BHP Billiton PLC (BHP) Thursday announced first production from the expansion of the Alumar alumina refinery in Brazil.

MAIN FACTS:

-The project, which involved upgrading the existing plant to eliminate bottlenecks and adding an extra line, is now more than 98% complete.

-Full mechanical completion is expected in September and the final ramp-up to full production will by the second half of the year.

-The upgrade and expansion project will increase the output of the refinery by 2.0 million tons, from 1.5 million metric tons to a total production capacity of 3.5 million metric tons per year for the Alumar Consortium.

-The Alumar Consortium is owned by Alcoa (54% share), BHP Billiton (36%) and Rio Tinto Alcan (10%).

 
-By London Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires; Contact Ian Walker; +44 (0)20 7842 9296; ian.walker@dowjones.com