Conversely, Xindai Town's semi-finished aluminum products were transported by rail and waterway to Bella City and Tete City for further processing, where they were made into household goods and components for electrical equipment, forming a closed industrial loop.
Of course, East Africa could have deployed the relevant industries in Xindai Town if it wished, and it had indeed done so. However, the Zambezi River estuary where Xindai Town was located did not possess the advantages of other river mouths. Shipping alone was a major problem, and bauxite refining and preliminary processing caused considerable pollution, especially to water sources. Therefore, it was unsuitable for building a large city there, while Bella City and Tete City, the closest cities to Xindai City, took on much of the subsequent processing work.
Xindai Town still had considerable potential, but for it to be developed, East Africa would have to carry out comprehensive development and management of the Zambezi River. This was also the main factor restricting Xindai Town's growth. Although the Zambezi River was East Africa's second-largest river, its navigational conditions were far too poor. Upstream from Xindai, vessels could only reach Tete City at most. Compared with some rivers on the East African coastal plains, it held no advantage whatsoever.
May 1901.
As East Africa's First Five-Year Plan was in full swing, the East African Ministry of Science and Technology came to Nairobi City University for an inspection. A new technology had been born here, drawing the Ministry's attention.
The university's research team received the Ministry officials. Professor Robben, the head of the project team, and his students had cracked a new alkali production process.
Robben said, "Our alkali industry began in the 1880s. Although we introduced a set of equipment in the 1870s, output remained low due to a lack of