Noranda Aluminum idles two of three production lines due to electric outage

Following an electric supply circuit failure which occurred Thursday last week, Noranda Aluminum idled two of three aluminium smelting potlines at its New Madrid smelter. No serious injuries were reported.

Noranda, the largest buyer of Ameren Missouri electricity, had bought around 10 percent of the power the utility produced in 2014.

Noranda has annouced no probable date and time by which it will be in a position to restart the two downed production lines. It has been reported to be "evaluating" its ability to meet customer commitments for primary aluminium produced at the New Madrid smelter.

"Accordingly, the company is taking steps to move to a one pot line operation and to adjust staffing and other activities to match this lower level of production at the smelter," an official said.

Noranda employs about 850 people at its New Madrid plant, and it must maintain that level to be eligible for special electric rates approved by state regulators.

A global commodity glut has weighed on aluminum prices and led to the shutdown of several domestic smelters. On Thursday, Alcoa too announced it would permanently shutter its Evansville, Ind., plant.

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