Alcan and Partners Discuss In-depth Coega Smelter Problem

Alcan announced on Monday the appointment of Brent Hegger as chief executive officer of the Coege aluminum smelter. The smelter, worth US$2.7 billion, will start construction in 2008 and begin production in 2010.

Alcan stated that the company has discussed with the possible partners and engineering companies on the details of the project's early stage and later engineering design issues.

In February, Alcan had revealed that it had already selected four companies.

The project financing will account for 60% of the total funds required for the smelter.

Alcan said, "The expected progress has been made with potential partners on project details and project negotiations."

Alcan stated in a statement that Hegger will replace Hal Spencer’s position. Spencer will retire on July 1.

Born in Montreal, Canada, Hegger was responsible for major projects in Canada, Russia, South Africa, Mozambique, Malaysia, and Chile.

He was the project leader of the South Africa Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Nuclear Power Plant project.

The smelter will be an important project in the Coega Industrial Zone. It has signed a power supply agreement with the state-owned Eskom Power Company.

At the same time, Coega Development Corp. announced on May 8th that Alcoa’s proposed purchase of Alcan for US$33 billion on May 7 did not result in negotiations with Alcan on the construction of the Elizabeth Port smelter. influences.

At the same time, he stated that “the negotiations between Coega Development and Alcan have stayed on the technical issues such as the construction and operation of the Coega aluminum smelter.”

But the negotiations between them had once been interrupted by Alcan’s acquisition of Pechiney. Because Pechiney is one of the investors.