BHP South Africa aluminum smelter face electricity supply pressure

Sydney, Jan. 21—BHP Billiton spokesman said on Monday its aluminum smelter in South Africa is confront electricity pressure in January. Currently, South Africa electricity supplier Eskom is face electricity generate capacity pressure, a large scale power cut was happed in South Africa last week. Eskom said on last Friday that they are limit electricity by switch out in turn to release electricity supply pressure; this situation may keep to last week. The two aluminum smelter of BHP in South Africa are Bayside and Mozal, whose output in 2007 is 1,162,000 ton. The two smelter has confronted with many times power cut in 2007. BHP said the detailed influence to the two smelter is haven’t clear.