The status report produced the following results:

• Discharge of water from the floods adjacent to the wastewater deposits in the open internal drainage channel, Canal Velho, in addition to the water discharge already mentioned above.
• Release of caustic soda inside the plant due to a power failure on February 17th. The caustic soda mixed with the rainwater in the factory area before entering the wastewater deposit, with the overflow in Canal Velho.
• Based on the preliminary results of the task force, Hydro has no indication that there were leaks or overflow from the bauxite waste deposit areas.

In addition, an inspection detected cracks in a pipeline that takes effluents from the DRS1 deposit area to the water treatment plant. Current information indicates that the effluent was contained in a holding box.

The Public Ministry determined that Hydro take the appropriate measures within 48 hours, including repairing cracks and blocking the entrance to Canal Velho. Corrective actions are being taken on time.

“The preliminary results of the task force demonstrate that we do not have a complete picture of the situation and the course of events. I will assess the situation in detail and return to provide more information in due course, ”said Hydro President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg.

The full report, together with the results of the first phase of the independent assessment conducted by the environmental consulting firm SGW Services, will be presented in the first week of April.

Hydro is the largest aluminum company in South America after the acquisition of the aluminum business of mining company Vale in 2011 in the state of Pará. Alunorte is the largest aluminum refinery in the world and employs approximately two thousand people , having a nominal capacity of 6.3 million tons per year. Hydro owns 92.1% of Alunorte.

Facts about the situation at Hydro Alunorte