Global resources group BHP Billiton was looking at expanding the capacity of the Mozal aluminium smelter near Maputo by 250 000 tonnes per annum, BHP Billiton president for aluminium Alex Vanselow said during a conference call on Monday.
During BHP Billiton’s 2005 financial year, the Mozal smelter saw record primary aluminium output of 685 000 tonnes.
BHP Billiton has a 47% stake in Mozal, Japan’s Mitsubishi has 25%, South African funding parastatal Industrial Development Corporation has 24% and the Mozambique government has 4%.
The first phase of the smelter was completed at a cost of $1,220-billion in 2000, which took the smelter to 253 000 tonnes per annum, the second phase increased the smelter size to 506 000 tonnes per annum at a cost of $665-million in 2003.
After the completion of Mozal’s phase two, the smelter has increased its production via incremental improvements.
A feasibility study into a third phase expansion at Mozal had been completed, Vanselow said.
The key aspect of the expansion was concluding a power contract, he added.
Mozal 3 is likely to come on-line during the 2009 calendar year.
A 250 000-tonne per annum increase in Mozal’s capacity would make the smelter one of the world’s aluminium largest smelters. – I-Net Bridge