Hurricane threat leads to Alpart shutdown

(Sep. 10, 2004) The Alpart alumina refinery in Jamaica is shut down due to the impending threat of Hurricane Ivan. Hydro owns 35 percent of Alpart.

Hurricane Ivan, an "extremely dangerous hurricane" according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami, is heading straight for Jamaica and is expected to hit Kingston at 8 p.m. local time on Friday.

Consequently, to mitigate the risk of an accidental shutdown due to power failure or direct structural damage to factory components, Alpart management suspended operations at the refinery early Friday morning. The decision also enabled plant workers to be with their families and to prepare for the hurricane in their homes.

The refinery is expected to restart on Sunday, September 12, after Hurrican Ivan has passed. The shutdown is estimated to cost USD 3.5 million in lost production and extra energy consumption.

Hydro owns a 35 percent share in the Alpart refinery, which has production capacity of 1.65 million metric tons of alumina per year. Glencore owns the remaining 65 percent of the company.