
Brazilian court has rejected Norsk Hydro’s request to resume operations at its Alunorte alumina refinery. The company had appealed to a higher court after a regional court ordered it to cut production by 50 per cent at its alumina refinery.

On Friday, Hydro issued force majeure notice following orders from federal, state and local authorities to cut alumina production. The force majeure notice was issued after a period of extraordinary rainfall led to flooding in Barcarena, where Alunorte is situated. Hydro has been accused that the rain had led to spills from Alunorte into the nearby Para river and caused contamination.
Hydro’s Chief Executive Richard Brandtzæg told Reuters on Monday the company was unsure when it would be able to resume full operations at Alunorte.
Hydro Alunorte, located in the region of Barcarena, is the world's largest alumina refinery and employs around 2,000 people and has a nameplate capacity of an annual 6.3 million tonnes. On average, 14% of its production goes to the domestic market and the other 86% is exported. Hydro holds 92.1 per cent of Alunorte ownership.
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