|
|
|
| |
| The production of primary aluminium in Argentina began in the 1970s, as a result of a state-and-private program for the development of the aluminium industry. |
Puerto Madryn, in the province of Chubut, was the location chosen for the installation of an aluminium reduction plant. The town is 1,400 km south of Buenos Aires. Initial production capacity was 140,000 tonnes/annum.
Simultaneous with the building of the plant, two major constructions took place:
- In Puerto Madryn, a deep-sea waters port to import the raw materials necessary for the process and export the end products,
- In Trevelin, 500 km west of Puerto Madryn, close to the Andes mountain range, the Futaleufú hydroelectric power station, to provide the electrical energy required by the process.
As the first major industry to be established in this region, the Aluar enterprise is the nucleus of a new industrial area. As the plant's operations have grown, the region's population has boomed from 6,500 in the 1970s to more than 70,000 in 2007.
Soon after the plant was commissioned in 1974, Aluar fully satisfied the demand of the domestic market for primary aluminium. The company has pursued permanent and gradual improvement in the efficiency of its operations from the very beginning.
For many years, the leaders of the finished products business in Argentina, were Kicsa (a sister company of Aluar), and Camea (that belonged to the Canadian Alcan group). Both companies merged in 1995 and became C&K Aluminio S.A., and each group held 50% of the shares of this new enterprise. In 1996 Aluar bought all the company shares and created its Aluar Fabricated Products Division.
In 1998, Aluar expanded its solidification installations in Puerto Madryn, acquiring Refinería Metales Uboldi, located close to the smelter. Important investments were made in technology up-date and expansion of this industrial unit.
In 1999 upon the new facilities start up, an economy of scale increase was evidenced, increasing in 40% the primary aluminum production capacity. The project required an investment higher than U$S 340 million. This enlargement was the response to a production cost reduction strategy and an ongoing technology update.
As from 2005, Aluar has decided to face an industrial project to enlarge the primary aluminum plant, which, due to its importance, has become the most important work in the country during this decade.
This project increased the production capacity from 275,000 tons to 410,000 tons, which entailed a 50% growth in the installed capacity, with a U$S 950 million investment and a 3- year performance term.
 |
|
|
|
