27 February
MOSCOW,
Prime-TASS

Russian metals merger plans abandoned after Medvedev meeting

Following a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, shareholders of major Russian metal and mining companies have abandoned their merger plans for the Russian metals industry, business daily Vedomosti reported Friday, citing sources close to the businessmen.

26 February
BEIJING,
Press release

Xiong Weiping appointed President of Chinalco and Secretary-General of the Executive Committee

It was announced today that Mr. Xiong Weiping is to replace Mr. Xiao Yaqing as President and Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of Chinalco. Mr. Xiao Yaqing and Mr. Xiong Weiping both welcomed the decision and said they would ensure a smooth handover.

24 February
OSLO,
Press release

Hydro adjusts to slower building market

Although activity in the building industry in Europe remains relatively stable, in the midst of the global economic crisis, Hydro has made adjustments in its aluminium building systems operations that will result in annualized cost savings of more than EUR 5 million. Until now, the most significant portion of the cost savings has been generated from the process to integrate the Spain-based Alumafel Group with the rest of Hydro’s aluminium building systems unit in Portugal and Spain. The savings are in line with the estimates Hydro made prior to the July 2008 acquisition.

19 February
MONTEREY,
Press release

Century Reports 2008 Financial Results

Century Aluminum Company today reported a net loss of $700.2 million ($14.27 per basic and diluted share) for the fourth quarter of 2008. Reported fourth quarter results were impacted by a charge for goodwill impairment of $94.8 million ($1.93 per basic and diluted share), a tax charge of $522.9 million ($10.66 per basic and diluted share) related to the recording of a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets and an inventory write down to market value of $55.9 million ($1.14 per basic and diluted share).

16 February
NEW YORK,
Press Release

Alcoa Continues to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Primary Aluminum Production Through Operational Excellence

Alcoa announced today that it continues its leadership position on climate change by achieving a 36 percent reduction in total direct greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 from its worldwide primary aluminum production process, a 3 percent reduction over 2007 levels.

12 February
NEW YORK,
Press Release

Alcoa Forms Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Henan Province in China on Aluminum Projects

Alcoa announced today that it has formed a strategic cooperation agreement with the People’s Government of Henan Province in China to jointly establish world class projects for the fabricated and primary aluminum industry. The agreement was signed yesterday at Alcoa’s New York headquarters by Alcoa President and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld and Governor Guo Gengmao of Henan. Henan is located in central China and is the country’s largest producer of non ferrous metals.

12 February
MOSCOW,
Prime Tass

UC Rusal agrees terms for restructuring $7.5 bln debt

United Company Rusal, Russia’s largest aluminum producer, has agreed on terms for restructuring a U.S. $7.5 billion debt to banks, business daily Kommersant reported Thursday, citing a document on the restructuring terms sent to the government by UC Rusal’s controlling shareholder Oleg Deripaska.

12 February
MELBOURNE,
Press Release

Rio Tinto announces pioneering strategic partnership with Chinalco

Joint ventures and convertible bonds to deliver US$19.5 billion in cash to Rio Tinto
The Boards of Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited announce today that they are unanimously recommending to shareholders a transaction with Aluminium Corporation of China, a leading Chinese diversified resources company. The transaction will forge a pioneering strategic partnership through the creation of joint ventures in aluminium, copper, and iron ore as well as the issue of convertible bonds to Chinalco, which would, if converted, allow Chinalco to increase its existing shareholding in Rio Tinto.

12 February
MELBOURNE,
Press Release

Rio Tinto announces underlying earnings of $10.3 billion — up 38 per cent

The major strategic partnership with Chinalco announced today provides additional flexibility in addressing the Group’s commitment to reduce net debt by a further $10 billion by end of 2009.

11 February
Munich,
Media

New BMW is built with unique lightweight aluminum technology

The new BMW 7 Series saloon, which made its debut in November 2008, cruises out of showrooms with lightweight door components made from a unique aluminium product called Novelis Fusion™. This is the first automotive application of this innovative, multi-layered product, which Novelis has dubbed "The new aluminium™."

11 February
OSLO,
Press Release

Further production curtailment at SØRAL

r-Norge Aluminium AS (SØRAL), owned 49.9 percent by Hydro, will reduce its aluminium production by another 25 percent, resulting in a total reduction of 50 percent at the smelter at Husnes, Norway.
Last december, SØRAL’s board of directors announced that it was contemplating a 25 percent reduction of its 2009 hot metal production at Husnes. On Tuesday, the SØRAL board decided to temporary curtail the production of one of the two potlines at the Husnes facility, effective as of March 1.

9 February
MELBOURNE,
Press Release

Jim Leng resigns from Rio Tinto’s Boards

Rio Tinto announces that Jim Leng, a non-executive Director, has resigned from the Boards with immediate effect and will therefore not take up the post of Chairman of the Boards in April as previously planned. 

9 February
MOSCOW,
Press Release

Rusal announces new appointment

RUSAL, the world’s largest alumina and aluminium producer, announces the appointment of Pyotr Sinshinov as Deputy CEO.

5 February
OSLO,
Press Release

Further reductions at Neuss smelter likely

Further production curtailment could be initiated shortly at Hydro’s primary aluminium plant in Neuss, Germany. The plant, with a production capacity of 230,000 tonnes, could be mothballed if the competitive situation does not improve significantly.

5 February
MOSCOW,
Press Release

RUSAL announces «Cost Efficiency Leader» initiative — comprehensive programme to increase efficiency during the global economic downturn

UC RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminium and alumina producer, announces that it has implemented a comprehensive programme designed to reduce costs, optimise the production process and strengthen the company’s position as the world’s most effective aluminium producer cost-wise. The programme will further enhance RUSAL’s competitiveness and support the sustainability of the group’s operations during the global economic downturn.

4 February
MONTEREY,
Press Release

Century Announces the Curtailment of Ravenswood, WV Smelter

Century Aluminum of West Virginia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company, today announced its intention to conclude the orderly curtailment of the remaining plant operations at its Ravenswood, WV aluminum smelter by February 20. On December 17, pursuant to the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the company informed employees of the possibility of curtailment of the entire plant at the end of a 60 day period; it also began the immediate, orderly curtailment of one of the plant’s four potlines.

2 February
MELBOURNE,
Press Release

Rio Tinto response to press speculation

As previously announced, the Boards of Rio Tinto are continuing to consider a range of options. In this regard, Rio Tinto confirms that it has held discussions with Chinalco regarding Chinalco acquiring minority interests in various operating businesses of the Rio Tinto group and also investing in convertible instruments.