…Alcan’s Gove alumina expansion begins ramp-up

The expansion of Alcan’s Gove alumina refinery in Australia began commissioning in June. Capacity is due to rise from 2.0 million tpy to 3.8 million tpy once the expansion is fully on line. The company said it expected the ramp-up to full capacity to take around one year and to be linear. Full-year 2007 production at Gove is projected at 2.2-2.3 million tonnes. The plant has already achieved a run-rate of 2.5-2.6 million tpy in the “last few days, which is encouraging”, the company said. By the end of this year, the plant is expected to be running at above 3 million tpy.