Frank Mueller, the general manager of Vimetco group, the owner of Alro Slatina (ALR), says the return of the domestic aluminium complex to the production level posted ahead of the crisis at this moment depends only on its finding a new cheap energy source such as the one recently contracted from Hidroelectrica.
Alro has since late 2008 worked at 75% of capacity, after having
closed part of aluminium primary production and so far around 1,400
people who worked at the complex have lost their jobs.
While international aluminium prices climbed by 48% in the first
half, to an average level of 2,160 dollars and aluminium demand has
also increased, Alro is still working at 75% of capacity, as it
cannot find cheap energy on the market.
“Our working at full capacity depends on Hidroelectrica. We’re
already agreed for them to deliver 3 TWh to us allowing us to
produce 206,000 tonnes of aluminium a year. We’ve also agreed on
the possibility of expanding deliveries to 4 TWh in the same
conditions, provided Hidroelectrica should have the energy
available,” says Frank Mueller.
According to him, should Hidroelectrica decide to supply the
additional energy, the complex would reach the ahead-of-the-crisis
production level, namely 265,000 tonnes, and rehire part of
laid-off employees.