Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reopens Rio’s Potline 4 at New Zealand Aluminium Smelter

According to a report, Rio Tinto’s Potline 4 at New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS), at Tiwai Point on the South Island, officially reopened by the country’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Rio Tinto, along with joint venture partner Sumitomo Chemical Company, invested around US$4.1 million this year to upgrade and restart the potline, adding 31,000 tonnes of production capacity. Rio owns 79.36 per cent of NZAS while Sumitomo owns the rest.

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief operating officer Pacific Operations Kellie Parker said: “We are proud the Prime Minister has joined us to mark this important milestone for the team at Tiwai Point and the country’s manufacturing sector.”

Per the company’s anticipation, the restarting of the potline will increase the smelter’s production capacity by almost 10 per cent and create 45 new jobs. Expectedly, it will also allow the firm to meet the customers’ demands for the value-added products made here.

NZAS chief executive and general manager Stew Hamilton said “We produce aluminium with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. This is incredibly important to many of our manufacturing customers and helps them to meet the expectations of consumers buying products like computers, cars, food, and drinks.”

This Potline 4 was shut down in 2012 during the time the industry faced historically low aluminium prices and higher energy cost.

Sharing the deep pleasure, Hamilton also mentioned that NZAS would soon undergo the rigorous Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification process. He expects the certification will extend the leadership of the company on responsible production by providing independent verification on each metal ensuring that it meets the highest environmental, social and governance standards.

NZAS produced nearly 340,000 tonnes of aluminium in 2017 and provided work for around 900 employees and contractors.