Environmental Performance Enhanced at Alcoa′s San Ciprian, Spain, Alumina Refinery
Switch to Natural Gas from Fuel Oils Reduces GHG emissions
Alcoa′s (NYSE:AA) San Ciprian, Spain, facility is improving the energy
efficiency and environmental performance of its alumina refinery by
switching from fuel oil to natural gas.
This week, Alcoa Europe Vice President Jos?amón Camino andRegional
Minister of Economics and Industry Javier Guerra were on site during the
installation of the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks at
the San Ciprian alumina complex.
The move to natural gas is the result of a joint effort by the Regional
Minister of Economics and Industry and Alcoa for sustainable
development. Start-up of this equipment is the first step in the
progressive substitution of fuel oil for natural gas, which is expected
to result in cost savings, and will end once the Mariña pipeline,
scheduled for 2013, becomes operational. In this first phase, using
natural gas instead of fuel oil will result in an estimated annual
20,000 ton reduction of CO2 emissions.
'We anticipate significant environmental benefits with the change to
natural gas,? said Camino. 'Alcoa′s sustainability approach involves
collaborating with key stakeholders to make decisions that are mutually
beneficial to preserve our environment.?
LNG storage will supply about 8 percent of total consumption at the
refinery. Currently, the alumina refinery consumes 300,000 tons of fuel
oil per year.
Alcoa Spain is committed to sustainable development, energy efficiency
and environmental performance. In 2008, Alcoa Spain was the first
industrial company to sign an agreement with the Ministry of Environment
and the Galician Regional Government (La Xunta) for the voluntary
reduction of greenhouse gases. Similarly, investments in the factory
have been directed towards improving the environmental performance of
its production processes. The Alcoa San Ciprian plant is a world leader
among the industrial sector in both environmental and occupational
safety.
The Alcoa industrial complex at San Ciprian includes an alumina plant, a
primary aluminum factory, and common services facilities. It has a
production capacity of a million and a half tons of alumina per year,
and another 250,000 tons of aluminum each year.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world′s leading producer of primary and fabricated
aluminum, as well as the world′s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of
alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry,
Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace,
automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial
transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the
past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled
products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa ® wheels,
fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building
systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as
titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral
part of Alcoa′s operating practices and the product design and
engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index for nine consecutive years and approximately
75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in
active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31
countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
Alcoa Inc.
Editorial Contact:
Michael E. Belwood, 812-604-0530
Mike.belwood@alcoa.com
or
Investor
Relations:
Roy Harvey, 212-836-2674
Roy.harvey@alcoa.com
