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INDIA: Construction plans for proposed $550,000,000 alumina refinery and associated 30 Mw power plant move ahead, ASHAPURA MINECHEM LTD. [India] - Order #: 053706.

Article Excerpt
PROJECT OVERVIEW:

The local ASHAPURA MINECHEM signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last November with the government of Gujarat regarding the construction of an alumina refinery in the state's bauxite-rich region of Kutch, adjoining Pakistan. Construction plans under consideration call for building a plant with an initial installed production capacity of 500,000 tons per year (t/y) as well as an associated 30 Mw power plant. Longer-term plans could also include increasing output up to 1 million t/y.

As things currently stand, ASHAPURA has submitted a project feasibility study to the MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY and, an approval could soon me received. If the project goes ahead as envisioned it is expected to cost about $550,000,000 to build.

GUJARAT MINERAL DEVELOPMENT CORP. (GMDC) of India which was previously involved in a similar and, subsequently aborted development project has exclusive mining rights for bauxite ore estimated at 40 million tons in the Kutch region. As a result, the company could lease the mines to the new developers. In so doing, GMDC would supply the bauxite ore to whoever wins the right to build the plant and it could even supply lignite. Whether GMDC becomes part of the project will depend on the government and the new promoter.

ASHAPURA is considered to be the sixth largest producer of bentonite in the world with reserves of 25 million tones and exports to over 30 countries. It is also...

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