Vietnam’s 450,000-tonne aluminium project enters trial production four months ahead of schedule

Vietnam’s first electrolytic aluminium project has reached another major milestone, with the second phase of the 450,000-tonne-per-year (tpa) Da Nong project producing its first batch of molten primary aluminium on October 31, 2026. The milestone, achieved by China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. (NFC), which is the project’s general contractor, came four months and three days ahead of the contractual schedule, officially moving the second phase from construction to trial production.

The latest development builds on the progress made during the first phase, which produced its first batch of molten primary aluminium on July 14. By September 15, all electrolytic cells in the first phase had successfully started producing aluminium. The second phase’s early start-up marks another important step towards bringing the project’s planned production capacity on stream.

Reaching this stage required careful coordination amid challenging construction conditions. Work on the second phase coincided with the local rainy season, while overlapping activities across multiple disciplines and disruptions to cross-border transportation of equipment and materials added to the complexity of execution.

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NFC addressed these challenges through its EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) management capabilities, coordinating design, procurement, construction and commissioning as part of an integrated process. Experience gained during the first phase also helped the company align equipment manufacturing, on-site installation and commissioning, allowing construction and start-up activities to progress safely and in an orderly manner.

Beyond the construction milestone, the project carries wider significance for Vietnam's aluminium industry. As the country's first electrolytic aluminium project, Da Nong marks the first time primary aluminium has been produced on a large scale domestically. It also represents the overseas expansion of Chinese standards and equipment and reflects growing industrial capacity cooperation between China and Vietnam.

With the second phase now entering trial production, NFC will focus on the baking and start-up of the remaining electrolytic cells. The company plans to gradually release production capacity while continuing trial production and working towards stable operations at the designed capacity. Through its engineering capabilities and project execution, NFC aims to establish Da Nong as a benchmark overseas project.

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