Aluminium of Kazakhstan stopped metal gallium production
09.03.04 14:30
/REUTERS, Almaty, Tatyana Seroshtanova, March 9, 04/ - The only alumina
producer in the Central Asia - Aluminium of Kazakhstan OJSC - stopped primary
metal gallium production because of abrupt falling of prices at the world
market, informed the press-service of Eurasian industrial association.
"The reason of production stoppage is unfavorable situation at the world
market. Since 2000 prices for metal gallium fell more than 7.5 times", - the
message says.
Company's representative has said that at present in the average one kilogram
of gallium at the world exchanges costs about $1,000.
Chemical-metallurgical workshop of Aluminium of Kazakhstan produced every
year 25,000 kilogram of metal gallium of high frequency 6N, which was used in
military, space technics, in monocrystals production while creation of
electronic computers, cellular phones, light-emitting diodes, says the
company's message.
"Gallium was exported at market prices to Japan, USA and Europe", - the
message says.
Aluminium of Kazakhstan, which is comprised by Eurasian industrial association,
in 2003 increased alumina production by 2.5% in comparison with previous year,
to 1.416 m. tons. The company export the biggest part of production to Russia's
aluminum plants.
Eurasian industrial association also comprises TNC Kazchrome (unites
Aktyubinsk and Aksu plants of ferroalloys and Don ore-mining and processing
combine), Sokolovsko-Sarbayskoye ore-mining and processing amalgamation
(SSOMPA), Eurasian energy corporation (EEC), which is in Pavlodar oblast and
which comprises since 2003 coal bed of Shubarkol Komir JSC in Karaganda oblast.
[2004-03-09]