Possible Russian aluminium investment in Venezuela back on the agenda

A long-mooted integrated alumina-aluminium project in Venezuela by UC RUSAL is expected to move back on the agenda during a current trip by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to Russia.

The two governments are looking at building a plant that will use local raw materials and Russian technology, Venezuela's ambassador to Moscow, Alexis Navarro, told Venezuela’s state media.

The project, involving a 2-million tpy alumina refinery and integrated smelter, has gone dormant since a flurry of talks between the two sides in 2004.