January 25, 2011
Alcoa does its part to relieve the Québec power network during intense cold spells
Highlights
  • Over the last few days, Alcoa freed a total of 491 MW of electric power for Hydro-Québec’s usage
  • For more than 20 years, Alcoa and Hydro-Québec have entered into agreements allowing to temporarily reroute the power of our smelters to the network, and thus contribute to meeting the collective need for electric power
Following the recent intense cold spell in Québec on January 23, 24 and 25, Alcoa received requests from Hydro-Québec to temporarily reroute the power used in the operation of its aluminum smelters so that it could meet the general needs of the electric power network. Thus, on a number of occasions over the last few days, Alcoa’s plants in Québec freed a total of 491 megawatts (MW), which is about equivalent to the needs of a city like Longueuil during a peak period, or to the production of a power station like Eastmain-1.
 
These measures are commonly referred to as “curtailments.” They are an integral part of the power supply contracts between Hydro-Québec and several large corporations. However, the amount of power that Alcoa can make available is the highest of all the target industries. The public utility can benefit from such measures in peak consumption situations and with advance notice given to Alcoa. Thus, each of our smelters in Bécancour, Baie-Comeau and Deschambault can receive such demands, often triggered by cold spells.
 
The aluminum production chain requires a stable energy supply and the implementation of a sequence of very specific operations spread over time. In the event of a demand by Hydro-Québec for curtailment, Alcoa must rapidly adjust to ensure that it can pursue its operations without incurring damage to equipment or impacting production quality, while observing the fundamental principles of health and safety. Alcoa wishes to thank its employees who have once again answered the call, as they offered their close collaboration to Hydro-Québec and applied the prescribed protocols like every time such measures must be taken.
 
Note that on the morning of January 24, 2011, Hydro-Québec recorded a total power consumption of 38,200 MW, an all-time high.
 
About Alcoa 
In Québec, Alcoa Global Primary Products – Canada (GPP Canada) is comprised of the Bécancour (ABI), Baie-Comeau and Deschambault smelters, as well as the Bécancour Rod Plant. These four plants have an annual production capacity of almost one million metric tons of ingots, castings, billets and aluminum rods. Alcoa GPP Canada counts roughly 3,300 employees and its activities generate over $1.2 billion in economic spin-offs annually in Québec. Further information is available at www.alcoa.com/canada.