Photo by: Bloomberg
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Alumina has moved to assure shareholders that the Portland aluminium smelter, in Victoria, was safe from closure.
The company’s announcement comes as Alcoa announced its continued transformation of its upstream portfolio, with the aluminium major reviewing about 500 000 t of smelting capacity and 2.8-million tonnes of refining capacity for possible curtailment or divestiture, over the next 12 months.
The major said that when reviewing capacity, Alcoa would consider a wide variety of alternative actions, ranging from partial to full plant closures, permanent shutdowns or divestment.
The ASX-listed Alumina holds a 40% interest in the alumina alliance Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), which operates the Portland smelter, with Alcoa owning the balance.
Besides the Portland smelter, AWAC also operates the Wagerup, Kwinana and Pinjarra alumina refineries, in Western Australia. Alumina made no mention of these refineries in its assurance to shareholders.