Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro today announced that the company is in talks with the environmental authorities of Pará to resume normal operations at Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. Alunorte alumina refinery is currently operating at 50 per cent capacity.
“In addition, Alunorte is seeking an agreement with the public prosecutor, Ministério Público. Ministério Público has on 26 March 2018 published their counterproposal for an agreement. This proposal will be evaluated by the company,” Hydro said in a statement.
“Inspections conducted by several local, state and federal authorities, including environmental regulators IBAMA and SEMAS, have confirmed the integrity of the bauxite residue deposits and that there have been no spill or overflow. This was later re-confirmed by relevant authorities in a congressional hearing in Brasilia on 15 March.”
The company is conducting both an internal and an independent review by environmental consultancy SGW Services to clarify all relevant facts regarding the management of rain and surface water from the Alunorte alumina refinery. Hydro will release on April 9 conclusions from these reviews.
Alunorte is the world’s largest alumina refinery, employs around 2,000 people and has a nameplate capacity of an annual 6.3 million tonnes. Hydro owns 92.1 percent of Alunorte.
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