A question of power for Hydro Aluminium
Norwegian aluminium giant Hydro has no concrete plans for the construction of an aluminium plant in the Kola Peninsula, but admits that gas from the Shtokman field in the Barents Sea could make the region more interesting.
According to Russian media, a delegation from Hydro in a meeting with the Murmansk regional administration last week signalled interest in the construction of a major plant along the Kola Bay. Projected output was reported to be up to 475,000 tons of aluminium and 6000 new jobs were to be created.
However, Hydro’s Oslo headquarters are reluctant to express interest in the Kola Peninsula.
-We have no concrete plans for Murmansk, Head of media relations, Hallvar Molland underlines to BarentsObserver. He maintains that Hydro was invited to Murmansk by the regional administration and that there are no further plans for the area.
Mr. Molland do admit though that gas is a vital source of power for the company’s aluminium plants.
With the development of the huge Shtokman gas field in the Barents Sea, Hydro might yet again be invited to Murmansk for talks. Then, plans might get concrete.
Read also:
Norwegians eye aluminium plant in Murmansk 3 September 2008
Hydro: Shtokman might open up for aluminium plant in Murmansk Oblast 2 November 2007
