Continuing with its strategy to produce and supply the “greenest” aluminium metal in the industry, Hydro has decided to expand remelt operations at its Slovalco plant in collaboration with joint-venture partner PENTA. The expansion will facilitate production of primary aluminium as well as serve as a remelter for conversion scrap from the extrusion plants in Central Europe. The estimated investment for the new furnace is EUR 13 million and the final build decision is expected in Q1 2019.
The Slovalco plant is located at the center of the actively growing aluminium market in Central Europe and the new aluminium remelting facility with the existing primary plant will be able to serve extrusion plants in Slovakia and neighbouring countries by recycling their processed scrap.
Hilde Merete Aasheim, Head of Primary Aluminium in Hydro, said that the expansion would enable Hydro to maintain its position as a preferred partner for scrap conversion services in this market and boost Slovalco’s business strength.
“Slovalco continuously delivers strong operational performance and is located very close to a fast-growing extrusion market. Lightweight aluminium is a metal in demand, partly due to its recycling properties and we are here to supply this market across the value chain, from the primary aluminium production through remelt and recycling capacity,” Aasheim said.
Slovalco smelter produces about 174,000 tonnes of primary aluminium per year. Once the plant is upgraded as a remelter, it will be able to remelt about 50,000 tonnes of clean process scrap. An additional 4,000 tonnes will be remelted through existing holding furnaces.
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