According to Chinese steelmaker Yichang Three Gorges Quantong Colored and Galvanized Plate Co., Ltd - the largest galvanized plate production base in China located in Yichang Economic Technologic Development Zone in Hubei Province - commissioning of the production line of the second stage of its super-thin coated and galvanized steel plate project started on February 10. The major products which will be produced by the line in question are ultra-thin 0.14-0.35mm coated and plated sheet which can be widely used in the building sector, in household electrical appliances, in light ironware, food packaging and other sectors.
The super-thin coated and galvanized steel plate project covers a total surface area of 5,000 acres and costs a total investment of RMB 20 billion ($3.04 billion).
1. The first stage of the project with the annual capacity of 3.2 million mt of coated and plated sheets started construction in February 2009, being completed in May last year, at an investment cost of RMB 7 billion ($1.06 billion). By the end of 2010, output had reaced 1.5 million mt, with an output value of RMB 8 billion ($1.2 billion).
2. The second stage of the project with a capacity of 4 million mt per year is expected to come on stream in May this year.
3. The third stage of the project construction will be completed by the end of 2011.
The investment in the second and third stages will reach RMB 13 billion ($1.98 billion).
The overall investment in the project is expected to reach RMB 20 billion ($3.04 billion). Three Gorges Quantong expects to achieve a 10 million mt output capacity of coated and galvanized steel plate after it completes the whole construction of the project, becoming the world's largest production base for super-thin coated and galvanized steel plate.