BlueScope mulls upping capacity

BlueScope mulls upping capacity

MELBOURNE: BlueScope Steel Ltd., Australia's biggest
steelmaker, is considering doubling the capacity of a metallic-
coating and painting factory in Indonesia as demand for its
products increases.

The company may spend between A$80 million (US$61 million) and
A$150 million on the plant and is conducting a study which could
be completed by the end of the year, Sandi Harwood, a spokeswoman
for Melbourne-based BlueScope, said on Tuesday.

"We're very positive on Indonesia and it's a growth market for
us," Harwood said. The capacity of the plant, located in Cilegon,
Banten province, 100 kilometers west of Jakarta, may be increased
to 200,000 tons of products a year, from 100,000 tons, she said.

BlueScope is spending more than A$1 billion through fiscal
2007 expanding and adding plants in Australia, China, Thailand,
Vietnam and India to meet an increase in demand in Asia for
construction materials and steel products. -- Bloomberg