Rubber latex processing plant inaugurated in Son La
The Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) held a ceremony to inaugurate its rubber latex processing plant in Thuan Chau district in the northern mountainous province of Son La on December 26.
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The construction of the plant started in early 2018 with total investment of nearly VND110 billion (US$4.7 million).
Covering nearly 16 hectares in Thuan Chau’s Tong Lenh commune, the plant is designed to have a processing capacity of 9,000 tonnes of rubber latex per year.
The project was divided into two phases with the first one with annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes. The second phase is scheduled to be inaugurated in 2020 with capacity of 3,000 tonnes per annum.
According to Director of the Son La Rubber Joint Stock Company Ho Anh Duc, when the factory is put into operation, it will increase the value of rubber latex four times from about VND10 million (US$429) per tonne to VND40 million (US$1,717) per tonne.
It also helps generate jobs for over 200 workers, he added.
At present, Son La has over 6,000 hectares of rubber, including over 2,300 hectares for harvesting. In 2018, the province’s rubber latex output was estimated at over 5,000 tonnes.
Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Cam Ngoc Minh said the development of rubber trees will help increase the forest coverage, minimise flash floods, and reduce poverty.
He asked the Son La Rubber Joint Stock Company to quickly complete the waste treatment project and closely work with local authorities and farmers to ensure effective business and environmental protection.
The plant will be operated 10 months in a year. This is the first latex processing plant in the northwestern region after more than 10 years of developing rubber trees.
