The revival of the Alcoa Aluminum factory in San Cibrao has reached a crucial phase, with two vats now ready to begin the heating process. According to José Antonio Zan, president of the workers' committee, these preparations are part of the initial steps to restart operations, although the actual heating had not commenced as of the latest updates.
Last month marked the initiation of the restart process, focusing on four vats. Two of these, located in room 1 of the B series, are designated to aid in activating the remaining vats. Liquid metal was recently introduced into these vats, followed by testing connections with the substation responsible for connecting the busbar, an essential component in conducting electricity. The vats will undergo a 'heating' phase for approximately ten days before the 'dry start-up' process begins. The reactivation strategy involves starting up the vats in pairs, with a target to activate a total of 32 vats by March 31.
The workers' committee is also awaiting further discussions. These include a meeting to review the factory's status following Alcoa's decision to delay the investment in a large anode furnace and another meeting involving the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry for Ecological Transition. The latter aims to assess the actual condition of the wind farms, especially in light of reported issues with Greenalia's projects.
The committee remains vigilant in monitoring the progress and ensuring that the restart aligns with the workers' interests and the plant's long-term sustainability.
