The technology will allow Alro to reduce the amount of electricity needed to produce aluminum.
“Over the past 15 years we placed a strong emphasis on investments to increase the operational efficiency and reducing the energy consumption has always been a significant part of this program,” Alro CEO Gheorghe Dobra said in a statement released by the company.
Under this agreement, in September 2018 the actual construction of the reduction pots according to the new AP12LE design will be initiated. This project aims at reducing the specific energy consumption by approximately 300 kWh/ton of aluminum, while maintaining the current production.
The AP12LE technology targets an energy consumption below 13 kWh/ton, from an average of 13.28 kWh/ton from the AP9 pots type currently in use at Alro, while maintaining current efficiency at its current level (more than 95.5%).
“While the past investments helped us become one of the most efficient aluminum smelters in Europe, we still need fine tuning solutions to further lower the electricity consumption. We are confident that this agreement signed with RTA will support our operational efficiency plans and will get us closer to our goal of becoming a green factory, next generation factory, innovating and sustainable,” added Dobra.
Modernization of the plant will take place in stages, in compliance with the pot repair schedule, and will not impact the production of aluminum. Transition from the current pot design will start in 2019 and will follow the natural relining speed of all pots from ALRO during next eight years. By implementing the AP12LE project, ALRO aims at becoming part of the top ten world’s most efficient energy consumers in relation to the ton of primary aluminum produced (except China).
“ALRO AP12LE project is representative of the benefits AP Technology™ solutions can bring to a smelter,” said Philippe Bourdage, General Manager Technology & Product Development RTA .
This project is part of ALRO’s long term program to reduce energy consumption, while increasing overall production, as well as the output of higher added value aluminum products. In 2017, Alro invested over RON142 million for technological upgrading, operational efficiency and customer portfolio expansion.
Alro is subsidiary of Vimetco N.V., a global, vertically-integrated primary and processed aluminium producer. Alro is one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers, by capacity in Europe with an installed production capacity of 265,000 tons per year.
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group that focuses on finding, mining and processing the Earth’s mineral resources.