Production line shutdown at Norsk Hydro's Albras smelter cuts capacity by 25%

Norsk Hydro ASA said Feb. 19 that one of four production lines at its part-owned Albras aluminum smelter in Brazil's Pará state was shut down due to an internal power distribution failure.

The shutdown reduced the facility's capacity by 25%, with the affected potline producing 110,000 tonnes of liquid aluminum per year. The other three lines were not affected and are running normally.

Norsk Hydro will launch an investigation into the incident, with an assessment of financial implications and a timetable for the potline's restart to be completed later.

The Albras smelter, located next to the Alunorte refinery, is 51%-owned by Norsk Hydro, while the remaining 49% is held by Nippon Amazon Aluminium Co. Ltd.