Metals such as nickel and cobalt play a veryimportant role in the development of new typesof environmental protective batteries,and theusage of which has been increasing at a rate of25 percent in recent years.At present,the 13manufacturers of hydrogen storage alloy mate-rials in China have an aggregated productioncapacity of nearly 7,000 tons.In 2002,theactual production was 3,600 tons.It is expectedthat these producers will be able to produce atotal of 4,200 tons in 2003. Metals such as nickel and cobalt play a very important role in the development of new types of environmental protective batteries, and the usage of which has been increased at a rate of 25 percent in recent years. At present, the 13 manufacturingrs of hydrogen storage alloy mate rials in China have an aggregated production capacity of nearly 7,000 tons. In 2002, theactual production was 3,600 tons.It is expected that this producers will be able to produce atotal of 4,200 tons in 2003.