Krakatau to join Australian project<\/p>\n
ADELAIDE (Reuters): The South Australian Steel and Energy
\nProject (SASE) will involve Ausmelt Ltd, Meekatharra Minerals Ltd
\nand two Indonesian companies, the state-owned PT Krakatau Steel
\nand privately-owned PT Maritosa and Coalindo.<\/p>\n
Mines Minister Rob Kerin said yesterday while Krakatau
\nremained fully committed to the project, Maritosa was
\nreconsidering its position in the fall-out of the Asian economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
\"They are not really in a position just at the moment to make
\nan absolute out and out commitment that they will be in it right
\ndown the line,\" he said, adding the company would not be involved
\nin the demonstration plant phase.<\/p>\n
A A$15 million demonstration plant for the proposed US$500
\nmillion South Australian pig iron export project was expected to
\nbe completed within a year.<\/p>\n
Premier John Olsen said a A$6.5 million Federal research and
\ndevelopment grant would enable the plant to be constructed at
\nWhyalla, in the state's north, without delay.<\/p>\n
Olsen said the project would be aimed at the Asian market,
\ndespite the projected stalling in regional growth over the next
\ntwo to three years.<\/p>\n
\"Most people are forecasting a pickup in growth in future:
\nthat means a requirement for steel, therefore we can supply that
\nout of outback South Australia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kerin said the proposed A$1 billion Alice Springs to Darwin
\nrail link would make a great difference to the bottom line
\ncalculations for the SASE project, although how much difference
\nwould have to be assessed by a future feasibility study.<\/p>\n
\"The railway link is very important to this project because it
\nchanges the sums,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kerin said construction of the demonstration plant, capable of
\nproducing two tons of pig iron an hour, would begin in about six
\nmonths and was expected to be completed by the end of 1998.<\/p>\n
SASE has estimated the project, which would exploit Ausmelt
\ntechnology and Meekatharra's coal and iron ore reserves, would
\nproduce up to 2.5 million tons of pig iron each year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/krakatau-to-join-australian-project-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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