Hydro Brazil's Alunorte alumina plant is expected to return to 50 per cent capacity within two weeks

SMM News: October 9, Hydro official website announcement shows that Hydro Brazilian Alunorte alumina plant approved by the Brazilian government on October 8, under the supervision of the SEMAS department, resume to 50% capacity operation. Hydro is expected to resume production within two weeks. In addition, Hydro's Paragominas bauxite mine will return to 50 per cent capacity.

"with a conclusive document verifying the integrity of the bauxite slag treatment system based on our filter press, and consistent with SEMAS, we are now able to safely restore 50 per cent of Alunorte's operations and alumina business," said John Thuestad, head of bauxite at Hydro. "this is a very welcome change to ensure thousands of jobs in Pala, as well as to ensure the supply of our global customers and markets," he added. "

Alunorte has been operating at half capacity since March, as state governments and courts ordered alumina refineries to cut production by 50 per cent, and federal environmental authorities ordered the commissioning of new bauxite residue areas (DRS2) and filter presses and courts to stop debugging DRS2.

Therefore, Alunorte is limited to the use of inefficient drum filters to treat bauxite residue in the old DRS1 disposal area.

Last week, external geotechnical experts recommended that DRS1, which is based on drum filter processing, be stopped. DRS1 is already in the process of reshaping as a first step in closing and repairing the area. By remolding using residues from pressure filtration technology, Alunorte can safely continue to deposit bauxite residues in DRS1 while awaiting approval for the use of DRS2. The new filter press can produce stackable residue, and its water content is much lower than that of the drum filter.

In addition to Alunorte's resumption of operations at half capacity, the decision will allow Hydro's Paragominas bauxite to be re-delivered to Alunorte at 50 per cent of capacity. Hydro's joint venture smelter, Albras, which is located next to Alunorte and relies entirely on alumina supplies from refineries, will be able to continue to produce 230000 tons a year, half of its annual output of 460000 tons.

Hydro continued to talk to all relevant departments to enable Alunorte to resume full production and enable its operations in Brazil to operate normally.