Brazilian expert study shows Hydro Alunorte can produce at full capacity

Brazilian expert study shows that there was no overflow from Alunorte’s residue deposit areas DRS1 and DRS2 in February 2018. The study also concludes that Alunorte, from a water management perspective, can produce at its nominal capacity of 6.3 million tonnes of alumina a year.

Hydro announced through press release on December 13 that “computer simulations carried out by professors from the Federal University of Campina Grande show that there was no overflow from Alunorte’s residue deposit areas in February 2018.

“In the study, the researchers simulated scenarios of water storage, pumping and treatment given different levels of alumina production and rainfall using internationally recognized modelling and simulation platforms. The Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG) is widely recognized as experts within the field of chemical engineering in Brazil.”

John Thuestad, Head of the Bauxite & Alumina business area in Hydro said: “It is reassuring that we now have a third-party study that states that Alunorte can safely produce at full capacity and that our ongoing improvement projects will make us well-prepared for even heavier rainfalls than what we experienced in February.”

The water basin capacity is to be increased by 350% by the end of 2018 and the capacity of the water treatment facility will be increased by 50% in the second quarter 2019.