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Consultation starts on Lochaber smelter expansion

Alvance Aluminium will begin the consultation process on expansion plans for a new recycling and aluminium billet plant at its Lochaber smelter next week.

Alvance Aluminium will begin the consultation process on expansion plans for a new recycling and aluminium billet plant at its Lochaber smelter next week.

The company announced expansions plans in November for a new £94m recycling and casting facility at its Lochaber, Fort Williams smelter that will double ‘green’ aluminium production from over 40,000 tpy to over 80,000 tpy. The plant will produce extrusion billets for various market segments, thus reducing the domestic dependency on imports.

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Alvance expects to award contracts to local suppliers including new building works for the facility. The billets, which are destined for both UK and European markets, will be produced from Lochaber’s already low-carbon aluminium and recycled material.

Expansion at Lochaber smelter will create 70 new jobs

Once approved, the new integrated business plan and associated developments will secure the long-term future of the Fort William smelter, safeguarding 200 local jobs and creating 70 new jobs. Subject to approvals and any further impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Alvance aims to commence the new development works in 2021 and targets full operation by 2024.

Brian King, president of Alvance British Aluminium said: “Because of the current Covid-19 restrictions, we have to conduct the consultation virtually but we’ll do everything possible to make it as interactive as we can and I’d encourage all our local communities to join in and hear about our plans. We are confident that local people will get behind these proposals to reinforce Fort William’s position at the centre of green industrial production in the Highlands, securing and generating new jobs, and providing a pipeline of opportunities to the wider supply chain in Scotland.”

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