MEED reported that Canada's Rio Tinto Alcan has opened discussions with the Algerian government regarding the construction of an aluminium smelter.

Mr Stefano Bertolli spokesman from the company is quoted as saying that Rio Tinto Alcan is looking at the prospect of developing an aluminium plant in the gas rich North African state.

He added that most projects of that nature start with an initial capacity of 460,000 tonnes per year which can then be doubled by initiating Phase II. However, talks were in the early stages.

Rio Tinto Alcan said that the project is totally unconnected to the USD 5 billion Beni Saf Aluminium Smelter project currently being planned by the UAE based Emirates Aluminium and the Algerian state owned Sonatrach. When completed Beni Saf will have a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year with the aim of increasing capacity to 1.5 million tonne per year over 3 phases.

(Sourced from MEED)