Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
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astra
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Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Stox 16 Mon Jun 04, 2012 4:02 am
The Closure of England only aluminium smelter. Does this matter?
So one more part of UK industry has closed its door that was providing thousands of jobs and was a key element to our supply chain. With this Tory lead coalition government doing nothing at all to try and save strategic heavy industries within the UK. With aluminium now being add to out overseas imports from Chain? Should we just let this go? Like the Tories seem to believe in?
The end of four decades of aluminium smelting in Northumberland has been marked with the power being turned off at Alcan.
Rio Tinto Alcan, which owns the plant at Lynemouth, announced plans to close the site in November.
At 14:00 BST the power was turned off in a "low key" fashion, marking the end of smelting at the site.
Worker Paul Scott said it "puts the final nail in the coffin" for those losing their jobs.
John McCabe, the company's regional economic development director, said: "Today is obviously a sad day for all of us concerned, we're bringing 40 years of aluminium smelting to an end at Lynemouth.
"Today we turned off the power to the smelter in a very low key, controlled and above all else, safe fashion.
"Now we will focus our efforts on mitigating the impact of closure on our colleagues and the community at large."
'The end'
The plant will be decommissioned and cleaned with the aim of bringing new investment and jobs to the site.
Leader of Northumberland County Council Jeff Reid, said: "We just need to gather up all of this bad news and try and turn it into something more positive... we have got to try and concentrate on the people who are there at the moment and try and move them onto further good jobs."
The Lynemouth smelter, which opened in 1972, is estimated to contribute £60m to Northumberland's economy.
A total of 515 staff will lose their jobs when it closes, with 323 being made redundant in May.
Mr Scott said: "I think it puts the final nail in the coffin, I think everybody will now realise that it is the end."
Demand for aluminium within the UK has increased steadily over the last four decades, resulting in a
20,000-strong workforce and an estimated £3 billion annual turnover across the industry in 2008.1
In addition, aluminium production plays an extensive role in the wider UK manufacturing supply
chain. Of the aluminium consumed domestically, around four fifths are used by four key sectors:
building / construction, transport, packaging and engineering.
Until recently, there were three major aluminium smelters in the UK:
1. Anglesey Aluminium (145,000 tonnes of production annually (tpa), closed September 2009)
2. Lynemouth (178,000tpa, to be closed May 2012)
3. Lochaber (43,000tpa)2
However, the financial crisis has had a major impact on the UK’s production of aluminium
So one more part of UK industry has closed its door that was providing thousands of jobs and was a key element to our supply chain. With this Tory lead coalition government doing nothing at all to try and save strategic heavy industries within the UK. With aluminium now being add to out overseas imports from Chain? Should we just let this go? Like the Tories seem to believe in?
The end of four decades of aluminium smelting in Northumberland has been marked with the power being turned off at Alcan.
Rio Tinto Alcan, which owns the plant at Lynemouth, announced plans to close the site in November.
At 14:00 BST the power was turned off in a "low key" fashion, marking the end of smelting at the site.
Worker Paul Scott said it "puts the final nail in the coffin" for those losing their jobs.
John McCabe, the company's regional economic development director, said: "Today is obviously a sad day for all of us concerned, we're bringing 40 years of aluminium smelting to an end at Lynemouth.
"Today we turned off the power to the smelter in a very low key, controlled and above all else, safe fashion.
"Now we will focus our efforts on mitigating the impact of closure on our colleagues and the community at large."
'The end'
The plant will be decommissioned and cleaned with the aim of bringing new investment and jobs to the site.
Leader of Northumberland County Council Jeff Reid, said: "We just need to gather up all of this bad news and try and turn it into something more positive... we have got to try and concentrate on the people who are there at the moment and try and move them onto further good jobs."
The Lynemouth smelter, which opened in 1972, is estimated to contribute £60m to Northumberland's economy.
A total of 515 staff will lose their jobs when it closes, with 323 being made redundant in May.
Mr Scott said: "I think it puts the final nail in the coffin, I think everybody will now realise that it is the end."
Demand for aluminium within the UK has increased steadily over the last four decades, resulting in a
20,000-strong workforce and an estimated £3 billion annual turnover across the industry in 2008.1
In addition, aluminium production plays an extensive role in the wider UK manufacturing supply
chain. Of the aluminium consumed domestically, around four fifths are used by four key sectors:
building / construction, transport, packaging and engineering.
Until recently, there were three major aluminium smelters in the UK:
1. Anglesey Aluminium (145,000 tonnes of production annually (tpa), closed September 2009)
2. Lynemouth (178,000tpa, to be closed May 2012)
3. Lochaber (43,000tpa)2
However, the financial crisis has had a major impact on the UK’s production of aluminium
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by astra Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:58 pm
Fuel is also a problem for the aluminium works since Thatcher and Heseltine (Do NOT forget HIM!) closed the Ellington Colliery.
The undersea colliery at Ashington (Ellington ('BIG E') has been there for years. It's location was central to the decision to build the Blyth Coal Fired Power Station, then the Alcan Plant.)
Since BOTH the aforenamed personages (SPIT) closed the coal mine, fuel for the Alcan Plant has had to come from USA, and taken by rail to the smelter.
Even my 13 year old grandaughter remarked upon the stupidity of closing the productive, economically viable coal mine, producing very high grade coal.
And for the Politically Correct Police on here, clean burn technology is available!
The undersea colliery at Ashington (Ellington ('BIG E') has been there for years. It's location was central to the decision to build the Blyth Coal Fired Power Station, then the Alcan Plant.)
Since BOTH the aforenamed personages (SPIT) closed the coal mine, fuel for the Alcan Plant has had to come from USA, and taken by rail to the smelter.
Even my 13 year old grandaughter remarked upon the stupidity of closing the productive, economically viable coal mine, producing very high grade coal.
And for the Politically Correct Police on here, clean burn technology is available!
astra- Deceased
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Mel Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:19 pm
The Closure of England only aluminium smelter. Does this matter?
Yes indeed it does Stox but to whom other than those who will lose their jobs? Not Gideon nor Cameron and almost certainly not Glegg.
To me it looks like three possible reasons as to why they won't save the smelter. 0ne, increased scortched earth for the incoming Labour govenment. Two, more unemployment to increase cheap labour, which is why we always get high unemployment when the Tory bastards are in power. Three, perhaps one or two of the wealthy Cabinet Ministers have fingers in pies in overseas smelting companies.
Have I been unrealistic in what I have said?
Yes indeed it does Stox but to whom other than those who will lose their jobs? Not Gideon nor Cameron and almost certainly not Glegg.
To me it looks like three possible reasons as to why they won't save the smelter. 0ne, increased scortched earth for the incoming Labour govenment. Two, more unemployment to increase cheap labour, which is why we always get high unemployment when the Tory bastards are in power. Three, perhaps one or two of the wealthy Cabinet Ministers have fingers in pies in overseas smelting companies.
Have I been unrealistic in what I have said?
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Stox 16 Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:59 am
Mel wrote:The Closure of England only aluminium smelter. Does this matter?
Yes indeed it does Stox but to whom other than those who will lose their jobs? Not Gideon nor Cameron and almost certainly not Glegg.
To me it looks like three possible reasons as to why they won't save the smelter. 0ne, increased scortched earth for the incoming Labour govenment. Two, more unemployment to increase cheap labour, which is why we always get high unemployment when the Tory bastards are in power. Three, perhaps one or two of the wealthy Cabinet Ministers have fingers in pies in overseas smelting companies.
Have I been unrealistic in what I have said?
Hello Mel my good friend
No you have not been unrealistic at all Mel. in fact we could all of under played
it if anything in my book. its just one more industry that we are about to chuck away only to then import all our aluminium needs again. Just one more case of utter right wing Tory economic madness. then you watch Mel, some Tory will post and say out imports are far to high from China. well I wonder why that is? as it cannot be anything too do with the fact that we just have a bloody Tory government who are hell bent on exporting UK industry and job overseas can it? this whole thing makes me so very mad. as its just Tory economic vandalism at its very worst Mel.
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Stox 16 Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:21 am
astra wrote:Fuel is also a problem for the aluminium works since Thatcher and Heseltine (Do NOT forget HIM!) closed the Ellington Colliery.
The undersea colliery at Ashington (Ellington ('BIG E') has been there for years. It's location was central to the decision to build the Blyth Coal Fired Power Station, then the Alcan Plant.)
Since BOTH the aforenamed personages (SPIT) closed the coal mine, fuel for the Alcan Plant has had to come from USA, and taken by rail to the smelter.
Even my 13 year old grandaughter remarked upon the stupidity of closing the productive, economically viable coal mine, producing very high grade coal.
And for the Politically Correct Police on here, clean burn technology is available!
Hello Astra
How can i do anything other than fully Agree with you post in full. he we are 30 years on still paying for Maggot and her side kick Heseltine the other poor little rich boy. its just crazy to have to import coal from the US when we sit on a rock full of the stuff. the fact is there are ways around using high grade coal to turn it into clean burn fuel. now as direct result of this crazy economic decision we are once more exporting job and industry once more. as lets face it. if your going to manufacture goods that need aluminium where would you build you're factory? here or in China where they smelt it? so we once more lose a key element to our supply chain for nothing at all. China must be laughing all the way to the banks with this UK government in power.
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by astra Tue Jun 05, 2012 9:40 am
Cinese ARE in the North east in a big way. They own Northumbria Water. (Kielder)
Now, as you are aware, Aluminium smelting needs vast amounts of electricity, AND Water!!!
Is there a Rabbit Away? or is it just me?
It is not just China, Stox
Brazil - aircraft manufacture, wher many have gone to the Embraer Aircraft Manufacturing factories.
America - now building the Harrier Jump Jet and completing an order for the Italian AirForce
India - Shipbuilding
Now, as you are aware, Aluminium smelting needs vast amounts of electricity, AND Water!!!
Is there a Rabbit Away? or is it just me?
It is not just China, Stox
Brazil - aircraft manufacture, wher many have gone to the Embraer Aircraft Manufacturing factories.
America - now building the Harrier Jump Jet and completing an order for the Italian AirForce
India - Shipbuilding
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by trevorw2539 Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:45 pm
astra wrote:Cinese ARE in the North east in a big way. They own Northumbria Water. (Kielder)
Now, as you are aware, Aluminium smelting needs vast amounts of electricity, AND Water!!!
Is there a Rabbit Away? or is it just me?
It is not just China, Stox
Brazil - aircraft manufacture, wher many have gone to the Embraer Aircraft Manufacturing factories.
America - now building the Harrier Jump Jet and completing an order for the Italian AirForce
India - Shipbuilding
I understand that the Tories are considering up-anchoring the UK and moving it to the Far East. Less hassle and nearer to transfer our industry there, and less distance for fake chinese goods to travel to the UK. Now let me see. Where shall I emigrate?
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by astradt1 Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:40 pm
Was it Napoleon who said that Britain was a Nation of Shopkeepers?
Well that is becoming more true every day....we now produce so little of what we sell that shop work will soon be the only jobs available to the population....
Where we do have industry the raw materials and now even refined materials have to be imported which will certainly help our balance of payments....NOT...
There is often talk about the distance which food must travel and it's carbon footprint but they never mention about the fact that most of the Coal Britain uses comes from overseas even though we have millions of tonnes of the stuff under our feet.....
I wonder how long it will be before some far eastern country comes and buys up the land under which the coal sits?
Well that is becoming more true every day....we now produce so little of what we sell that shop work will soon be the only jobs available to the population....
Where we do have industry the raw materials and now even refined materials have to be imported which will certainly help our balance of payments....NOT...
There is often talk about the distance which food must travel and it's carbon footprint but they never mention about the fact that most of the Coal Britain uses comes from overseas even though we have millions of tonnes of the stuff under our feet.....
I wonder how long it will be before some far eastern country comes and buys up the land under which the coal sits?
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Mel Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:37 pm
"Was it Napoleon who said that Britain was a Nation of Shopkeepers?"
Yes astradt1, Thatcher's parents were shopkeepers and look where that got us. Soon we will be a Nation of supermarkets and little else the way the Tories prefer to abolish industry rather than encourage it.
The Germans have the answer just as Brown and Darling had growth and not invisible earnings. Of course we have had to rely heavily on invisible earnings thanks to Tory ideology in the past and now the present.
The Germans with their industrial base makes us look pathetic. However with the Euro in trouble even they may crack.
Closing our one and only aluminium smelter is nothing more than shameful. Does Cameron and Gideon care what the majority thinks about this being yet anothe nail in our industrial UK coffin? Not a jot.
Yes astradt1, Thatcher's parents were shopkeepers and look where that got us. Soon we will be a Nation of supermarkets and little else the way the Tories prefer to abolish industry rather than encourage it.
The Germans have the answer just as Brown and Darling had growth and not invisible earnings. Of course we have had to rely heavily on invisible earnings thanks to Tory ideology in the past and now the present.
The Germans with their industrial base makes us look pathetic. However with the Euro in trouble even they may crack.
Closing our one and only aluminium smelter is nothing more than shameful. Does Cameron and Gideon care what the majority thinks about this being yet anothe nail in our industrial UK coffin? Not a jot.
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by oftenwrong Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:12 pm
The production of Aluminium is notoriously prodigious in its requirement for megawatts of electricity.
Within 6 years, the lights in Britain will begin to flicker and go out because the coal-fired generators and nuclear power stations are being closed down and nothing is being built that will replace them in time.
From the point of view of a company like Alcan, the UK is about to become frontier territory.
Within 6 years, the lights in Britain will begin to flicker and go out because the coal-fired generators and nuclear power stations are being closed down and nothing is being built that will replace them in time.
From the point of view of a company like Alcan, the UK is about to become frontier territory.
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by astra Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:42 pm
I wonder how long it will be before some far eastern country comes and buys up the land under which the coal sits?
Astradt, presumably all they will have to do is pick up - er buy what's left of the National Coal Board, or-wotever-it's called now
OW, that is a very uncomfortable thought! AND in 6 years, the new bridge over the Forth will barely be completed. If that ties in.
The transport infrastructure in this country has been run down over the last 43 years, I do not see an ulterior motive, that's not saying there is'nt one!
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Mel Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:48 pm
"I do not see an ulterior motive, that's not saying there is'nt one!"
astra my friend you can bet your life there is one. MONEY???
astra my friend you can bet your life there is one. MONEY???
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Stox 16 Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:30 pm
Mel wrote:"Was it Napoleon who said that Britain was a Nation of Shopkeepers?"
Yes astradt1, Thatcher's parents were shopkeepers and look where that got us. Soon we will be a Nation of supermarkets and little else the way the Tories prefer to abolish industry rather than encourage it.
The Germans have the answer just as Brown and Darling had growth and not invisible earnings. Of course we have had to rely heavily on invisible earnings thanks to Tory ideology in the past and now the present.
The Germans with their industrial base makes us look pathetic. However with the Euro in trouble even they may crack.
Closing our one and only aluminium smelter is nothing more than shameful. Does Cameron and Gideon care what the majority thinks about this being yet anothe nail in our industrial UK coffin? Not a jot.
Hi Mel
you know the more I think and read about this story the more mad I get. I just believe that this lot are such industrial vandals. as you just wait, as we will have Gideon on the TV news crying about imports next.
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Re: Does the closure of England's only aluminium smelter matter?
by Stox 16 Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:33 pm
astradt1 wrote:Was it Napoleon who said that Britain was a Nation of Shopkeepers?
Well that is becoming more true every day....we now produce so little of what we sell that shop work will soon be the only jobs available to the population....
Where we do have industry the raw materials and now even refined materials have to be imported which will certainly help our balance of payments....NOT...
There is often talk about the distance which food must travel and it's carbon footprint but they never mention about the fact that most of the Coal Britain uses comes from overseas even though we have millions of tonnes of the stuff under our feet.....
I wonder how long it will be before some far eastern country comes and buys up the land under which the coal sits?
a very good question that. not long I recon.
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