NZ smelter still returning to normal operations in Q3

 Production of primary aluminium at the Tiwai Point smelter in New Zealand improved to 86,500t in Q3 2006 from 79,900t in Q2 but was below the year-earlier figure of 90,200t, according to majority shareholder Rio Tinto.

That reflected the gradual return to normal capacity operations after a marginal production cut in Q2 on the back of higher power prices from New Zealand’s drought-hit hydro power system.

Cumulative Jan-Sep production at Tiwai Point was 247,900t, off the pace of last year’s equivalent 263,300t.

Production at Rio Tinto’s three other smelters was running at above year-earlier levels over the first nine months of this year. The wholly-owned Bell Bay smelter in Australia produced 132,000t in Jan-Sep 2006 (up from 130,200t in the year-earlier period); the 59.4% owned Boyne Island smelter, also in Australia, produced 408,600t (406,400t); and the 51% Anglesey smelter in the UK produced 108,400t (107,200t).