Smelter’s future on the line
1 Aug 2022
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| Tiwai Point. PHOTO: Rio Tinto |
By Ian Llewellyn - Energy & Environment
It came later than many expected, but NZ Aluminium Smelters confirmed it would begin talks for power supply to extend the life of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter past 2024 when its current deal with Meridian and Contact ends.
Majority owner Rio Tinto has been signalling for some time that it sees more life in the 50-year-old smelter with aluminium prices holding up and a desire to have a smelter portfolio with a reliably-priced renewable electricity source.
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