$20 million re-start

Alcoa and the Government of the Republic of Ghana today announced they have finalised agreements to re-start the Valco aluminium smelter in Tema, Ghana.

Plans are already underway to re-start three potlines at Valco representing 120,000 metric tons per year (mtpy). The parties anticipate that the re-start will be implemented in the first quarter of 2006 at which time production at the facility is expected to be approximately 10,000 metric tons a month.

Alcoa and the Government are continuing discussions to develop an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana that would include bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium production, and rail transportation infrastructure upgrades, as outlined in their memorandum of understanding signed in January 2005.

Alcoa's participation in the bauxite and alumina operations in Ghana will be through its Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) global enterprise, which is 60 percent owned by Alcoa and 40 percent owned by Alumina Limited of Australia.