US ALUMINIUM producer Alcoa is studying the feasibility of reviving the stalled Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in Canada’s province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
In a joint statement, the province of Newfoundland and Alcoa said that the study, which is expected to be completed by October 2001, would look at hydroelectric facilities for the lower Churchill river and the possibility of erecting an aluminium production facility.
A 3200MW hydro project for the development was unveiled in 1998 but later abandoned due to difficulties in arranging financing. The current project, a scaled down version with the potential to develop 2000MW, is expected to cost about US$2.6M.
Alcoa is to study the economic viability of developing an aluminium smelter or smelters in the province, using energy from the proposed Lower Churchill hydro project. The company is also looking at the possibility of investing in new hydroelectric projects in Labrador.