Anglesey Aluminium boss vows to fight for jobs

THE boss of under-threat metal factory Anglesey Aluminium last night vowed he would fight to save every job he possibly could among his 500-plus strong workforce. David Bloor, Managing Director of the Holyhead plant, made his pledge after joint owners Rio Tinto confirmed yesterday morning the smelter is set to shut down this autumn. The firm has failed to secure a new power deal to supply electricity to the site beyond September, when the existing contract for cheap electricity with nearby Wylfa nuclear power station runs out. Mr Bloor said his “Plan A” was still to secure a new power deal to keep the “world class” smelter running for another 30 years – but help was needed from the government to do that. In the meantime, he’s working on a “Plan B” to save some jobs, by finding a market to sell surplus carbon produced at the plant, and offering to cast aluminium products for other metal producers. But hope for a new power deal did appear to be on the horizon, after Business Secretary Peter Mandelson personally intervened from Westminster, before an emergency meeting yesterday with Welsh secretary Paul Murphy and First Minister Rhodri Morgan. Lord Mandelson said: “The first thing I have done today is to telephone the chairman of Rio Tinto about the Anglesey smelter. “I have known for some time about the problems and challenges it faces. I am very concerned indeed. “The chairman has assured me they will do everything they can if they face the prospect of having to wind down the smelter. “The Government will be there, beside the company, beside the workforce, doing everything we can. “In the meantime I’m going to look at the energy contract that’s really the core of the problem.” Welsh Secretary MP Paul Murphy also vowed to look at the stalled power negotiations with Wylfa’s owners the Nuclear Decomissioning Authority, in a bid to save workers’ livelihoods. He said: “We are looking at the situation to see what package of measure and support we can give to safeguard jobs.” A statement yesterday said Anglesey Aluminium Metal, jointly owned by Rio Tinto Alcan (51 per cent) and Kaiser Aluminum (49 per cent), expects to end smelting operations in September. In the meantime the firm will spend the next nine months trying to find markets for remelt and casting operations, and the production of carbon anodes for use by other smelting facilities. This “Plan B” is designed to retain hundreds of jobs at the plant, even if the smelter is mothballed. But Mr Bloor said his main hope was for government to either subsidise the plant’s electricity costs in future, or help swing a fresh, affordable deal with the NDA. He said: “Plan A is that we fight on and try and secure this deal and the Government has to step in. They at least need to let us know if a deal is possible, if it isn’t they need to tell us so we know where we stand. “This doubt is not fair on the workers. “We are a world class profitable business, the only issue is power, if we can secure this we can be here for another 30 years.” He added it would be two or three months before the firm could confirm how many jobs could be saved. He said: “We must also have a Plan B and that will be trying to secure as much of the plant as possible on the parts that do not rely on the power deal. “We want to secure every job we possibly can in this community. “I have been brutally honest with the workers about the situation and I have huge sympathy with them. “They have families, homes, mortgages and they need to know about their futures. “We need an answer from the Government.” Island MP Albert Owen, said there was massive uncertainty on Anglesey. “The plant has a first class workforce and produces a high quality product that has a worldwide demand. “It is time both sides agreed on a fair deal to supply electricity so that the smelter plant can continue to operate and plan into the future.” Ynys M?n AM and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said yesterday’s announcement was “extremely disappointing news”. He added: “Nevertheless, I believe Anglesey Aluminium has a viable future as a fully operational plant and I will be working with all parties to ensure there is an acceptable energy contract that can be signed to secure the plant’s future. “What is now essential is that we bring all parties together with the aim of achieving an acceptable solution. “It is essential that a deal is brokered to give Anglesey Aluminium an energy contract which is acceptable. Time is clearly of the essence.” Jeff Evans, from the JE O’Toole Centre for the unemployed in Holyhead, said: “This is devastating news for the whole community, it is dreadful. It is a disaster for Anglesey. “They say 500 jobs but in truth with the knock on affect on the economy, you are talking about more than 2,000 jobs directly affected. “The Government has to pull its finger out on. “Subsidising the power supply to the company and keeping people in work will be much better than paying people to be out of work.” The future of Anglesey Aluminium has been in doubt for months, with the power deal deadline looming, and Wylfa nuclear plant set to close. Fears were exacerbated last June when a massive fire forced bosses to turn off the power to the smelter for four hours. This caused a multi million pound repair bill and the plant only become fully operational again in December. Anglesey Council Economic Development portfolio holder Coun Bryan Owen said: “We’re extremely disappointed. ” Unite regional secretary Andy Richards has written to ministers and the Welsh assembly calling for urgent crisis talks. He said: “AAM has been a cornerstone of the Anglesey economy for thirty years. “The origins of this worrying news pre-date the current economic crisis, which is why Unite has been calling for the Government to make the important decisions on energy supply for years. “The procrastination over Wylfa means we are now looking at a probable closure, which would be catastrophic for Anglesey and Wales. We must move mountains to avoid this disaster.” SOURCE:www.dailypost.co.uk