OSLO: Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro has made a formal decision to build a full-scale technology pilot at Karmøy, Norway. The aim is to achieve the world’s most climate and energy efficient production of primary aluminium. Total costs are estimated at NOK 4.3 billion, consisting of net project costs of NOK 2.7 billion and around NOK 1.6 billion in support from Enova.
First metal from the technology pilot is expected during the second half of 2017.
“After several successful improvement programs, the next steps in our efforts to further strengthen our cost curve position will increasingly rely on our ability to advance our industry-leading position in technology and innovation,” says Hydro president and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg. “The Karmøy technology pilot will play a key role in realizing this ambition, ensuring that the Norwegian technology cluster remains the global leader in sustainable aluminium production.”
With the pilot project, Hydro aims to industrialize the world’s most climate and energy efficient aluminium electrolysis technology. The ambition is to reduce energy consumption by around 15 percent per kilo aluminium produced compared to the world average, with the lowest CO2 footprint in the world.
In addition, the implementation of technology spin-offs to existing production lines are expected to improve productivity in the current primary aluminium portfolio, contributing to Hydro’s capacity creep ambition of an additional 200,000 tonnes per year by 2025.
