Alcoa Advances Rockdale Aluminum Smelter Power Project & Lignite Mine Projects

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Inc.; Houston, Texas). After recently completing NOx reduction retrofits at its lignite-fired power plant in Rockdale, Texas, Alcoa (NYSE:AA) (Pittsburgh, PA.) plans to attack SOx (Sulfur emissions) next. Alcoa is studying options to reduce SOx emissions by 90% by 2006. The 360 mega-watt power plant provides electrical power to Alcoa}s Rockdale aluminum smelter. The power plant has three ABB lignite-fired boilers each producing 60,000 pounds per hour of steam powering GE turbine/generators. The company performs turbine overhauls and boiler repairs during two annual shutdown periods in the winter and fall.

Alcoa also operates the local Sandow lignite mine, which provides the power plant with lignite. The company is in the process of permitting an expansion of its lignite mining operation, which will involve the development of the Three Oaks mine. "We estimate that development of the Three Oaks Mine and the associated infrastructure will cost over $20 million," states Joseph Govreau, Manager Metals & Minerals with Industrialinfo.com. The new mine currently in the permitting stage will consist of an open pit mining operation and necessary infrastructure and conveyance to transport mined lignite to the power plant.