Alcoa Aluminio, a wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Alcoa, plans to boost its share of aluminum capacity by 30%, or 63,000 tonnes per year, at the Sao Luis (Alumar) aluminum smelter in Brazil.
Aluminio will spend US$130 million on the expansion, which will bring its share of capacity at Sao Luis to 262,000 tonnes per year and boost its overall share of output to 60% from 54%. Construction is under way, with production slated to start in the third quarter of 2005.
After the expansion, annual smelting capacity at Alumar will increase to 433,000 from 370,000 tonnes.
Aluminio recently reached a 20-year deal with local Eletronorte whereby the Brazilian regional energy producer will sell Aluminio up to 500 MW of electricity annually.
The Alumar smelter is a joint venture with London-based BHP Billiton, Alcan, Alcoa Aluminio and Abalco, which own 36%, 10%, 35.1% and 18.9%, respectively.
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