Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro ASA has restarted operations at Albras Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. aluminium smelting plant in Brazil. The plant briefly closed about 75 percent of its production due to a power outage in the region in mid-February.
Three of the plant’s four total potlines remained in production throughout the power outage. However, Line 2 remained closed entirely until late last month.
Albras will continue to ramp up production on the line as the months progress. Hydro estimates that the line will be at full production by the end of this year.
Norsk Hydro owns a 51-percent stake in the plant, with Nippon Amazon Aluminium Co. Ltd. holding the remaining 49 percent. The plant has a nameplate production capacity of 460 thousand metric tons per annum.
According to the original statement published by Hydro, the power outage affected only one of the plant’s four potlines. Line 2 has a production capacity of 110 thousand metric tons per year of liquid aluminium.
Norsk Hydro, which was founded in 1905, financed by the Swedish Wallenberg family and French banks, began its life named Norsk hydro-elektrisk Kvælstofaktieselskab (literally, “Norwegian hydro-electric nitrogen limited”) by Sam Eyde. The Norwegian government owns approximately 40% of the company at the present time. Norsk Hydro is one of the largest aluminium companies in the world, with plants in Rjukan, Raufoss, Vennesla, Karmøy, Høyanger, Årdal, Sunndalsøra, and Holmestrand. Norsk also has several plants abroad.