Noranda Bauxite & Alumina to Invest $35M in Louisiana Facility

By Evelina Croitoru

The alumina plant located at 1111 E. Airline Highway in Gramercy, La.

Noranda Bauxite & Alumina has revealed plans to invest $35 million to expand and modernize its alumina refinery in Gramercy, La. Additionally, the firm is also considering the option to relocate its corporate headquarters to the Louisiana plant.

The project will include the installation of new equipment that will increase production, storage and shipping operations of chemical-grade alumina (CGA). The expansion will result in a CGA capacity of more than 200,000 metric tons. Besides the added capacity, the improvements will enable the company to store and manage the bauxite mines and reduce the volume of its current bauxite lakes. The project will create 65 new direct jobs, in addition to the 395 already existing positions. The plant was developed by Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp. and has been operational since 1958, being located on the east bank of the Mississippi River, less than a mile downriver from the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

To secure this project, the Louisiana Economic Development offered the company an incentive package, which includes the comprehensive solutions of LED FastStart and a performance-based loan of $1 million for facility construction and equipment.

“These capital improvements represent the largest capital expenditure in Gramercy in more than a decade. The projects will not only expand the production capacity for our valued CGA customers and create new jobs for our community; they will help ensure the continuation of this business and its 400 plus jobs by enabling us to operate more efficiently and effectively and with even greater environmental responsibility,” Noranda CEO David D’Addario, said in prepared remarks.

The renovations are scheduled to be completed next year.

Image via GoogleMaps