Aldoga announces joint venture with Leighton Contractors

Aldoga announces joint venture with contractors

Issue Date: 16 October 2002
Issued by: Aldoga Aluminium Smelter Pty Ltd

The Aldoga aluminium project in Queensland took a significant step forward today with the signing of a joint venture agreement between Fluor Australia Pty Ltd and Leighton Contractors Pty Limited to form the Fluor-Leighton Aldoga Joint Venture.  

The Joint Venture is in the process of completing a feasibility study for the engineering, procurement and construction of a 560,000 tons per annum, aluminium smelter in Gladstone for Aldoga Aluminium Smelter Pty Limited (AAS).

The joint venture has established a project office in Brisbane.

Managing Director of AAS, John Benson said, ‘The signing of the Fluor-Leighton agreement is a significant move forward in achieving our objective of a world-scale aluminium smelter in Gladstone.’  

‘The project has gained considerable momentum over the last few months and today represents a significant advance,” he said.

‘Fluor and Leighton Contractors have been working on the design and engineering to enable us to commence construction in the first quarter of 2003.  AAS is very pleased to be working with companies of the calibre and reputation of Fluor and Leighton Contractors,’ Mr Benson said.

Aldoga has completed its Environmental Impact Statement which is now being considered by the Co-ordinator General of State Development, and is on public display until 18 October.  

The Aldoga smelter, when fully operational by March 2007 will produce 560,185 tonnes of aluminium for export each year, increasing Australia’s annual capacity by 29%, with an annual export value of $1.5 billion.  Construction of the plant and associated facilities is estimated to cost $A3.8 billion and create a peak construction workforce of nearly 3500.  The project will employ about 900 people when fully operational.

Fluor is a major international engineering and construction company with a 50-year presence in Australia.  Fluor has been involved in many large resource development projects in Australia for clients including, BHP Billiton, MIM, WMC and Australian Magnesium Corporation.

President of Fluor Mining and Minerals, Jeff Gard said, ‘We are delighted to have formed a joint venture with Leighton Contractors to work on this very important study with AAS.  It further continues Fluor's strategy to expand our role in the resource industry of Queensland and in particular the light metals industry in the Gladstone-Rockhampton region.’

Leighton Contractors is one of Australia’s largest construction companies and has been involved in major infrastructure and resource development projects throughout the region.  Leighton Contractor’s involvement in this project builds on its involvement in the development of a light metals industry in Australia, and in particular, Queensland.

General Manager of Leighton Contractors in Queensland, Laurie Voyer said, ‘Leighton Contractors is very pleased to be working with AAS and Fluor on this study, to bring this major project to reality.  It is an important element in the development of Leighton Contractor’s overall business strategy.  We look forward to a long association with AAS.’

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