This week, Hydro CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim, the mayor of Kvinnherad Municipality, and representatives from Industri Energi and Norsk Industri graced Hydro Husnes with their presence to mark the full operation of the plant for the first time in more than a decade.
“I have been looking forward to this. Finally, production is back in full swing at Hydro Husnes. Hydropower-based primary aluminum with a world-leading low-carbon footprint is produced here – you should be proud of that,” Aasheim said when she met employees at Hydro Husnes.
“Husnes is a symbol of new, greener industrial development in Norway – a modern cornerstone that expand and renews, that plays an important role in the local community in terms of jobs, but also a producer of low-carbon aluminum that plays an important role on the road to a circular economy. A big salute to everyone who has contributed, and to the 100 new employees here – welcome to Hydro,” Aasheim added.
Hydro Husnes Line B closed in 2009 as a result of the financial crisis. In 2017, Hydro decided to invest NOK 1.5 billion in a solid upgrade and the restart of Line B. Since then, the work has been going on in one kilometre long production hall, and now the project is complete. 200 electrolysis cells for producing 195,000 tonnes aluminium per year are put into operation
“This has been a long journey. From closing down to framework conditions falling into place and now that Hydro Husnes is back in full operation. It was great to enter a warm production hall full of activity. Congratulations to Hydro Husnes,” said Leader of the Union Industri Energi, Frode Alfheim.
To celebrate the start of the full production at Hydro Husnes, the aluminium plant and the urban furniture manufacturer Vestre have joined forces to donate new furniture to the Husnes community.
“We have had a number of collaborative projects with Hydro. When the idea of decorating Husnes with Vestre furniture was launched, we threw ourselves into it. This place represents what we in Vestre stand for, namely investment in greener, Norwegian mainland industry,” said the CEO of Vestre, Jan Christian Vestre.
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