SMM July 5, Hydro (Norsk Hydro) recently announced on its website that its Paragominas mine has resumed production, and Alunorte alumina plant will gradually return to full production.

On June 20th, the collapse of three transmission towers directly led to the suspension of production at the Paragominas mine. At present, the transmission towers have been repaired and powered back on, and the accident has not caused casualties and environmental damage to the surrounding communities. At present, the company is actively cooperating with the local government and relevant departments to investigate the cause of the accident, and the preliminary results show that some parts of the transmission tower were stolen and caused the collapse.

Prior to this, Hydro updated the production and operation of each section of the company:

Bauxite & alumina: from April to May, ore and alumina production increased compared with the same period last year, with bauxite production of 1.761 million tons, an increase of 94%, and alumina production of 989000 tons, an increase of 82% over the same period last year. This is due to the increase in operating capacity of the Paragominas mine and the Alunorte alumina plant in Brazil after the government lifted production restrictions.

Primary aluminum: the output of primary aluminum from April to May was 341000 tons, a small increase of 5% over the same period last year. The increment was contributed by the year-on-year increase in the production of Brazil's Albras electrolytic aluminum plant, which reduced production in 2019 due to the reduction of Slovalco production in Slovakia.

Recycling market: the output of recycled metals from April to May was 55000 tons, down 40% from the same period last year, mainly due to the shrinking demand in the terminal market under the influence of the epidemic.

Calendering products: sales of 131000 tons from April to May, a decrease of 21% over the same period last year, mainly due to the shrinking demand in the terminal market under the influence of the epidemic.

Extruded products: sales from April to May were 138000 tons, down 42% from the same period last year, mainly due to the shrinking demand in the terminal market under the influence of the epidemic.

Energy: 1342GWH from April to May, down 6% from the same period last year, mainly due to the shrinking demand in the end market under the influence of the epidemic.

SMM will continue to follow up.