One of World's Largest Alumina Refinery Projects Under Way In Brazil

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Brazilian miner Vale (NYSE:RIO) (Rio de Janeiro) and the Norwegian company Norsk Hydro ASA (OTC:NHYDY) (Oslo) are jointly moving forward with the construction of a new alumina refinery, the Compania de Alumina do Para, known as CAP. The new facility will be located in northern Brazil, in Barcarena city, just 5 kilometeres from another alumina refinery, Alunorte, a joint-venture between the same companies. Initial cost of the project is currently estimated at $2.2 billion.

The new alumina refinery will have an initial capacity of 1.86 million tons per year and is planned to eventually expand to 7.44 million tons per year. Currently, the company is beginning with site preparation and is finishing detailed engineering, performed by Promon Engenharia SA (Rio de Janeiro). A contractor will be selected in the next few months. The plant's start-up is planned for the second quarter of 2011, reaching full capacity four to six years later.

The new facility will be one of the world's largest alumina refineries. Vale owns an 80% interest in the Compania de Alumina do Para, and Norsk Hydro has the remaining 20%. For more details, view related July 26, 2007, article - CVRD and Hydro to Jointly Build a New Aluminar Refinery in Brazil.

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