BOJNOURD, Khorasan Prov. Managing Director of Jajarm Alumina Projects Ali Akbar Golafshani said, "the project will come on stream in the second half of this year (started March 21)." He also said, "the projects' cost has topped Rls.500 billion plus $266 million and once operational it has the capacity to produce 280,000 tons of alumina annually." Alumina is the raw material for producing aluminum.

Golafshani further stated the main goals of the projects are saving about $80 million in foreign exchange annually by reducing imports of aluminum, transfer of technology, and generating added-value by producing aluminum-related products. He also said that the project has generated job opportunities for 800 people directly and 1500 indirectly. The projects began in 1370 (started March 21, 1991) in this northeastern province.

The experts estimate that the bauxit reserves of the Jajarm mine is about 20 million tons. (IRNA)