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31 December MOSCOW, Editors	Happy New Year Editors of the web resource www.aluminiumleader.com wish our readers Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let the new year bring joy, prosperity, love and peace to Your homes and hearts!
30 December CUPERTINO, Media	Apple produces «green» aluminium desktops One of the attractive features of the current MacBook Pro is that it almost entirely recyclable. MacBook Pro is made from materials like aluminum and glass, making it highly desirable to recyclers. And highly unlikely that its parts will end up in a landfill. This also makes it possible for the raw materials in MacBook Pro to be used again later in other types of products. And Apple offers recycling services in nearly all countries where Apple products are sold.
29 December KOLKATA, Press Release	Work to begin at Vedanta’s aluminium project in Bengal shortly The Vedanta Group is likely to begin work on its Rs.25,000 crore(USD 5.1BN) aluminium project in West Bengal shortly. Vedanta’s foray into West Bengal will be through a now-defunct unit of Aluminium Corporation of India set up in 1952 at Asansol.
22 December PITTSBURGH, Press Release	Alcoa and ORKLA ASA Agree to Exchange Equity Stakes Alcoa today announced it has agreed with ORKLA ASA (Orkla) to exchange their stakes in a Norwegian smelting partnership and a Swedish extrusion joint venture in order to focus on their respective areas of expertise and best practices. Alcoa will receive Orkla’s 50 percent stake in Elkem Aluminum ANS while Orkla will receive Alcoa’s 45 percent stake in the $3.7 billion SAPA extrusion profiles business. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2009.
19 December OSLO, Press Release	Norsk Hydro develops new silica and magnesium technology Hydro and Advanced Metallurgical Group have entered into an agreement to develop new technology for the low-cost production of magnesium and silica using the Norwegian mineral olivine as a raw material. Hydro uses large amounts of pure magnesium as an alloying element in aluminium. The secure and long-term supply of magnesium at the right price is therefore important for the company.
15 December OSLO, Press Release	In close cooperation with Qatar University Qatar University has signed an agreement with Hydro and Qatar Aluminium Company (Qatalum) to establish a faculty chair of aluminium production at the university’s College of Engineering. Qatar University will be provided with an annual fund in the amount of QAR 750,000 for three years, a total of about QAR 3.2 million or approximately USD 0.9 million. The main objective is to provide assistance to the institution in order to train qualified Qatari nationals to work in the aluminium industry.
15 December MOSCOW, Prime-Tass	UC RUSAL to cut annual aluminum output by 4% Russia’s United Company RUSAL plans to cut aluminum production by 180,000 tonnes per year, or 4% of the company’s total production, as part of a program aimed at helping the company weather the financial crisis, RUSAL said Monday.
15 December MOSCOW, Press Release	UC RUSAL adopts a new health and safety policy UC RUSAL, the world’s largest alumina and aluminium producer, announces the adoption of a new corporate policy on health and safety, which is in line with the best international practice in this area. The new version of the corporate Heath and Safety Policy has replaced the framework adopted by RUSAL in 2001 and takes into account both the innovative character and global geographical footprint of UC RUSAL. The development methodology and format of the H&S Policy, as well as its continuous improvement are in full compliance with the OHSAS 18001 international standard regulating health & safety management systems.
12 December MELBOURNE, Press Release	Further Rio Tinto update on Simandou Rio Tinto has received correspondence from the Guinean Minister of Mines which appears to indicate that the Council of Ministers has instructed the Ministry of Mines and Geology to effect a compulsory relinquishment of the northern half of the Simandou Mining Concession whilst confirming Rio Tinto’s entitlement to the southern half of that Concession. Rio Tinto has been in active negotiation in good faith with the Government of Guinea since August 2008.
11 December OSLO, Press Release	Hydro renews contract with ABB Hydro Aluminium Profiler AB has signed a new contract with ABB Motors in Västerås, Sweden. It involves the continued delivery of motor housings for the company’s low-voltage DC industrial motors until the end of 2010. Hydro has supplied extrusions for ABB’s motor housings since 1994. The level of sophistication in manufacturing has increased steadily over the years and since 2000 deliveries have consisted of complete motor housings made using friction stir welding.
10 December OSLO, Press Release	Hydro’s Søderberg facility at Karmøy to close in first quarter 2009 The Board of Directors of Norsk Hydro ASA on Wednesday approved the plan to close prematurely the oldest electrolytic technology at Hydro’s Karmøy aluminium plant, the Søderberg potlines.
10 December MELBOURNE, Press Release	Rio Tinto commits to reduce net debt by $10 billion by end of 2009 Rio Tinto has announced a detailed package of measures in response to the unprecedented rapidity and severity of the global economic downturn, which has caused sharp falls in commodity prices and a significantly weaker outlook. The initiatives are aimed at preserving value for shareholders by conserving cashflow and reducing levels of debt.
9 December INGOLSTADT, Press Release	The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro: breathtaking performance Audi is launching the next variant of its top-of-the-line model. With the R8, the brand has established itself at the forefront of high-end sports cars from the very start – and now comes the R8 V10. Its 5.2-liter, ten-cylinder engine churns out 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm (390.91 lb-ft) of torque, which makes for breathtaking performance. With superior Audi technologies such as quattro all-wheel drive, the lightweight aluminum body, the innovative all-LED headlights, and its striking design, the R8 V10 takes pole position against the competition.
9 December MOSCOW, Press Release	UC RUSAL invests almost USD 35 mln in the development of a modified RA-400 cell to be used at the Taishet Aluminium Smelter Moscow, 9 December 2008 — UC RUSAL, the world’s largest producer of alumina and aluminium, has announced an expansion of the RA-400 pilot area at the Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter to test several new RA-400T cells that will be used at the Taishet aluminium smelter, which is currently under construction. The RA-400T upgrade and operational testing programme has cost the company approximately USD 35 mln.
3 December INGOLSTADT, Press Release	The Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet — the joy of open-top driving Dynamic and wonderful to look at, the new A5 Cabriolet is a real Audi, and an especially exciting one at that. The four-seater with the fabric top combines a sporty character with the fascination of open-top driving, refined comfort, and great everyday utility. Seven powerful engines, an agile suspension and a wide range of high-end options make the new Audi model the most attractive mid-range convertible. In the construction of the body-in-white, several innovative technologies are used. A prime example are the ultra-high-strength steels with their extremely high tensile strength, which Audi manufactures in-house using hot forming. The front fenders of the A5 Cabriolet are made of aluminum to lower the weight and to optimize axle load distribution. An enclosed underbody improves the airflow and thereby the fuel efficiency.

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