Successor found for Hydro site in Stade
(July 5, 2006) Hydro has reached agreements with the German energy systems company Prokon Nord and the Belgian energy group Electrabel to divest the industrial site in Stade, Germany, after the closure of its primary aluminium plant there by the end of 2006. This solution opens up for the creation of new jobs and activities in Stade.
 NEW OWNERS: The Stade plant in Germany |
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Prokon Nord Energie Systeme GmbH, based in Leer, wants to establish and operate several facilities on the site: a combined heat and power station, a plant for the production of bio-ethanol fuel as well as the manufacturing of wind turbine rotor blades.
The transfer of ownership shall occur with effect from January 1st 2007.
According to the agreement, Prokon Nord will take over the real estate with all buildings and equipment, including the future environmental obligations in accordance with a plan developed in coordination with the responsible authorities. Furthermore, Prokon Nord commit to offering at least 90 jobs to the Hydro employees in Stade.
 DEAL: Irmtraud Pawlik, managing director of Hydro in Germany, sealed the handover of the Stade site to Ingo de Buhr, managing director of Prokon Nord (left), and Hans Hartmann, head of production of Electrabel. (Photo: Heinz Werner Lamberz) |
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Electrabel is considering construction of at least one 800 MW coal plant in Northern Germany. One possible site is Stade. The permit procedure started half a year ago and is going on successfully. The secured grid access is considered as crucial condition for an investment decision. The coal plant could start operation in 2010.
"We are glad that our business development activities have paid off with a solution for the site that will create up to 100 jobs," said Irmtraud Pawlik, managing director of Hydro Aluminum Deutschland GmbH.
"However, we will continue our efforts to find new jobs for as many employees as possible," she stresses.
 FROM METAL TO BIOFUEL: Irmtraud Pawlik symbolized the future change for the Stade site by exchanging an aluminium ingot for a canister of bioethanol from Ingo de Buhr. (Photo: Heinz Werner Lamberz) |
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As agreed with the works council, Hydro will, in addition to the business development activities, finance a 38-million Euro social plan in order to help the local workforce, currently numbering 400 after next year’s closure.
In June 2005, Hydro decided to cease operations in Stade at the end of 2006 due to high German power prices. In addition to the high power prices that are the predominant cost factor, the Stade metal plant has a particular disadvantage, being the smallest German primary aluminium production facility with an outdated, labor-intensive technology.
German version - Deutsche Fassung:
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