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Norsk Hydro expands review after additional discharge discovered at Alunorte

Norsk Hydro ASA will expand the scope of the ongoing independent review of its Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil and launch an internal audit after an infraction notice from Para state's Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability.

The ongoing review by Brazilian environmental consultancy SGW Services will now include all interfaces with areas adjacent to the refinery operation.

The company's internal audit will conduct a full review of all licenses, complementing SGW's review of Alunorte's permits and relevant legislation.

The infraction notice is related to an unlicensed connection between the Alunorte refinery and a licensed drainage canal from the adjacent Albras aluminum plant, which was releasing untreated rainwater from the roof of the coal storage shed at Alunorte into the Pará River.

Norsk Hydro also discovered an additional inflow of water to the canal from the former hydrate storage area, it said March 18. President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg said the discharge was "completely unacceptable and in breach with what Hydro stands for."

"On behalf of the company, I personally apologize to the communities, authorities and the society," Brandtzæg said.

Norsk Hydro is investing 500 million Norwegian kroner to upgrade the water treatment system at the Alunorte refinery, which will increase capacity 50% and improve the plant's robustness against extreme weather.

The company was ordered by Para's public prosecutor to undertake corrective measures at Alunorte following an initial probe in the wake of flooding at the site related to heavy rainfall.

As of March 16, US$1 was equivalent to 7.72 Norwegian kroner.