Rio Tinto will review future of unprofitable ISAL smelter in weak aluminium market

Rio Tinto will conduct a strategic review of its ISAL smelter in Iceland, due to high energy costs and historically low aluminium prices, the company said on Wednesday February 12.

"ISAL is expected to remain unprofitable in the short to medium term in the challenging conditions facing the aluminium industry, due to the smelter's uncompetitive energy costs and historically low aluminium prices," Rio Tinto said.
The review, due to complete in the first half of the year, will consider options including curtailment and closure of the smelter, which has capacity of 212,000 tonnes per year.

"We have worked...

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