Consortium of Chinese firms to build bauxite smelter in Bintan island

A consortium of several Chinese companies plan to build a bauxite smelting plant in Bintan island, Riau Island province, with total investment of about Rp 1.4 trillion (US$148.4 million), Kompas reported on Saturday.

M. Sani, the Governor of Riau Island province, said in Batam on Friday that the Chinese consortium would build the bauxite smelter on a 300-hectare area in Kalang Batang, Bintan regency. ?The provisional permit from the central government has been issued,? he said.

Sani said that the smelter was expected to begin operation in 2014 when the government?s ban on export of unprocessed metals was fully implemented.

With the operation of the smelter, Riau Island will be able to export aluminum or processed bauxite, he said.(*)