FACTBOX-Projects in Madagascar's mining industry

May 16 - Mining giant Rio Tinto starts production of ilmenite in Madagascar next year, the first of four major mining projects on the large island.
Madagascar has a broad range of other mineral reserves, including bauxite, nickel and chromite, as well as gems. Foreign companies are also looking for uranium, precious metals, gold, oil, gas and coal.

Below are detailed the main advancing metal mining projects in Madagascar:

* Fort Dauphin, ilmenite, QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) -- 80 percent Rio Tinto, 20 percent Madagascar government. The 750,000 tonnes per year project in the southeast of Madagascar is under construction and due on stream in 2008.

Ore to be shipped to Quebec where it will be processed into titanium dioxide for use in quality pigments.

* Ambatovy, nickel-cobalt, 45 percent Dynatec , 27.5 percent Sumitomo Corp and 27.5 percent Korea Resources Corp. Located 80 km east of the capital, Antananarivo. Laterite project with capacity to produce 60,000 tonnes per year of nickel and 5,600 tonnes per year of cobalt. "Mechanical completion" expected by early 2010. Canada's Sherritt International Corp. recently bid for Dynatec.

* Fort Dauphin, bauxite-alumina. Alcan said in November 2006 it had agreed to study development of the project. Refinery would have initial capacity of 1 million to 1.5 million tonnes per year. Concept study on bauxite reserves, costs and other factors was expected to be completed during Q2 2007.

* Toliara Sands, ilmenite. Feasibility on Exxaro Resources' project expected to be completed this year, followed by development decision. Project in southwestern Madagascar has indicated resources capable of supplying long-term feedstock to the company's KZN Sands furnace complex in South Africa.

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