Hydro starts operations of new water treatment system at Alunorte alumina refinery

Hydro has begun operation of new a new water treatment station at its Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. This comes after Hydro received an operating license from the Secretary of State for Environment and Sustainability (Semas) on January 24, 2020.

Hydro said the BRL 675 million ($160 million) project prepares the alumina refinery for future climate change. The project is a part of a modernization of the refinery's effluent management system.

“This investment is in line with the company's goal of making Alunorte a global reference in efficiency, safety and quality for the aluminium sector,” says Carlos Neves, Director of Operations of Bauxite & Alumina in Hydro.

The project also has new wastewater and rainwater containment basins, new carbon steel pipes and repowering pumps for drainage of material to the treatment stations. Hydro Alunorte alumina refinery now has the capacity to treat 14,500 cubic meters of water per hour. 

“Together with the water treatment station, the construction of the two new containment basins increased the water containment capacity of the operational area.”