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5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net consist of the following:

		As of December 31,
		2016				2015
At cost:
Mineral rights		$	4,438,115			$	6,131,230
Buildings			61,656,398				68,510,164
Plant and machinery			184,544,140				195,295,877
Motor vehicles			8,282				8,847
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment			4,553,473				4,864,619
Construction in progress			374,790				57,596
Total			255,575,198				274,868,333
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization			(146,844,072	)			(146,997,010	)
Net book value		$	108,731,126			$	127,871,323

The Company has certain buildings and salt pans erected on parcels of land located in Shouguang, PRC, and such parcels of land are collectively owned by local townships or the government. The Company has not been able to obtain property ownership certificates over these buildings and salt pans. The aggregate carrying values of these properties situated on parcels of the land are $35,184,613 and $42,526,151 as at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2016, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $24,552,507 of which $23,220,525 and $1,331,982 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, depreciation and amortization expense totaled $28,746,069 of which $27,281,471 and $1,464,598 were recorded as cost of net revenue and administrative expenses, respectively.

In the third quarter of 2016, the Company incurred enhancement works in our existing bromine extraction and crude salt production facilities at costs of approximately $15.23 million. The above enhancement projects have estimated useful lives of 5 to 8 years and are capitalized as buildings and plant and machinery.

At the end of November 2016, the Company has signed the demolition compensation agreement for its Factory No. 6 with the Yangzi Street Office of Weifang City Binhai Economic-Technological Development Zone for the Taiwan Island Ecological Culture City Project.

The operation of the original Factory No.6 was stopped at the end of November 2016 to allow for the demolition of the factory by the government collection unit. The total written off during the demolition period was $3,761,862

Upon the completion of demolition and clearance of all ground fixtures in December 2016, a total sum of $2,708,417 was received from government. The write-off and demolition costs were offset against the compensation proceeds resulting in a net loss on demolition of factory of $1,053,445. This is included in the income statement for the year ended December 31, 2016 as loss on demolition of factory. This is accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC 605-40 “Revenue Recognition – Gains and Losses”.

In the fiscal year 2016, the company incurred $1,747,316 for the construction of roads and related infrastructure needed to begin operations in the remote and mountainous region of Daying county.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company incurred enhancement works in Factories No. 10 and 11 at costs of approximately $10,396,597 to the protective shells to transmission channels and ducts. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company incurred enhancement projects to our existing bromine extraction in Factory No. 10 and 11 at costs of approximately $12,088,375. The above enhancement projects have estimated useful lives of 5 to 8 years and are capitalized as buildings and plant and machinery.

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, ordinary repair and maintenance expenses were $463,156 and $607,688, respectively.