The Juruti Mine is located in the west of the State of Pará, in the heart of the Amazon forest. The town of Juruti was founded 125 years ago and now has some 34,000 inhabitants, according to 2007 data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), of whom 60% live in the 150 rural communities that predominate in the region. Traditionally, its economy has been based on the growing of cassava, fishing, livestock farming and other types of hunting and gathering.

With its potential reserves of around 700 million metric tons, Juruti has one of the world's largest deposits of high grade bauxite, needed for meeting growing demand. The reserves have also made it possible to expand the Alumar (Maranhão Aluminum Consortium) refinery in São Luís (MA). Initial production of the Juruti Mine was planned to reach 2.6 million metric tons a year.

The project originated back in 2000 when Alcoa acquired Reynolds Metals and started prospecting for minerals on the Capiranga, Guaraná and Mauari plateaux. After deciding to go ahead with the investment, Environmental Impact Studies (EIA – Portuguese acronym) and an Environmental Impact Report (RIMA) were prepared. In August 2005 the Preliminary and Installation Permits were granted and in June 2006 construction of the undertaking began.

On December 13, 2007, the Pará State Department of the Environment renewed the Installation Permits for all of the Juruti Mine structures, including the port terminal, highway, railroad and the infrastructure for mining and beneficiating the bauxite ore. The stamp of approval from the environmental agency confirms that the undertaking's installations strictly comply with legal parameters and even exceed them, their point of reference being the Company's own high standards.

Right from the start of activities, preliminary meetings and public hearings were held in Juruti, Santarém and Belém with community leaders, public and private institutions and other stakeholders; some 6000 people took part in these meetings. These actions gave rise to the Environmental Control Plans (PCAs) and the Positive Agenda.

The PCAs comprise 35 programs, covering actions for monitoring weather, air, noise and water, conservation of the flora and fauna, the production of saplings, environmental education, medical-health and educational services, public security, valuing and reviving local culture and support for preparation of the Juruti Municipal Master Plan, and other programs.

The Positive Agenda: voluntary and complementary actions by the Company that are of direct benefit to the local community – it addresses the main concerns as expressed by the people of Juriti themselves and ensures improvements in the areas of health, education, culture, the environment, urban and rural infrastructure, public security and justice and social assistance. These initiatives were implemented through partnerships with public authorities, non-governmental organizations and the community itself.

Institutional partnerships guarantee the development of strategic projects, such as creation of the Sustainable Juriti Council, regional sustainability indicators and studies for the setting up of the future fund for the development of Juruti. PCAs, the Positive Agenda and institutional partnerships that are of benefit to Juruti are based on Alcoa's own sustainability values and principles for development of the region.

A public opinion poll carried out by IBOPE (Brazilian Opinion and Research Institute) in Juruti, between January 19 and February 1, 2008, shows that almost all (89%) of the town's population looks on the project for installing an Alcoa bauxite mine in the area in a positive way. An absolute majority (54%) is expressly in favor of the initiative and 35% accept it and express no restrictions to it.

Alcoa's biggest challenge in Juruti is to earn the right on a daily basis to operate the undertaking, thereby guaranteeing regional growth. Sustainability is the trademark of the Juruti Mine and this is supported by Alcoa's three pillars: environmental excellence, social responsibility and economic success.

Safety in first place
In July 2008, employees working in all areas of the Juruti Mine installations reached the significant milestone of 20 million man-hours worked without any incident resulting in time-lost.

This record period without incidents resulting in time-lost reflects the absolute success of the project's safety management policy. This result exceeds both Brazilian and international safety parameters.

Below are some of the Company's sustainability principles:

• To experience and live Alcoa's human rights' values and principles;
• To respect culture and diversity;
• To actively listen to and promote transparent dialogue with all stakeholders;
• To improve and preserve the region's biodiversity;
• To improve social and economic conditions;
• To encourage diversification in local training and thereby avoid any economic dependence on the undertaking;
• To act effectively in qualifying and developing the local population;
• To apply world-class technology and managerial systems.

The Juruti Mine
Port
The Juruti port terminal will have capacity to handle ships weighing up to 75,000 tons. The port is located two kilometers from the center of the town on the banks of the Amazon River.

Beneficiation
The industrial installations in the bauxite beneficiation area, located some 60 km from the town, were built close to the Capiranga plateau, the first area where mining is taking place.

Railroad
The railroad is approximately 55 km long and operates with 40 wagons, each with capacity to carry 80 tons. Long stretches of the railroad were constructed parallel to the PA 257 state highway, which was also improved with asphalt and cycle-lanes on stretches that run through built-up areas.