Norwegian aluminium giant Norsk Hydro ASA said on Saturday that power has been restored to Mineração Paragominas S.A. (Paragominas bauxite mine), allowing a return to normal production levels at Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. (Alunorte alumina refinery).
Return to production at Paragominas came ten days after power was cut to the mine. Hydro confirmed that no injuries were reported among company personnel as a result of the power outage, and none of the equipment at either site was said to be damaged.
Hydro also assured investors that financial and operational impacts of the event were small, and they anticipate no negative impacts from the stoppage would be incurred by customers.
On December 18, a transmission tower toppled and cut power to Mineração Paragominas S.A. Though no injuries were reported, the mishap has temporarily halted production at the mine. As a result, the pipeline between Paragominas and Alunorte alumina refinery was no longer being filled by the mine, but Hydro said the bauxite in the line at the time of the power outage had been cleared via back-up power sources.
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, including in Germany and Brazil.