Qatalum to Restart Qatalum Al Smelting Soon, Norsk Hydro CEO

Norsk Hydro tries to minimize impact of idled Qatalum operation on the customers by purchasing primary aluminium ingot from market. Norsk Hydro’s CEO Svein Richard Brandtz?g said to a reporter of Japan Metal Bulletin Qatalum keeps work to resume the operation and steps forward and he expects the smelter will restart the operation soon.

Qatalum, which is joint venture of Norsk Hydro and Qatar Petroleum, started operation in December 2009 to make aluminium ingot and the downstream products including alloy ingot for casting and extrusion. The smelter with annual 585,000 tonnes of annual output capacity supplies the products to USA, Asia and Europe. The smelter increased the operation to 60% level in early August but just after that the operation was stopped due to blackout. The firm operates only downstream operations.

Mr. Brandtz?g didn’t specify when Qatalum will resume smelting operation but he emphasized the smelter progresses to restart. He said after the accident Norsk Hydro supplies ingot and products from the group operations for Qatalum and Qatalum remelts purchased ingot to make alloy ingot for casting and extrusion in order to minimize the delivery delay for the customers.

Mr. Brandtz?g said Norsk Hydro tries to strengthen upper stream business by acquiring interest in Alunorte from Vale. He said Norsk Hydro will purchase 51% interest in Alubras soon completing the series of acquisition in October-December. He said on the transactions, Norsk Hydro already got approval of Nippon Amazon Aluminium, which is the partner for Alunorte and Alubras.