World Market Sought

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29367, 21 November 1960, Page 14

World Market Sought

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL. November 29. Consolidated Zinc’s aluminium smelter at Bluff would provide for the world market. Mr M. A. Mawby, vice-chairman of the company, said by radio-telephone from Melbourne today. Mr Mawby added that little could be said about the use of Weipa bauxite at this stage as the dissolution of the Consolidated Zinc and British Aluminium partnership in Comalco was not quite completed. The long-term investment for that could reach £l4O million to £l5O million. The full potential of the power scheme is estimated to exceed 600 megawatts. Mr Mawby said the dissolution of the Comalco partnership would not hamper Consolidated Zinc’s plans. Comalco was the instrument by which the bauxite deposits and the power possibilities —including Queensland’s Blair Atholl coalfield and the Purari river in Papua—were investigated. British Aluminium surrendered its holding in Comalco and took over all rights to bauxite reserves at Gove in the Northern Territory. Mr Mawby said Consolidated Zinc probably would not want to

put metal on the market just now. World sales of aluminium are reported to have slowed. However, the present market was of no concern, he said. It was the future market that mattered and in any event it would take about six years to have a smelter—linked to the lakes scheme—producing metal. Asked about the offer of power from Benmore to start the smelter. Mr Mawby said Benmore power was of secondary consideration.

It was hoped, he said, to give the power position soon. The Benmore station is due to operate in 1965 and has an estimated capacity of 540,000 kilowatts. The offer was made so the smelter could be producing while the first stage of the company’s own power scheme is being built.