Release: Showa Denko K.K. to start joint FS for alumina project in Indonesia
Wednesday, April 5 2006 - 08:05 AM WIB
SDK is currently producing aluminum hydrate and alumina for chemicals at its Yokohama Plant and is selling the product mainly in the Japanese market. These products are being produced from bauxite ore that contains approximately 50% by weight of alumina. The bauxite residue, consisting mainly of iron oxide and silicon dioxide, is disposed of in the sea based on the domestic law. SDK is planning to terminate the disposal of bauxite residue in the sea by 2015.
As the Tayan district has reserves of high-quality bauxite, the four parties will finalize the feasibility of producing 300,000 tons/year of chemical-grade alumina and aluminum hydrate based on the Tayan bauxite.
The parties will establish a joint venture company in or around July this year to conduct a joint feasibility study of the project. The company will conclude the study by the end of this year, determining the amount of required investment and ways of financing while carrying out an environmental assessment. Based on the results of the study, the parties will make a final decision on the implementation of the project.
Showa Denko is a major manufacturer and marketer of chemical products serving a wide range of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic and computer industries. SDK makes petrochemicals (ethylene, propylene), aluminum products (ingots, rods) electronic equipment (hard disks for computers), and inorganic materials (ceramics, carbons). The company has overseas operations and a joint venture with Netherlands-based Montell and Nippon Petrochemicals to make and market polypropylenes. In March 2001, SDK merged with Showa Denko Aluminum Corporation to strengthen the high-value-added fabricated aluminum products operations, and is today developing next-generation optical communications-use wafers.(end of release)