Speira to curtail 50 % of Rheinwerk smelter production

The drastic increase in energy prices over the course of the year has caused a number of aluminium smelters in Europe to shut down pot lines.

Now Speira too has decided to curtail 50 % of its aluminium production at the so-called ‘Rheinwerk’ smelter in Neuss, Germany. Going forward smelting production will be reduced to 70,000 tpy of primary metal.

“We are facing similar challenges as many other European aluminium smelters. Energy prices have reached too high levels over the last months, and we don’t foresee those to fall in the short-term future. This development requires us to curtail 50 % of our smelter production until further notice to sustain value for Speira,” says CEO Einar Glomnes.

The curtailment process is planed to start early in October and is expected to be completed in November. Speira will replace the curtailed liquid production with external metal supplies. Speira does not plan forced redundancies.

Speira’s core business is the production of rolled aluminium products. In addition, the company operates recycling plants for melting aluminium scrap as well as the Rheinwerk smelter, which had a production capacity of 230,000 t in earlier decades. Speira employs around 5,000 people, mainly in Germany and Norway.