Commerce remelter reaching full capacity

(May 19, 2003) Hydro's new remelt facility in Commerce, Texas is approaching full capacity at 90,000 metric tons, two weeks ahead of schedule.

PRIME QUALITY: Hydro's new remelt facility in Commerce, Texas produces prime quality aluminium billet.

The USD 37 million investment is the latest manifestation of Hydro's strategy to meet North American aluminum billet demand by supplying prime quality billet based on recycled aluminum.

Hydro built the new plant in Commerce to better serve the demand of the US southwestern aluminum market, with customers being primarily from the transportation and building and construction sectors in Texas. Production started at the new facility in November last year.

"The outstanding ramp up at Commerce is a result of our experience from Hydro's remelt network in Europe and from establishing a similar remelt facility in Henderson, Kentucky in 2000," says Martin Carter, president of Hydro Aluminum North America.

The plant in Commerce produces primary quality aluminum billet from recycled aluminum, using only 5 percent of the energy consumed in typical primary aluminum production without any loss in quality. Besides being energy efficient, the plant enables customers to recycle their own scrap, in ways that optimize their own production processes. This concept has been proven by Hydro's network of remelt plants.

Hydro has invested nearly USD 85 million into its North Americas remelt operations over the past four years, including the establishment of the remelters in Henderson, and Commerce. Hydro is also investing in improving the efficiency and productivity of its existing network of remelt facilities.

Hydro Aluminum's remelt network in the United States presently has a total capacity of 400,000 metric tons.

Hydro Aluminum North America is part of Hydro Aluminium, the largest aluminum company in Europe and one of the three leading integrated aluminum companies in the world.