Like Duralex, the Aluminum Dunkerque company will slow down its activity due to the rise in energy bills. The primary aluminum smelter will reduce production by 20% until the end of the year, Reuters reported on Tuesday, taking up information from the local newspaper the voice of the north. Energy accounts for about a third of the company’s production costs.
According to the newspaper, 54 of the 264 electrolysis tanks will be closed. The company has a production capacity of approximately 285,000 tons of aluminum per year and employs more than 600 people. But the most affected will be above all the 200 subcontractors who regularly work in the factory.
Prices that have skyrocketed
The foundry is one of the world’s largest energy-consuming companies with electricity consumption equivalent to that of the city of Marseille, a source told Reuters. The company benefits from Arenh’s regulated tariffs (regulated access to historical nuclear electricity) for part of its energy but must obtain high market prices for the rest.
Other European metals companies have already made similar decisions, such as Aldel and Nyrstar in the Netherlands, Yara in Norway and ArcelorMitta in Germany.
Source: BFM TV
