Alcoa Inks Deal to Build Smelter in Trinidad and Tobago

Aluminum giant continues to grow its business in the Carribean.

Alcoa has signed an agreement in principle with the government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to build a 341,000 metric-tons-per-year aluminum smelter in southwestern Trinidad. This agreement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2004 for participation by Alcoa in the development of an aluminum industry in Trinidad and Tobago.

It is anticipated that Alcoa would build a 341,000 mtpy aluminum smelter, an associated anode plant, and cast house. Project plans call for the production of 240,000 mtpy of billet and forging stock, and also include possible downstream facilities. The facilities would be powered by a self-contained power plant fueled by natural gas. The new smelter and related facilities are projected to cost approximately $1.5 billion.