Carbonorca looks at sending anodes to Iran - Venezuela

Monday, April 21, 2008

Venezuelan carbon anodes manufacturer Carbonorca is evaluating drawing up a contract to supply anodes to Iran, a company executive told BNamericas.

However, the executive clarified that "once [aluminum reducer] Alcasa clearly defines its requirements, we are going to sell the excess production to whichever company offers the best price and payment conditions."

For now, Carbonorca has no supply contracts with any foreign companies, according to the executive.

"We are speaking with several interested clients and we have several requests for supply but nothing has been decided yet," the executive said.

In 2007, Carbonorca churned out 161,137t, "the highest yearly output that the company has registered yet," said the executive.

INVESTMENTS

In March, representatives from Sutralumina union told BNamericas that Carbonorca was close to being shut down due to lack of investments in technological upgrades.

The executive said workers are calling for the type of investments that are carried out the same way they are at any company - when plant facilities become rundown and require maintenance. "There is no threat of the plant being shut down because of lack of investments," according to the executive.

The executive also said the company is currently carrying out a 6mn-bolívar (US$2.8mn) investment to rebuild a furnace.

In the first week of April, the company registered a total output of 2.5Mt of anodes produced since it began operations in 1989.

State heavy industry holding company CVG controls 10% of Carbonorca, located in eastern Venezuela's Puerto Ordaz city, while state aluminum reducers Alcasa and Venalum hold 45% each. CVG also controls Alcasa and Venalum.

Harvey Beltrán
Business News Americas