"Bauxite imports into China have grown significantly in recent...

"Bauxite imports into China have grown significantly in recent years with China forecast to run out of bauxite within 10 years"

http://au.biz.yahoo.com/090803/42/27s1l.html

This is from the ATI website regarding the Bao Loc bauxite project:

"Results point to a world class Bauxite region close to key Chinese markets. The site has good infrastructure in terms of roads, power and water due to the proximity to local plantations of tea, pine forests and coffee. A new railway is proposed to be built to the coast from Bao Loc to a new deepwater port to be built at Ke Ga which will be suitable for bauxite export. Road transport options exist for initial bauxite export following on site beneficiation.

Vietnam is extremely well located to serve the growing Asian region. The Bao Loc project will compete with Australian, Indonesian and Indian Bauxite in Asian markets.


Bauxite Processing

Bauxite in the region covers large areas and occurs as a shallow cap with depths of between 2 and 6 metres. Mining is relatively simple. Bauxite is then washed to remove impurities and may be marketed or processed using the Bayer process to produce pure Alumina. Alumina may also be marketed internationally or used as feed stock to another process used to produce Aluminium metal. Atlantic is reviewing options to mine and wash the bauxite for marketing as a high grade product into the growing Asian markets. The Company is of the view that the product will have both a quality and shipping advantage over other sources."

http://www.atlanticlimited.com.au/bauxite.php

JB