China’s Guizhou Galuminium puts 800,000 tpy alumina capacity on maintenance

Guizhou Galuminium, one of the biggest alumina producers of China, has put all production lines at its alumina refineries under maintenance on account of the Big Data Expo scheduled for opening on May 25, Shanghai Metals Market reported.

The alumina producer put up the "on maintenance" notice effective from May 15. The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2017 will be held from May 25 till May 28 in Guiyang City.

The closure at the alumina refineries involves 800,000 tonnes per annum alumina capacity. Guizhou Galuminium said that the maintenance is scheduled to last seven days initially, but may extend to few more days depending on further government requirement.

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China’s state-run metals consultancy firm Beijing Antaike declared in March that the country’s alumina capacity would rise by 6.65 million tonnes per annum by the end of this year. Forecasted alumina output will total at 67.8 million tonnes this year, increasing by 6.9 per cent to 72.5 million tonnes in 2018. Guizhou alone will pitch in 1.6 million tonnes per annum, with refineries from Shanxi, Shandong and Sichuan contributing to the rest of the total amount.

Alumina supply in China is expected to be 71.4 million tonnes in 2017, increasing to 76.5 million tonnes in 2018. Demand for the mineral is expected to rise from 71.24 million tonnes this year to 75.16 million tonnes in 2018, Antaike reported.