Noranda has filed an environmental impact assessment for its proposed US$2.78-billion aluminum and hydroelectric power project 650 km south of Santiago, Chile.
The EIA for the Alumysa project cost more than US$2 million and was two years in the making. Company spokemsan Dale Coffin says it will take at least another 10 months for the Chilean government to review it.
Once approved, the project will still require the participation of one or more investment partners.
“We are searching for investors in the project — partners to be with us either on the energy or the aluminum side, or both,” says Coffin. “It’s certainly not something we can take on by ourselves.”
Plans call for a 440,000-tonne-per-year aluminum reduction plant and port facilities at a cost of $1.74 billion, as well as three related hydro dams costing a total of $930 million. Additional powerlines and access roads would add $70 million to the bill.
At capacity, Alumysa would more than double Noranda’s existing production of 240,000 tonnes aluminum per year from its reduction plant in New Madrid, Mo.
The project would create 1,100 permanent jobs and more than 8,000 during construction. Another 5,000 indirect jobs would be created.
Noranda has been pursuing Alumysa since 1994. However, momentum slowed after Australian-based aluminum giant Comalco backed out in 1996 to concentrate on existing projects.
The company now believes it has the necessary infrastructure in place to support such a project.
“We hold excellent water and land assets in southern Chile, assets that could support a world-class aluminum plant,” says Steve Heddle, Noranda’s president of aluminum products.
The company has secured the necessary water licences.
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