Alcoa, a manufacturer of primary and fabricated aluminum, is enhancing the environmental performance and energy efficacy of its alumina refinery located in San Ciprian, Spain, by shifting to natural gas from fuel oil. The company has set up liquefied natural gas storage tanks at the alumina complex.
Alcoa’s shift to natural gas is the outcome of the combined efforts by the company and the Regional Minister of Economics and Industry. The shift from fuel oil to natural gas will be completed once the Marina pipeline starts its scheduled operation in 2013. The usage of natural gas is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20,000 tons per year.
LNG storage will deliver around 8% of the total fuel consumed at the refinery, which currently uses 300,000 tons of fuel oil annually. Alcoa Spain encourages environmental performance, energy efficacy and sustainable development. In 2008, it became the first company to ink a deal with the Galician Regional Government and the Ministry of Environment to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Jose Ramon Camino, who serves as Vice President of Alcoa Europe, stated that the company expects considerable environmental advantages with the shift to natural gas.
The San Ciprian alumina complex features an alumina facility, a major aluminum plant and other common service amenities. It produces 1.5 million tons of alumina and 250,000 tons of aluminum annually.