Vietnamese Firm Develops $1B Project in Laos, Aiming for 2028 Production Start
[SMM Aluminum Express News] A Vietnamese firm, Vietnam-Phuong Group (VPG), is developing a major integrated bauxite-alumina-aluminum project in Dak Cheung district, Sekong Province, southern Laos. The USD 1 billion Bauxite-Alumina Mining Industrial Complex, spanning nearly 9,000 hectares (Laos' largest Vietnamese mining investment), began construction in late 2022. It received fresh Lao government approval in September 2025 after mining studies and site clearance. Once fully operational, the aluminum smelter is expected to produce up to 1 million tonnes annually, with production starting in 2028. The project supports Laos' industrial growth, energy needs, and potential exports while strengthening Vietnam-Laos economic ties.