Aluminium of Kazakhstan stopped metal gallium production

/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]