SHANGHAI Oct.12 (CBI China)--NDRC recently approved the 1 million mt p.a. alumina expansion project (2nd phase) of Jinbei Aluminum Industry Corporation, which is scheduled to come on stream in 2008.

    Jinbei Aluminum Industry Corporation was designated by China’s Central Government as one of eight major domestic aluminum bases.  According to development plan, Jinbei Aluminum will become a large-scale aluminum industry base integrating a 2 million mt p.a. alumina plant, a 500kt p.a. aluminum plant , and a 400kt p.a. semi-finished product processing plant.  The plan covers construction of the 2nd phase alumina project as well as the affiliated 1.5 million mt p.a. bauxite project.  Total investment is estimated to be RMB 5.5 billion.

    CBI believes domestic alumina supply will increase upon the project’s completion and will boost China’s self-sufficiency rate in 2008, and will help feed the growing demand in the coming 2 - 3 years.