Rio says UK aluminium plant back to full output end-Nov

Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:59am EST
 
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LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Rio Tinto's (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) primary aluminium smelter in Britain will be at full production again by the end of the month, a company spokesman said on Thursday. The Anglesey plant in Wales had been operating at a reduced rate since June when a localised fire led to a loss of power.

"All the pots had been restarted by the end of October and it will be back to 100 percent operating capacity by the end of November," the spokesman said.

"We're close to there already," he added.

Last year, the plant, which is 51 percent-owned by Rio Tinto, produced almost 144,000 tonnes of primary aluminium.

In the first nine months of this year Anglesey produced 86,000 tonnes of metal, down more than 20 percent from 110,000 tonnes in the same period last year.

Kaiser Aluminum (KALU.O) also owns 49 percent of the operation. (Reporting by Karen Norton, edited by Editing by Peter Blackburn)

 

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