UC RUSAL ALSCON to start domestic sale of aluminium

UC RUSAL ALSCON has started negotiating with key members of the Association of Primary Aluminium Producers on domestic sales of aluminium ingots in Nigeria. A statement by the company on Sunday, disclosed that ALSCON has hosted top executives of the Nigerian aluminium industry to discuss and agree on terms and conditions for domestic sale of ALSCON-produced aluminium ingots. The ALSCON smelter, which fell dormant in 1999, was restarted by UC RUSAL in February as part of a $300m modernisation programme. The smelter is already producing more than 1,000 tonnes of aluminium ingots per month and employs 800 people. The success of ALSCON is a fundamental part of the Federal Government’s Vision 2020 programme, whereby Nigeria will become one of the 20 most industrialised nations in the world by the year 2020. Speaking after the negotiations, the Managing Director, UC RUSAL ALSCON, Mr. Andrey Terentyev said, “Today, ALSCON is sending an important message to Nigeria - we are open for business!” We are pleased to prove once again that our smelter is viable and lays a solid foundation of the Nigerian industrial base.” Also speaking at the event, Mr Walter Fetzer, Chairman of the Association of Primary Aluminium Producers and Managing Director of NIGALEX Limited, said, “For almost a decade the aluminium producers and manufacturers of Nigeria have been looking for the moment when they can purchase aluminium produced in Nigeria. ---www.punchng.com