Historic Highland aluminium plant in Scotland to manufacture car parts after acquisition

<p>The historic Lochabar aluminium smelter by Rio Tinto which was sold to Liberty House Group will soon see the new owner taking over its operations. The new owners plan to produce car parts in the plant and create new job opportunities in Lochaber. The Press and Journal states that the Liberty House Group wants the Alcan plant in Fort William to diversify into alloys and hubcaps for the automotive industry.<br /><br />According to sources, the Liberty House bosses have briefed workers at the plant on plans to create new car parts products. Currently, this smelter produces about 40,000 tonnes of aluminium each year, generally cast in 10 tonne blocks.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/car%20parts.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br /><br />A spokesman for the company stated: &ldquo;We hope to complete the acquisition very soon. At that point we will be happy to discuss details.&rdquo;<br /><br />Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford welcome the initiative and commented: &ldquo;I did believe there was an opportunity for the facility at Fort William to move more downstream,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It makes an awful lot of sense. When you look at the operation, it&rsquo;s very much on the small scale. But there&rsquo;s a shift towards the use of aluminium in the UK. &ldquo;It would seem to me to be eminently sensible.&rdquo;<br /><br />{googleAdsense}<br /><br />The purchase agreement comprises the sale of 100% of Rio Tinto&rsquo;s shareholding in Alcan Aluminium UK, which includes the operating smelter, the hydroelectric facilities at Kinlochleven and Lochaber as well as associated land.</p>