FACTBOX-Aluminum production developments
LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - Aluminium smelters in the United States have been cutting back output in recent months in the face of surging power prices there.
A water shortage has also begun to curtail Brazilian output.
Other producers, however, have been restarting idled capacity and bringing new plants on stream.
Following is an overview of major production developments since the beginning of last year in the primary aluminium sector:
June 28, 2001 - Alcoa Inc (NYSE:AA - news) said to cut aluminium output at 54 pct-owned Alumar smelter in Brazil by 63,000 tonnes per year (tpy) from July 1 to comply with government's request to reduce electricity consumption. Full capacity 370,000 tpy.
June 28, 2001 - Kaiser Aluminum (NYSE:KLU - news) said it was ``disappointed'' Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) had either rejected or ``ignored'' its offer to cut its power use in exchange for compensation to cover cost of idling its Pacific Northwest smelters. Company said would consider further talks with BPA, had strong preference for restarting portion of its Northwest smelter operations beginning October 1, 2001.
June 26, 2001 - Golden Northwest Aluminum and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) said they agreed to delay for another six months the restart of BPA power deliveries to company's Dalles and Goldendale smelters in Pacific Northwest. Covers all power company would have received from BPA from Oct.1, 2001 through March 31, 2002. Golden Northwest official said plans to resume production next spring.
June 13, 2001 - Alcoa says to idle 220,000 tpy Wenatchee smelter for about 15 months from July 1 after reaching long-term power agreement. Planned operating rate in 2001 was 95,000 tpy after earlier curtailment. Aims to restart 95,000 tpy of capacity at end of idled period.
June 13, 2001 - Brazil to extend energy rationing to north of country from July, but with reduced 15 pct target for consumption cuts. Unclear yet how much production will be affected at two largest smelters. Prior to announcement officials at both plants said bracing for power cuts of up to 25 pct.
June 8, 2001 - Alcan (Toronto:AL.TO - news) says to further reduce production at Kitimat smelter in British Columbia from June 18 due to low water levels and chance to sell power to western U.S.. Additional cut will leave plant operating at 50 pct of 275,000 tpy capacity. To last at least until spring 2002.
June 1, 2001 - Alcoa Inc said it will cut with immediate effect production at its 90,000 tpy Pocos de Caldas aluminium smelter in Brazil by 25 pct or 22,500 tpy to reduce electricity usage.
May 17, 2001 - Brazil's Grupo Votorantim said to trim output by 15,000 tonnes this year at 250,000 tonnes per year Sorocaba smelter due to energy crisis. Power rationing to begin in June.
May 16, 2001 - Alcoa Inc said to idle immediately its 61 pct-owned 270,000 tpy Ferndale, Washington smelter. Follows two earlier cutbacks.
May 15, 2001 - Alcan Inc said would reduce smelter production in Brazil by 12,000 tonnes over next six months due to power constraint. Authorities have asked major power users to curtail consumption by 18 pct over the period.
May 5, 2001 - Venezuela's state-owned Corporacion Aluminios de Venezuela (CAV) says to restart two idled potlines with 50,000 tonnes tpy capacity at Alcasa smelter in second half 2001. Lines closed since December 1998. In April, company said restart would involve modernisation and probable expansion.
April 9, 2001 - BPA asks aluminium firms in U.S. Pacific Northwest to keep production shut for two years from October in bid to keep power costs from rising to exorbitant levels.
April 3, 2001 - Kaiser Aluminum says plans to restart aluminium smelters in Pacific Northwest in Autumn 2001 if power rates and aluminium prices favourable.
March 23, 2001 - ALSCON says troubled Ikot Abasi smelter in Nigeria will reopen August after being shut for almost two years due to lack of funds. Plant, which came onstream October 1997, struggled to reach anywhere near 193,000 tpy design capacity.
March 20, 2001 - Alcoa Inc says to extend production cutback at Ferndale, Washington smelter for five months through to September and will further lower 2001 output by 70,000 tpy. Understood to bring operating rate to 130,000 tpy versus 270,000 tpy capacity. In January, company said expected combined 150,000 tpy cutback at Ferndale and Wenatchee smelters only to last through to April. Latest cut will be partially offset by restart April 1 of 25,000 tpy idled potline at Warrick smelter, Indiana, which will then operate at full 300,000 tpy capacity.
March 1, 2001 - McCook Metals, new owner of 204,000 tpy Longview smelter in Washington state agrees to shut completely all production from February 28 while it builds new power plant to fuel the facility. Output to be cut for ten-month period. Full operation seen again by end-April 2002. Smelter to be self-sufficient in power by mid-2003 or 2004.
February 14, 2001 - Alcoa Inc said it planned to cut production immediately at Longview smelter by 70,000 tpy. Power made available to be sold to Bonneville Power Administration.
January 22, 2001 - Columbia Falls Aluminum Co said to temporarily idle 2-1/2 potlines still operating at smelter in Montana for remainder of year. Closure effective immediately. In December company announced would cut plant's output to 50 percent of total 168,000 tpy capacity.
January 9, 2001 - Alcan Aluminium Ltd says under new power agreement will not have to close 50,000 tpy production line at 275,000 tpy Kitimat smelter, British Columbia for 10-month period, as previously announced last December. Instead will cut output by 40,000 tonnes over 16 months by shutting certain pots and reducing power amperage to others. Part of energy conservation measures.
January 5, 2001 - Alcoa Inc says to reduce production by a combined 150,000 tpy at Wenatchee and Ferndale smelters in Washington, citing energy crisis in U.S. Pacific Northwest. Making adjustments to the delivery of previously contracted electricity. Cutback at Ferndale announced day earlier, but no specifics given.
December 26, 2000 - Goldendale Aluminum Co to reduce output by further 78,000 tpy at Goldendale plant, Washington due to rising power costs. Will cut production to about 27,000 tpy for next nine months. Also announced complete closure of 82,000 tpy The Dalles smelter, Oregon. Hopes to increase combined smelter output to about 125,000 tpy October 2001. Late September company cut combined output by 100,000 tpy.
December 10, 2000 - Kaiser Aluminum Corp says to temporarily halt production at 200,000 tpy Mead, Washington smelter. Follows two earlier curtailments. Expects production to remain halted at both plants in U.S. Northwest until new contract with Bonneville Power Authority (BPA) comes into effect October 1, 2001. Kaiser says contract would only provide enough power to enable smelters to operate at about 40 pct capacity.
December 9, 2000 - Vanalco announces plans to stop all aluminium production at 115,000 tpy Vancouver smelter, Washington state, by year-end due to soaring power costs. Four potlines closed in June, fifth in September, but local reports had suggested limited production resumed in October.
December 7, 2000 - Columbia Falls Aluminum announces closure with immediate effect of 1-1/2 of five potlines at smelter in Montana. Cutback will result in loss of 51,000 tpy of metal, on top of 33,000 tpy cut announced in September.
November 20, 2000 - Kaiser Aluminum announces it to cut output further at Mead smelter in Washington state to 90,000 tpy from 138,000 tpy. Previously idled 63,000 tpy at Mead in June.
October 16, 2000 - Alcan Aluminium Ltd says expects to start up new 400,000 tpy Alma smelter in Quebec this week. Full production seen by third quarter 2001.
September 28, 2000 - Goldendale Northwest Aluminum says sharply higher electricity prices force immediate 40 pct (100,000 tpy) output cut at 82,000 tpy The Dalles smelter and 168,000 tpy Goldendale plant.