Pechiney appoints construction companies

Ed Richardson FRENCH ALUMINIUM group Pechiney, having committed itself to Coega, has already appointed companies to handle the construction. This was announced in a news release issued in Paris recently by specialist construction firm Technip-Coflexip. It means that Pechiney has committed to Coega, and has dropped its alternative plans of building the smelter in Australia. According to Technip-Coflexip media spokesperson Sylvie Hallemans, construction will start as soon as financing is completed. Current planning will see building start in the first half of 2004. Full production of the aluminium smelter will be reached in 2006, she says. The Industry Branch of Technip-Coflexip based in Paris will carry out the 600-million dollar general construction and management project in partnership with Bateman Projects Limited.