1. Full name:     Trinh Phuong Ngoc                    2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: 26/08/1991                    4. Place of birth: Tuyen Quang

5. Admission decision number: 2999/QĐ-ĐHKHTN dated 18/08/2016 of the University of Science, Viet Nam National University.

6. Changes in academic process: Decision No.5009/QD-DHKHTN, dated on 30/12/2016, on recognizing the thesis topic and supervisor; Decision No.3311/QD-DHKHTN, dated on 28/09/2017, on adjusting the official thesis title and supervisors of the doctoral thesis; Decisions No. 567/QĐ-ĐHKHTN, dated on 14/02/2020, on the extension of training and thesis defense for PhD students by Rector of VNU University of Science.

7. Official thesis title: Research and propose the orientation for rational use of bauxite resource in the Central Highlands.

8. Major: Environmental Science                        9. Code: 9440301.01

10. Supervisors: Prof.ScDr. Dang Trung Thuan; Prof.Dr. Hoang Xuan Co

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis

The approach to sustainable development and environmental economics is the main methodology throughout the thesis, together with using cost-benefit analysis and risk analysis, the thesis has clarified a number of pressing and hot issues related to the use of bauxite resource in the Central Highlands, where are rich in natural resources, but are multiethnic, educated low, poor, and a sensitive area of ​​border security. The most pressing issue is the environmental – economic efficiency of the two pilot complexes of exploiting and processing bauxite Tan Rai (Lam Dong) and Nhan Co (Dak Nong) in the Central Highlands after more than 10 years of operation.

            The results of the extended cost-benefit analysis and compared with the conventional cost-benefit analysis for the two pilot complexes Tan Rai and Nhan Co, showing that if calculating more indicates abour environment and society, the efficiency is not as expected, namely: (i) Tan Rai complex is ineffective with the NPV value of minus 5,167,422 million VND, IRR = 6.27% < r (10%), B/C equals 0.89; (ii) Nhan Co complex is effiective with an NPV of 145,862 million VND; IRR = 10.1%> r (10%), B/C is 1.003; Payback period is 27 years and 1 month. The efficiency of the Nhan Co complex is greater than that of Tan Rai because Nhan Co shortens the operating time to reach full capacity and the operating process is deployed more reasonably; (iii) Dak Nong Aluminum Electrolytic Plant offers high overall efficiency if the electricity price is less than 8.3Uscents per kWh. (iv) The thesis has identified a model of mining and processing bauxite ore with optimal benefits, which is to follow the product supply chain from exploit bauxite ore, produce alumina and electrolysis aluminum metal. This is a best choice for the development of the aluminum industry in the Central Highlands.

In the process of operating production activities for more than 10 years, there have been many risky incidents, causing damage to equipment and assets, especially fatal accidents, the complexes have to spend a lot of money to overcome. Under the notion that risk is an uncertain event, but when it does, the damage is enormous, and the risk is a probability function of the hazard and the degree of vulnerability. The thesis quantified risks and put that result into the extended cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the efficiency of Tan Rai, Nhan Co and Dak Nong aluminum electrolysis plants, based on that proposing solutions to prevent and minimize damage caused by risks, in order to reduce product costs, increase profits and increase economic efficiency for the complexes.

Based on natural conditions, natural resources, especially bauxite ore in weathered basalt crust; the socio-economic-environmental context, and the specificity of the Central Highlands; the efficiency of bauxite mining and processing activities in the past 10 years, the thesis proposes an overall solution for the rational exploitation and use of bauxite resource in the Central Highlands. The perspective of sustainable development strategy is used, with the long-term goal is to develop the bauxite - aluminum industry in an advanced and modern direction with high economic - social - environmental efficiency.

The main contents of the overall solution include: (i) Select a location in Dak Nong province to develop bauxite - alumina - aluminum industrial park; (ii) Time frame to 2030, vision to 2040; (iii) Small - medium scale of space; (iv) In the first phase, electricity source is from domestic and additional purchase from Laos; (v) Upgrading traffic system for the Southeast - Central Highlands route, including railway and highroad; (vi) Develop of mechanical engineering and supporting industries; (vii) On-site human resource training with support from the Tan Rai and Nhan Co complexes; (viii) Establish resettlement areas and local sustainable livelihoods. The development of the bauxite-aluminum industry in the Central Highlands is oriented towards the sustainable development criteria in Vietnam's Agenda 21, with the proposal in the thesis is to build and concretize some sustainable development indicators for aluminum industry in the Central Highlands includes: 3 economic indicators, 4 social indicators and 7 environmental indicators.

The scientific and technical solutions proposed in the thesis through specific research on the activities of the two pilot complexes of Tan Rai and Nhan Co, thereby generalizing the exploitation and processing of bauxite ore in the Central Highlands, including : Planning for land environment restoration after bauxite ore exploitation; Solution of reusing red mud; Enhance the role and participation of community and corporate social responsibility; Management, monitoring and environmental protection in bauxite mining in the Central Highlands; Forecasts, prevention, response, mitigation of environmental incidents, risks, ... are presented very clearly in the thesis, are consistent with the actual situation and feasible.

12. Paratical applicability, if any:

The thesis topic is urgent and topical related to the resource, economic and environmental assessment for the development orientation of the aluminum industry in Vietnam.

The research results are reference documents for environmental management agencies, policy makers, environmental scientists, etc, in adjusting sector development planning, expanding minerals mining activities in general and bauxite ore mining in particular; assessing the environmental - economic efficiency in the operation phase of the complexes as a basis for contributing to the development of the bauxite - aluminum industry in the Central Highlands.

13. Further research directions, if any

Research and build up scenarios for the development of Vietnam's aluminum industry in terms of environmental economy.

Research on developing bauxite ore quality and environmental economic efficiency maps in the Central Highlands.

Research on completing the set of criteria for the sustainable development of the bauxite - aluminum industry in Vietnam.

14. Thesis-related publications:

[1] Dang Trung Thuan, Trinh Phuong Ngoc (2016), "Economic-environmental trade-offs and transparency in resource exploitation and use", Proceedings The 3rd Scientific Conference "Effective management of natural resources and the environment for green growth”, Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment, p.304-310.

[2] Dang Trung Thuan, Trinh Phuong Ngoc (2018), “Environmental issues proceeding in exploitation and processing bauxite in the Central Highlands of Vietnam”, Proceedings Abstracts of The fifteenth regional Congress on Geology, Mineral and Energy resources of Southeast Asia (GEOSEA XV), ISBN 978-604-913-751-8, p.226, Hanoi.

[3] Trinh Phuong Ngoc (2020), “Vietnam's bauxite-aluminum industry and related environmental issues”, Journal of Natural Resources and Environment 4 (330), p.18-20.

[4] Trinh Phuong Ngoc, Hoang Xuan Co (2020), "Extend costs benefits analysis of bauxite mining and processing in the Central Highlands of Vietnam", VNU Journal of Science: Earth and Environment Sciences 36, 2 (2020), p.58-67.

[5] Trinh Phuong Ngoc, Cu Thi Sang (2020), "Costs benefits analysis of aluminum electrolytic projects in Vietnam", Journal of Environmental Economics 164 (2020), p.67-72.

[6] Trinh Phuong Ngoc, Dang Trung Thuan, Hoang Xuan Co (2020), "Orientation planning for the development of the bauxite - aluminum industry in Vietnam", Journal of Natural Resources and Environment 16 (342), p.22-24 .

[7] Trinh Phuong Ngoc, Dang Trung Thuan, Hoang Xuan Co (2020), "Solutions to improve the efficiency of land restoration after bauxite mining in the Central Highlands of Vietnam", Journal of Environment, Vol. Title III 2020, p.66-71.

[8] Trinh Phuong Ngoc, Dang Trung Thuan, Hoang Xuan Co, Tran Thi Nhung (2020), Risk analysis and proposal solutions for management in bauxite mining and processing in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Proceedings of the 4th National Scientific Conference on "Environment and sustainable development", November 21, 2020, Hanoi, p.511-522.

[9] Dang Trung Thuan, Trinh Phuong Ngoc (2020), Bauxite resources in the Central Highlands - The issue of exploitation, processing, use and sustainable development, Journal of Geology 373-374, p.213-221.