EoW July 2013

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News
Corporate
July 2013 10
Hannelore Kraft, prime minister of North
Rhine Westphalia, visited ArcelorMittal’s
site in Duisburg to view the company’s
new high-technology wire rod mill.
The new rolling mill in Ruhrort is
testimony to ArcelorMittal’s commitment
to the Duisburg site.
The investment of over €130m will enable
a significant reduction in energy costs,
increase the plant’s productivity and
support jobs and training positions.
The Duisburg plant supplies semi-finished
products for forging in addition to
high-strength and ultra-high-strength
wire rods for the car industry and
renewable energy sector, including
offshore wind turbines.
Michel Wurth, group management board
member for long carbon worldwide, said:
“Germany is an important location for the
manufacture of products with high value
creation.
“The new wire rod mill will make a
significant contribution to us being able
to retain and expand our leading market
position. We therefore appeal to the
public authorities in Germany and Europe
to support the industry and strengthen its
competitiveness.”
As an energy-intensive company,
ArcelorMittal relies on huge quantities of
electricity, which has to be bought in.
The high electricity prices in Germany
are said to threaten the competitiveness
of the industry and the future of the
Duisburg plant.
ArcelorMittal – Luxembourg
Website:
Prime minister goes to the wire (mill)
US aluminium plant under closure threat
Employees of a western Kentucky aluminium smelter have been told of plans to close
the plant on 20th August – unless the management can secure lower electricity rates.
Century Aluminum has been in negotiations with its power supplier, Big Rivers Electric,
for over a year. Both parties confirmed
they are still trying to negotiate a deal
before the deadline.
Legislation to lower the smelter’s electric
bill was introduced during the General
Assembly, but was pulled because of
misinformation surrounding the issue.
Century spokesman Mike Dildine
said that telling the workforce of the
company’s plans fulfilled a federal
requirement, but that it coincided with
Century giving notice to its largest
customer, Southwire Co, that it would
terminate its contract unless a power
agreement is reached.
“Typically, that is a 60-day notice,” Mr Dildine said. “We felt that since our contract with
Southwire is a four-month notice, we should let our employees know too. We are still
doing everything we can to get a competitive rate.”
Big Rivers spokesman Marty Littrel believes the two companies can reach an
agreement. “I think we’re moving in the right direction,” he said.
Century Aluminum – USA Website:
▲ ▲ Century Aluminium’s Hawesville site. Photograph
courtesy of
Fibre optics in deep water
TE SubCom has signed a contract with Chevron USA Inc to connect the Jack & St Malo
offshore facility with an undersea fibre optic communications system in the Gulf of
Mexico. The cable system is scheduled for completion in May 2014.
Jack & St Malo fields are located 280 miles south of New Orleans at a depth of 7,000
feet. The fields are supported by a semi-submersible platform which will be connected
by 106km of submarine cable, subsea equipment, and a new branching unit to an
existing fibre network.
TE SubCom – USA Website: