Alcan, S.Africa's Eskom reach energy deal for Coega smelter

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Canada's Alcan Inc. and South African state-owned power utility Eskom have reached a deal on electricity supply to a long-delayed $2.5 billion aluminium smelter, a government minister said on Tuesday.

"It does look like Eskom and Alcan resolved all issues that relate to the energy contract," Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said.

Alcan, the world's second biggest aluminium company, inherited the plan for the smelter at Coega, near the southeastern port city of Port Elizabeth, when it took over smaller French rival Pechiney in 2003.