Tiwai Point: Difference between revisions
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Tiwai Point is the location of an [[Aluminium smelting|aluminium smelter]] which was opened in 1971. It is one of the 20 largest aluminium smelters of the world<ref>[http://www.mwhglobal.co.nz/Smart-Tools/Feature-Projects/Tiwai-Point-Smelter.asp Smart solutions at aluminium smelter] (from the MWH company website. Accessed 2008-01-17.)</ref> and currently provides NZ$3.65 billion worth of economic benefit to the New Zealand economy.<ref name="TINTO1"/> It produces the world's highest purity primary (i.e. directly refined made from alumina ore) aluminium. The ore is mostly imported from Australia, while the finished product mostly goes to Japan. <ref name="TINTO1">[http://www.comalco.com/localcommunities/295.asp Tiwai Point - Overview] (from the [[Rio Tinto Aluminium]] website. Retrieved 2007-09-29.)</ref><ref name="TINTO2"/> |
Tiwai Point is the location of an [[Aluminium smelting|aluminium smelter]] which was opened in 1971. It is one of the 20 largest aluminium smelters of the world<ref>[http://www.mwhglobal.co.nz/Smart-Tools/Feature-Projects/Tiwai-Point-Smelter.asp Smart solutions at aluminium smelter] (from the MWH company website. Accessed 2008-01-17.)</ref> and currently provides NZ$3.65 billion worth of economic benefit to the New Zealand economy.<ref name="TINTO1"/> It produces the world's highest purity primary (i.e. directly refined made from alumina ore) aluminium. The ore is mostly imported from Australia, while the finished product mostly goes to Japan. <ref name="TINTO1">[http://www.comalco.com/localcommunities/295.asp Tiwai Point - Overview] (from the [[Rio Tinto Aluminium]] website. Retrieved 2007-09-29.)</ref><ref name="TINTO2"/> lol hey guyz lol |
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Revision as of 01:48, 26 November 2010
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Tiwai Point lies at the entrance to Bluff Harbour on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. A spit which extends from the western end of the Awarua Plain, it lies between Awarua Bay to the north and Foveaux Strait to the south. It is famous for the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, one of the largest industrial facilities in New Zealand.[1]
Aluminium smelting
- Process
Tiwai Point is the location of an aluminium smelter which was opened in 1971. It is one of the 20 largest aluminium smelters of the world[2] and currently provides NZ$3.65 billion worth of economic benefit to the New Zealand economy.[3] It produces the world's highest purity primary (i.e. directly refined made from alumina ore) aluminium. The ore is mostly imported from Australia, while the finished product mostly goes to Japan. [3][4] lol hey guyz lol
- Facility
The smelter currently consists of 3 lines of P69 technology cells, with 208 cells each (i.e. 624 total), and one line of 48 CD200 technology cells. Approximately 800 full time personnel are employed, and up to ~ 130 additional contractors.[4] Current metal production is ~ 330 kilotonnes per annum.[4] The third P69 Line was built in the early 1980s as part of Muldoon government's "Think Big" projects.
- Electricity
The smelter uses up to 610MW of electricity which is mostly supplied by the hydroelectric Manapouri Power Station. The perceived reliability of power from Manapouri played a major role in the choice of building the aluminium smelter in Southland,[3] with both the power plant and the smelter having been constructed as a joint project. The facility is the largest electricity consumer in New Zealand, and uses approximately one third of the total power of the South Island and 15% of the total power countrywide.[5][6]
The process also emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, though the smelter is hailed as being amongst the Top 5% of all aluminium smelters worldwide in terms of limiting its emissions.[5]
- Ownership
The smelter is currently owned by Rio Tinto Aluminium (RTA) (79.36%) and the Sumitomo Chemical Company (20.64%).[5] Ryan Cavanagh is the current General Manager Operations (as of 2010).
References
- ^ Secondary production (from Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand)
- ^ Smart solutions at aluminium smelter (from the MWH company website. Accessed 2008-01-17.)
- ^ a b c Tiwai Point - Overview (from the Rio Tinto Aluminium website. Retrieved 2007-09-29.)
- ^ a b c Tiwai Point - Key Data (from the Rio Tinto Aluminium website. Retrieved 2007-09-29.)
- ^ a b c Meridian boss hails deal with smelter - The New Zealand Herald, Wednesday 03 October 2007
- ^ http://supplyline.electricitycommission.govt.nz/Home/CurrentOutlook/Electricitydemand/Moredetail.aspx