Caution reigns about new aluminium smelter projects

摘要

Where and when will the next greenfield aluminium smelter be built? It was a question which dominated one session at MB's 16th International Aluminium Conference in Singapore last week. There were no easy answers with volatile power prices and financing among the key difficulties to overcome for anyone considering a new project. Yet the overriding consensus appeared to be that, even in the face of an ever-weakening price and current poor market outlook, someone somewhere needs to make a decision now and start building new capacity.As MB went to press the market was awaiting a decision from Aluminium Bahrain on whether it will decide to go ahead with its brownfield smelter expansion. A decision had been expected last November, but was postponed.