ALVANCE initiates consultation on newly announced £94 million Lochaber smelter expansion to make GREEN ALUMINIUM

ALVANCE, the globally integrated aluminium business and also part of the sustainable industry leader GFG Alliance, will commence consulting on plans for a new $94 million recycling and aluminium billet plant at its Lochaber smelter upcoming week as it develops Fort William’s position as a leading international producer of low-carbon aluminium.

Onwards 22^nd February 2021, a public consultation will be held for 21 days, which includes a live consultation event on 25^th February from 3.30 pm – 7 pm, where the project team members will be available to respond to the queries.

In November’20, ALVANCE declared plans for a new recycling and casting facility that will double GREEN ALUMINIUM production from over 40,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa) to over 80ktpa. The plant will produce long, round bars called billets for the domestic construction, building and transport sectors, supplanting some of the current dependency on imports.

ALVANCE expects to award contracts to local suppliers including new building works for the facility. The billet, which is destined for both the UK and European markets, will be produced from Lochaber’s already low-carbon aluminium and recycled material, giving it some of the greenest credentials on the market.

Once approved, the new integrated business plan and associated developments will secure the long-term future of the Fort William aluminium smelter, safeguarding 200 local jobs and creating 70 new high-quality roles. Subject to approvals and any further impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, ALVANCE aims to commence the new development works in 2021 and target full operation by 2024.

Brian King, President of ALVANCE British Aluminium said: “We are pleased to bring our plans for a new billet plant in front of residents and businesses and welcome views from across the community. Because of the current COVID -19 restrictions, we have to conduct the consultation virtually but we’ll do everything possible to make it as interactive as we can and I’d encourage all our local communities to join in and hear about our plans.”

“We are confident that local people will get behind these proposals to reinforce Fort William’s position at the centre of green industrial production in the Highlands, securing and generating new jobs, and providing a pipeline of opportunities to the wider supply chain in Scotland.”