Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has pledged to provide any necessarysupport for Tan Rai bauxite – aluminium complex in the Central Highlandsprovince of Lam Dong, saying that it has performed up to expectationssince its trial operations began in October 2013.

Invested by the Vietnam Coal and Minerals Industry Group (Vinacomin),the complex includes a bauxite mining plant, a sorting facility, and analuminium plant with a capacity of 650,000 tonnes annually.

Holding a working session with Vinacomin and the complex’s managementboard in Lam Dong on February 10, the leader said the complex has addedabout 3.5 trillion VND (166 million USD) to the national industrialproduction value and 200 billion VND (9.5 million USD) to the localState budget in 2014.

If it ran at full capacity,it would likely contribute more than 4.5 trillion VND (214 million USD)to the industrial production value, he said.

Thecomplex raked in about 160 million USD from the export of 490,000 tonnesof aluminium last year. It targets 540,000 tonnes this year and hasalready signed contracts with clients from Switzerland, Singapore, theRepublic of Korea, China, and Hong Kong.

In thedomestic market, consumption deals have been reached with nearly 20firms in construction materials and chemical industries nationwide.

Nearly 1,200 jobs were generated with an average monthly salary of 6 million VND (280 USD).

The leader suggested expanding operations by allowing strategic private investors to become stakeholders in the business.

He also requested the complex focus on protecting the environment andensuring the safety of “red mud” – or bauxite residue reservoirs.

The PM’s visit to Lam Dong is part of his ongoing tour of several Central Highlands provinces.-VNA