Aluar secures gas supply, aims to start expansion

Argentina's Aluar signed twenty-year gas supply contracts with Spanish Repsol and domestic Pan American Energy and is ready to start expansion works at its plant in Puerto Madryn in the southern province of Chubut. The expansion project at the plant in Puerto Madryn will require US$650mn in investment and increase production capacity by 35% to nearly 400ktpy from 280ktpy. Construction work at the smelter will add two new 74-cube lines to the six existing ones plus one new rebar line to ease congestion and an anode treatment line. (BNamericas.com - 05/17/05)