Chalco Guizhou Puts 500,000-tpy Maiba Bauxite Mine into Full Operation

SHANGHAI, Oct. 15 (SMM) – Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd (Chalco)’s Guizhou branch put its Maiba bauxite mine, which has a designed capacity of 500,000 tpy, into full operation this month.

Maiba mine’s operation can be seen as ``milestone’’ for Chalco Guizhou to move from open-pit mining to underground mining, the industry information provider aladdiny.com reported over the weekend.

With a total investment of 430 million yuan ($70 million), Chalco Guizhou’s began construction of the Maiba bauxite mine in August 2007. It is expected to benefit China’s largest aluminium producer with a higher percentage of self-supplied ores and lower alumina production costs.