Alcan signs power sub-station deal for AP50 pilot project

Canadian aluminium producer Alcan said it has signed a US$130m contract with the French energy company AREVA for the design, engineering and construction of a new high-voltage sub-station that will power Alcan's planned AP50 pilot plant in Saguenay, Quebec. The $550m pilot plant for Alcan’s new generation of smelter technology is expected to come on stream in 2010 with annual capacity of 60,000tpy. It is located at the company’s Jonquière site, where 90,000tpy of older Soederberg technology capacity was closed in 2005. Demolition of the old lines started in March and the site will be ready to start construction of the new plant at the beginning of 2008.