NEW YORK (AP) -- Aluminum maker Alcoa said Friday it plans to restart three idled U.S. smelters, bringing back about 260 laid-off workers and hiring some new ones.
Potlines will be restarted at the Massena East facility in Massena, N.Y.; Wenatchee Works in Malaga, Wash.; and Intalco in Ferndale, Wash., the company said in a statement.
Alcoa said it would recall 95 laid-off workers and hire another 165 employees for the plants.
The restarts, which already have begun, will help Alcoa meet expected growth in aluminum demand, and it will meet obligations to power companies in long-term, low-cost contracts, Alcoa's statement said.
Power rates at Wenatchee and Massena are about 40 percent less than worldwide averages, the company said. The restarts will be powered by hydroelectric power.
"We are pleased to bring jobs back and increase our economic impact in each of these communities," said Bob Wilt, president of Alcoa's U.S. primary products. "We believe this additional capacity will be absorbed in the market as Alcoa meets rising demand for light, strong and recyclable aluminum from customers around the world."
The restarts should be finished in the first half of the year. After completion, Alcoa still will have 674,000 metric tons of idle factory capacity, the company's statement said.
Shares of Alcoa rose 2 cents to $16.38 in morning trading Friday.
Potlines will be restarted at the Massena East facility in Massena, N.Y.; Wenatchee Works in Malaga, Wash.; and Intalco in Ferndale, Wash., the company said in a statement.
Alcoa said it would recall 95 laid-off workers and hire another 165 employees for the plants.
The restarts, which already have begun, will help Alcoa meet expected growth in aluminum demand, and it will meet obligations to power companies in long-term, low-cost contracts, Alcoa's statement said.
Power rates at Wenatchee and Massena are about 40 percent less than worldwide averages, the company said. The restarts will be powered by hydroelectric power.
"We are pleased to bring jobs back and increase our economic impact in each of these communities," said Bob Wilt, president of Alcoa's U.S. primary products. "We believe this additional capacity will be absorbed in the market as Alcoa meets rising demand for light, strong and recyclable aluminum from customers around the world."
The restarts should be finished in the first half of the year. After completion, Alcoa still will have 674,000 metric tons of idle factory capacity, the company's statement said.
Shares of Alcoa rose 2 cents to $16.38 in morning trading Friday.
