Rio Tinto eyes up potential buyers for Lochaber aluminium smelter

Potential buyers have come forward for Rio Tinto Alcan’s Lochaber operations, which have been under threat since January. It was revealed this week that the company is "assessing prospective partners, investors and buyers" for the plant, which employs around 150 people.

At the beginning of the year Rio Tinto announced it would be carrying out a strategic review of its assets in the region "in light of the current market prospects and economic environment". The assets include not just the aluminium smelter outside Fort William but also a hydro power station and a huge amount of land.

This week a company spokesman said: "The strategic review for Lochaber is progressing well and we continue to work on a range of options.

"These include the potential for the smelter continuing as a Rio Tinto operation, as well as assessing prospective partners, investors and buyers.

"This is part of Rio Tinto’s usual review process and it is not the outcome of any conclusion from the strategic review."

Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Thomas MacLennan, chairman of the Lochaber Area Committee said: "While the stategic review process started by Rio Tinto Alcan in January moves towards a conclusion, we now know that there are several companies interested in aquiring the firm’s assets in Lochaber.

"Hopefully we can soon move towards a robust and secure future for these valuable local jobs."

The smelter has been very important for Fort William and the wider Lochaber area since the turn of the last century, and supports not only 150 jobs at the plant but hundreds of others in the local supply chain.