An increased power supply agreement and a $30 million capital investment program will increase production and guarantee the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter's future, according to the plant's general manager.
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Bell Bay Aluminium's Ray Mostogl announced this morning an agreement with Hydro Tasmania for the supply of an additional 33 megawatts of power.
Mr Mostogl said the agreement increased power supplied to the smelter from 322MW to 355MW.
The $30 million parallel capital investment program, about half of which will be sourced locally, will allow the smelter to increase production, he said.
Mr Mostogl described the power agreement as one of the important steps needed to ensure the smelter’s future in Tasmania.
“Today’s announcement also reflects the intent of the Tasmanian Government’s Energy Strategy as a constructive means to leverage the State’s existing (and future) energy assets to have the optimum impact on the Tasmanian economy that will enable economic and jobs growth as well as investment in the State,” he said.
“It goes without saying that today’s announcement is good news for the more than 1500 Tasmanians who are directly and indirectly employed by the operation, the local community and the State’s economy.''
The smelter will celebrate 60 years of aluminium production in the state in September.
