Tiwai Point aluminium smelter disputes power bill

THE TIWAI Point aluminium smelter is disputing a NZ$10m ($7.94m) power bill for energy it did not use. In 2008, the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter used less power for two months after a transformer failed on 9 November. According to Rio Tinto, the force majeure event meant smelter reduced its power consumption to below the contracted take or pay volume. Rio Tinto says the actual usage of energy as of the end of December was NZ$10m less than the full take or pay contracted amount. It is now in legal discussions with power supplier Meridian regarding the bill. source:www.metalworker.com.au