Alcoa, a multinational with several sites in Spain, explained this week that the anode baking furnace will not be operational in January 2024, when the electrolysis of the A Mariña industrial complex is scheduled to start up.
These are the main investments committed at the aluminum plant in San Cibrao (Cervo) and the unions point out that it is a problem of the multinational not complying with the conditions of the agreement signed at the beginning of the year. The agreement ratified the stoppage of production during 2022 and 2023, once the improvements to the plant were carried out for an amount of around 103 million dollars.
Also, as part of Alcoa’s monthly meetings to evaluate the situation of the only primary aluminum plant in Spain, they met with the power plants, the Xunta and the Government. At the meeting, Alcoa attributed the delay in the new anode baking furnace to the current global environment, which is causing significant cost increases.
The reconstruction of the large anode baking furnace along with two other concepts was the agreement to which Alcoa committed itself by January 1, 2024, at a cost of close to $42 million. The company does not specify a timeframe for this improvement and believes that the delay will not delay the start-up date.
Regarding two other committed improvements, the new homogenizing furnace and the new transformer, Alcoa expects them to be completed by the end of 2023. On the other hand, the alumina company and the committee held a new meeting to discuss the current situation of the plant, which has been at 50% of its capacity since September. After a production cutback, Alcoa is considering new options in order to mitigate the heavy losses that already exceed US$69 million.
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