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Norsk Hydro commits 500M kroner to upgrade water treatment system at Alunorte

Norsk Hydro ASA said March 16 that it will invest 500 million Norwegian kroner to upgrade the water treatment system at its Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil.

The planned upgrade, which will increase capacity by 50% and improve the plant's robustness against extreme weather, is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2019.

Norsk Hydro was recently ordered by the public prosecutor in Brazil's Pará state to undertake corrective measures at Alunorte following an initial probe in the wake of flooding at the site related to heavy rainfall.

The company admitted that in addition to its recent unauthorized release of excess rainwater, it also discharged water overflowing from the adjacent wastewater holding pond into the internal open drain.

Norsk Hydro said it remains in constructive dialog with relevant authorities about these matters and reiterated that no spills or leakages have been detected from Alunorte's bauxite residue deposits after heavy rainfall in February.

An internal team and a third-party consultancy are both expected to present their findings and recommendations on the incident on April 9, according to the statement.

In late February, environmental authorities in Pará ordered Norsk Hydro to cut Alunorte's output by 50% over speculation about a leak at the site. The company later declared force majeure at the operation.

The company noted in the same-day separate release that it placed 600 workers at Alunorte on "collective vacation," effective March 31.

The measure, which was also implemented at the group's Paragominas site, aims to preserve jobs. Norsk Hydro maintained that it is not currently considering layoffs.

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