'No threat' to Alcan plant

A smelting company which employs 670 people in Northumberland and buys most of its coal from Ellington Colliery last night gave an assurance that it is not under any threat as a result of the mine's closure.

The Alcan aluminium smelter and power station complex was built in Lynemouth more than 30 years ago, largely because of the easy availability of coal supplies from the nearby pit.

The complex currently buys 800,000 tonnes of coal a year from UK Coal, most of it from Ellington Colliery and some from opencast mines.

Yesterday Alcan insisted there is no threat to the future of the Lynemouth plant from the pit's looming closure and said it is already in discussions with UK Coal on extending the supply contract.

The close working relationship between the smelter and pit has supported up to 2,700 jobs in south-east Northumberland in the past, and UK Coal currently has a contract to supply coal to Alcan until October 2006.

Last night Alcan spokesman John McCabe said: "Yesterday was a very sad day for the whole local community and especially for the lads at Ellington Colliery who have worked so hard to keep it open. As far as we are concerned, the closure of Ellington impacts on us but certainly doesn't threaten us."

Mr McCabe added: "There is coal on the ground at Ellington which we can access immediately, we have coal coming in from other sources and we are already starting to talk to UK Coal about the longer term."

The Journal: Today's Voice of the North

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