China's Northwest Non-ferrous Metals Research Institute signed a contract Sunday with the local government to build a superconductor base in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
The Northwest Non-ferrous Metals Research Institute, together with Mauritius-based Superconductor International Technology Co. Ltd., will inject 200 million yuan (US$24.1 million) into the base to develop and process niobium-titanium alloy, according to the contract.
Covering an area of some 6.73 hectares, the base will produce 230 tons of niobium-titanium alloy products annually.
Built in 1965, the institute has become an influential authority on superconductive materials in China.
Superconductive materials are widely used in the fields of electricity, energy and communication.
(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2003)
