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The search is on for domestic reserves of key resources, such as iron ore and crude oil, to reduce dependence on imports, according to a government plan

Jiangsu Jiangrun Copper Co., Ltd. is planning to produce 240,000 tonnes of copper wirerod in 2009. The company is making use of the newly installed SCR line, which is gradually ramping up to its full capacity of 350,000 tonnes of copper wirerod. Jiangsu Jiangrun is a subsidiary of Jiangsu Jinhui Group, a major copper conductor producer in China established in 1994.

President Obama yesterday outlined plans to spend about $59 billion in economic stimulus funds and $150 billion from the federal budget to promote what he calls America's "clean-energy future." "We will attack the problems that have held us back for too long," including dependence on foreign oil, Obama told a gathering of clean-energy entrepreneurs and leading researchers at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

It was reported that Furukawa Electric plans to bring forward its capacity expansion plans for electrolytic copper foil due to steady demand from lithium ion battery makers, especially for electric vehicles. The company had previously announced that domestic capacity would expand from 550t/m to 1,000t/m in March 2012. However, supported by increasing demand from EV battery makers, Furukawa will put the time schedule ahead to December 2011. In addition, the company is planning to accelerate the time schedule for its new electrolytic copper foil plant in Taiwan, which was originally due to commence operations in September 2012.

Japanese Furukawa Electric Co. plans to begin exporting copper power cable from its Shenyang production plant in China to the US and Europe from September 2011. So far, the company has been providing cables for the Chinese market only. It was reported that the quality of cables has improved sufficiently to be exported to industrialised countries. The company hopes to achieve annual sales of US$125M to industrialised countries in the next five years. The company expects strong demand from sustainable sources of energy.

"The group forecasts its 2011 net profit to rise to around 8.4 billion zlotys, nearly double its 2010 earnings, boosted by income from planned sales of KGHM telecom assets Dialog and Polkomtel."

Hitachi Cable Ltd., has set out its new medium-term management plan known as the Renewed Plan "BRIDGE" with additional management measures. The company said under the new plan, key measures for business structure reforms included; the consolidation of its domestic sales companies, regional offices and branch offices, with the consolidated company taking operational control of all its existing manufacturing companies; the withdrawal from the optical submarines cable business, restructuring of its telecommunications cable business, review of packaging materials operations and a review of its copper tubes business; consolidations and eliminations of group companies in southeast Asia and consolidation of group companies in Europe and North America by country. This is in addition to a reduction in staff at domestic companies which is expected to involve some 1200 staff. The company will also implement measures to reduce fixed expenses. This includes a review of the company's pension system, an operational review of employee facilities including company dormitories, company housing, etc., and the sale of some of these facilities. The Hitachi Group aims to boost sales in priority target areas as a percentage of net sales from 55% in fiscal 2011 to 65% in fiscal 2016.

Ducab is planning a US$136.1 million project to help expand public sector electricity networks. The project is a JV with Dubai's Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi's Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA). It is located in the Jebel Ali area and aims to supply DEWA and ADWEA with high voltage cables. According to company plans, one third of its output will be exported to Gulf states. It is expected that production will start in 12 months.

Wolverine Tube Inc., the U.S. copper tube producer, has filed a joint plan of reorganisation to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company intends to sell its Netherlands-based Wolverine Tube Europe BV sales and distribution unit in order to fulfil debt obligations outlined by the plan and caused by volatile copper prices and declining sales revenue. Wolverine Tube Europe BV markets copper and copper alloy tube products that are principally used for heat exchange and cooling applications.

" China is also planning to build trillions of dollars of infrastructure for the entire world over the next few decades."

SMS Meer of Germany announced on 8th November that it had received an order from Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group for a CONTIROD casting and rolling plant for the production of copper wirerod. The new wirerod line can produces 225,000t/y of copper wirerod from cathode. The news follows an announcement from Tongling Nonferrous Metals that it is planning to expand production in its smelting division to become China's largest copper smelter. The company, which produces copper cathode as well as end products such as semis and rod, said it is planning to raise smelting output by 400,000t/y. This is equivalent to 50% of production and would take total output to 1.2Mt/y, overtaking China's current largest smelter Jiangxi Copper.

Brazilian copper and alloy semis manufacturer Termomecanica is planning to invest BRL300M (US$143M) in several new products and production facilities. The plans will see the company develop a new line of tube and rolled products, as well as new brass rebar production facilities in Chile and Argentina. The company said that its current production capacity is 140,000 t/y, and that they are producing about 90,000 tpy, stating that they believe in the expansion of the domestic market and an in increase exports. Termomecanica's industrial facilities include two sites in the city of São Bernardo in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, two distribution centres in São Bernardo and Joinvile. The new expansion will add an additional 7% of capacity to the company's operations.

China's government recently announced its 12th five-year plan for its energy industry, and it said it will build a 200,000km extra high voltage (EHV) power grid with capacity higher than 330 KV by 2015. Also announced, the government has set its compound annual growth rate for power installed capacity at 9.0% from 2011-2015, lower than the 13.3% from 2005-2010, demonstrating its intention to slow down investment in the power industry. It expects its installed capacity will be expanded to 1.49 billion KW, up 9.0% from 970 million KW at the end of 2010.

US-based asset manager Blackrock Inc has gained approval from the SEC for its proposed physically-backed copper ETF. A decision on the controversial ETF, which copper consumers argue will disrupt supply in the copper market and bid up prices, was originally due in December. Although the planned ETF has received approval from the SEC, it is likely that it will face legal challenges similar to those faced by JP Morgan. In an effort to overturn a decision by the US SEC to approve JP Morgan's plan for a physically-backed copper ETF, US-based wire and cable makers Southwire and Encore Wire have taken their case to the Federal Appeals Court.