Aluminium smelter expansion

The Mozambican government on Tuesday approved a US $1 billion expansion of production facilities at the Mozal aluminium smelter at Beloluane on the outskirts of the capital Maputo, Associated Press reported. Once the expansion is complete the Mozal smelter will double its production of aluminium ingots from 250,000 mt to 500,000 mt a year, a government statement said.

The first phase of the smelter, which was inaugurated in September last year, cost US $1.2 billion, making it the largest private sector investment in the country. “The smelter expansion will create around 6,000 jobs in the construction phase,” the government statement said. Once construction is complete the number of people employed by the smelter is expected to increase from 750 to 1,000. Billiton, the London-based metals company, owns 41 percent of Mozal. The Mistubishi Corporation of Japan holds 25 percent, South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation 24 percent and the Mozambican government the remaining four percent.