Nhân Cơ Alumina Plant, the country’s first alumina production project, is invested by Vinacomin.

With total investment surpassing VNĐ16.8 trillion (US$739.2 million ), the Nhân Cơ project consists of the Nhân Cơ alumina plant and bauxite mining, with capacity of some 650,000 tonnes of alumina annually. 

The Nhân Cơ plant is now undergoing a trial run and is scheduled to be handed over to Vinacomin within the first quarter of 2017. 

As of January 11, it produced 67.301 tonnes of hydrate and 21,828 tonnes of alumina, in total. The plant shipped 100 tonnes of hydrate to the Republic of Korea in December 2016 and another 100 tonnes to Japan in early January. — VNS