U.S. alumina refinery company Noranda Alumina announced that it has closed on the third and final phase of a project inaugurated in 2017 to extend chemical-grade alumina (CGA) at its plant in Gramercy, Louisiana.
The company recently opened a new hydrate dryer and dense phase pneumatic conveying system, which is the final component in the extension project. The plant’s nameplate capacity is now 800 thousand metric tons of CGA per annum with the new dryer and conveying system in place.
Noranda said that the new equipment and a new hydrate reclamation system significantly increases its CGA capacity while advancing its operational flexibility and efficiency.
The 13-month scheme represents a $20-million commitment at the site, achieving its first milestone in April with the inauguration of a 65-metric-ton-per-hour hydrate filter.