Hydro Aluminium Neuss plant in Germany stays open

Reuters reported that Hydro Aluminium is to keep its large German aluminium plant at Neuss open for the immediate future while a new German state aid plan for metal companies is assessed. Hydro said that in April it would stop production at the loss making aluminium plant at Neuss in June because of high German electricity costs and weak demand. But Mr Oliver Bell Norsk Hydro executive board member said that but the Neuss plant will remain in operation at its current reduced level while the details of a new German government plan to help the non-ferrous metals industry are assessed. Mr Bell said that "Production will remain at this level until we know more. We need to know what will be the business conditions for Neuss." He said that "The EUR 40 million are there but we need to find out the concrete details of what this means. On this basis we will then make a decision." Germany's ruling government coalition has decided to give extra aid of EUR 40 million in 2009 to help the non-ferrous metal industry overcome the impact of the economic slowdown and High German power costs. The Neuss plant has capacity to produce 230,000 tonnes of primary aluminium annually but is currently producing only about 4,000 tonnes a month or about 50,000 tonnes on an annual basis. (Sourced from Reuters)