An investigative commission created by Par??'s state legislature Alepa found "very strong evidence of environmental crime" in the region where Alunorte, Norsk Hydro's alumina refinery in the Brazilian northern state, is located.
The analysis began after heavy floods in Par??'s city of Barcarena back in February worried nearby communities and prompted them to file a complaint against Alunorte to the local administration.Since March, Alunorte was forbidden to use its solid waste deposit 2 (DRS2) and has been operating at 50% capacity. Hydro, whose major shareholder is the Norwegian government, already signed a commitment term with state and federal prosecutors."[Alunorte] highlights that the report [from Alepa] acknowledges current challenges in Barcarena, and that possible contamination in the region could have stemmed from multiple reasons, including sanitation, and will require further study and analysis," Hydro stated on December 18.Alunorte's curtailment prompted alumina prices to...