Under a strategic cooperation agreement with the Henan government, Alcoa will work with Henan as a strategic ally on identifying value-added projects for alumina, primary aluminum and aluminum fabrication facilities in the province.
Henan is China's largest producer of non ferrous metals and the Henan government will provide the necessary support for resource allocation, energy supply, development plans and policies needed to make Henan a globally competitive base for aluminum production.
Alcoa's CEO, Klaus Kleinfeld, stated that by combining the strengths of Henan province, an area with abundant energy and natural resources, and Alcoa’s technology and market leadership, the two parties are aiming to establish a globally competitive base for aluminum production in China.
Henan province has abundant mineral resources with 107 varieties discovered. Its known bauxite reserves, which total 960 million metric tons, are the second largest across the country. It is the home to 14 primary aluminum smelters, with a total capacity of 1.3 million metric tons per year, and seven alumina refineries with production capacity totaling over two million metric tons per year.
As part of the agreement, Alcoa and Henan will cooperate on the sustainable development of the aluminum industry, deploying energy-saving and emissions reducing technologies, bauxite residue disposal, and aluminum recycling, to achieve an integrated and sustainable growth in the region.