On July 26, General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, attended a ceremony announcing Vietnam’s first aluminum ingot products at Nhan Co Industrial Park in Lam Dong Province.

The ceremony was also attended by representatives of central ministries and agencies, leaders of several provinces and cities, and officials from Lam Dong Province.

The event was jointly organized by the Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee and Tran Hong Quan Metallurgy Co., Ltd.

Mastering technology, demonstrating manufacturing capabilities

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Giang described the unveiling of Vietnam’s first aluminum ingots as a milestone of particular significance for the metallurgical industry, helping strengthen the economy’s self-reliance and advance the Party and State’s policy of developing the bauxite, alumina, aluminum smelting and downstream aluminum industries.

The achievement will provide new momentum for the metallurgical sector, promote processing and manufacturing industries, and strengthen the economy’s capacity for self-reliance, the Deputy Prime Minister said. It also demonstrates the capabilities, determination and ambition of Vietnamese businesses, contributing to the development of a modern aluminum industry that generates greater added value and moves toward greater independence and self-sufficiency.

The successful production of aluminum ingots also demonstrates that Vietnamese businesses have mastered the technology, developed effective management capabilities and built a workforce capable of meeting production requirements. At the same time, it marks a shift from exporting raw materials and semi-finished products toward producing basic materials for a range of key industries.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Giang, Vietnam has some of the world’s largest bauxite resources. Geological surveys and assessments indicate that the country has around 5.8 billion tons of bauxite resources, concentrated primarily in the Central Highlands. This provides an important advantage for developing a deeper-processing aluminum industry that creates greater value, conserves resources, protects the environment and reduces dependence on imports.

The Deputy Prime Minister called on ministries and agencies to continue improving mechanisms and policies supporting the development of aluminum smelting. He also urged Lam Dong Province to accelerate planning for industrial, energy and logistics infrastructure and quickly complete a proposal to establish a southern coastal economic zone to strengthen connectivity between the Central Highlands and the South Central Coast. The project investor, meanwhile, must ensure progress, operate efficiently, conserve energy and strictly comply with environmental protection requirements.

According to the organizers, the Dak Nong Aluminum Electrolysis Plant has a total investment of nearly US$1.07 billion and covers more than 128 hectares. It is a key project under Vietnam’s aluminum industry development strategy through 2030, with a vision to 2045.

After 11 years of development, the plant has completed its first phase, with an annual capacity of 150,000 tons. The second phase is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026, raising total capacity to 300,000 tons per year, while the third phase is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027, bringing capacity to 450,000 tons annually.

The project completes an integrated value chain spanning bauxite mining, alumina processing and aluminum metal production. Its aluminum ingots have a purity of 99.71% and are produced using 500kA electrolysis technology, laying the foundation for industries including manufacturing, automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, renewable energy and aviation.

Xuan Ngoc