10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2005

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number 1-3610

 


 

ALCOA INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Pennsylvania   25-0317820
(State of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

390 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022-4608
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone numbers:

 

Investor Relations   (212) 836-2674
Office of the Secretary   (412) 553-4707

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange

on which registered


Common Stock, par value $1.00   New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 


 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  x   Accelerated filer  ¨   Non-accelerated filer  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x.

 

The aggregate market value of the outstanding common stock, other than shares held by persons who may be deemed affiliates of the registrant, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $23 billion. As of February 14, 2006, there were 871,819,586 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the registrant outstanding.

 

Documents incorporated by reference.

 

Parts I, II and IV of this Form 10-K incorporate by reference certain information from the registrant’s 2005 Annual Report to Shareholders (Annual Report). Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed or to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A (Proxy Statement).

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page(s)

Part I          
Item 1.    Business    3
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    16
Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments    19
Item 2.    Properties    19
Item 3.    Legal Proceedings    21
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    26
Item 4A.    Executive Officers of the Registrant    26
Part II          
Item 5.    Market For Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities    27
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data    28
Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    28
Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    29
Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    29
Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    29
Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures    29
Item 9B.    Other Information    29
Part III          
Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    30
Item 11.    Executive Compensation    30
Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters    31
Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    32
Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services    32
Part IV          
Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules    32
Signatures    41

 

Note on Incorporation by Reference

 

In this Form 10-K, selected items of information and data are incorporated by reference to portions of the Annual Report and Proxy Statement. Any reference in this report to disclosures in the Annual Report or Proxy Statement shall constitute incorporation by reference of that specific disclosure into this Form 10-K.

 

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ALCOA INC.

 

Formed in 1888, Alcoa Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal office in New York, New York. In this report, unless the context otherwise requires, Alcoa or the “company” means Alcoa Inc. and all subsidiaries consolidated for the purposes of its financial statements.

 

The company’s Internet address is http://www.alcoa.com. Alcoa makes available free of charge on or through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after the company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains these reports at http://www.sec.gov.

 

PART I

 

Item 1. Business.

 

Description of the Business

 

Information describing Alcoa’s businesses can be found in the Annual Report at the indicated pages:

 

Item


   Page(s)

Discussion of Recent Business Developments:

    

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations:

    

Overview - Results of Operations (Earnings Summary)

   25-29

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

    

Note B. Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale

   49

Note D. Restructuring and Other Charges

   50

Note F. Acquisitions and Divestitures

   52

Segment Information:

    

Business Descriptions, Principal Products, Principal Markets, Methods of Distribution, Seasonality and Dependence Upon Customers:

    

Alumina

   29*

Primary Metals

   30*

Flat-Rolled Products

   31*

Extruded and End Products

   31*

Engineered Solutions

   32*

Packaging and Consumer

   32*

Financial Information about Segments and Financial Information about Geographic Areas:

    

Note Q. Segment and Geographic Area Information

   55

* Excluding captions, charts, diagrams and related notes.

 

Overview

 

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry: technology, mining, refining, smelting, fabricating, and recycling. Aluminum is a commodity that is traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and priced daily based on market supply and demand. Aluminum and alumina represent approximately three-quarters of Alcoa’s revenues, and the price of aluminum influences the operating results of Alcoa. Nonaluminum products include precision castings, industrial fasteners, vinyl siding, consumer products, food service and flexible packaging products, plastic

 

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closures and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. Alcoa’s products are used worldwide in aircraft, automobiles, commercial transportation, packaging, consumer products, building and construction, and industrial applications.

 

Alcoa is a global company operating in 42 countries. North America is the largest market with 61% of Alcoa’s revenues. Europe is also a significant market with 23% of the company’s revenues. Alcoa also has investments and activities in Australia, Brazil, China, Iceland, Jamaica, Russia, and Trinidad, which present opportunities for substantial growth. Governmental policies and other economic factors, including inflation and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, affect the results of operations in these countries.

 

Alcoa’s operations consist of six worldwide segments: Alumina, Primary Metals, Flat-Rolled Products, Extruded and End Products, Engineered Solutions, and Packaging and Consumer.

 

The Alumina segment primarily consists of a series of affiliated operating entities referred to as Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC). Generally, Alcoa owns 60% and Alumina Limited owns 40% of these entities. For more information on AWAC, see Exhibit Nos.10(a) through 10(e) to this report.

 

Bauxite Interests

 

Aluminum is one of the most plentiful elements in the earth’s crust. Aluminum is produced primarily from bauxite, an ore containing aluminum in the form of aluminum oxide, commonly referred to as alumina. Aluminum is made by extracting alumina from bauxite and then removing oxygen from the alumina. Alcoa processes most of the bauxite that it mines into alumina. The company obtains bauxite from reserves held by AWAC, from the company’s interests in the countries listed in the chart below, and under both long-term and short-term contracts and mining leases. In 2005, Alcoa consumed 31.5 million metric tons (mt) of bauxite from its own reserves, 7.1 million mt from related third parties and 2.5 million mt from unrelated third parties. Alcoa’s present sources of bauxite are sufficient to meet the forecasted requirements of its alumina refining operations for the foreseeable future. The following table provides information regarding the company’s bauxite interests:

 

Alcoa Active1 Bauxite Interests

 

Country


  

Project


    

Mining Rights (% Entitlement )


 

Expiration
Date of
Mining Rights


Australia    Darling Range Mines      Alcoa of Australia Limited (AofA)2 (100%)   2045    
Brazil    Poços de Caldas      Alcoa Aluminio S.A. (Aluminio) 3 (100%)   2020    4
     Trombetas      Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (MRN)5 (100%)   2046    4
Guinea    Boké      Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG)6 (100%)   2038    7
Jamaica    Clarendon/Manchester Plateau     

Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica, L.L.C.8 (50%)

Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd.9 (50%)

  2042    
Suriname    Lelydorp     

BHP Billiton (45%)

Suriname Aluminum Company, L.L.C. (Suralco)8 (55%)

  2033    10
     Coermotibo     

BHP Billiton (45%)

Suralco (55%)

  2033    10

1 Alcoa also has interests at the following locations that are bauxite reserves or do not currently produce bauxite: Cape Bougainville and Mitchell Plateau (Australia), Juruti (Brazil), and Kaimangrasi, Klaverblad, Brownsberg, Coermotibo DS, Lely Mountains, and Nassau (eastern Suriname). On December 23, 2005, AofA exercised its pre-emptive rights to acquire minority partner AngloGold’s equity position in the Cape Bougainville and Mitchell Plateau joint ventures in Western Australia for A$2.2 million.

 

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2 AofA is part of the AWAC group of companies and is owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.
3 In August 2003, Alcoa acquired the 40.9% shareholding in Aluminio held by affiliates of Camargo Correa S.A. (collectively the “Camargo Group”). Prior to the acquisition, Alcoa had owned approximately 59% of Aluminio and the Camargo Group had been the principal minority shareholder since 1984. For more information on this acquisition, see Note F to the financial statements.
4 Brazilian mineral legislation does not establish the duration of mining concessions. The concession remains in force until the complete exhaustion of the deposit. The company estimates that (i) the concessions at Poços de Caldas will last at least until 2020 and (ii) the concessions at Trombetas will last until 2046. Depending, however, on actual and future needs, the rate at which the deposits are explored and government approval, the concessions may be extended to (or expire at) a later (or an earlier) date.
5 Aluminio holds an 8.6% interest, Abalco S.A. (Abalco) holds a 4.6% interest and Alcoa World Alumina LLC (AWA LLC) holds a 5% interest in MRN. Abalco and AWA LLC are both part of the AWAC group of companies and are owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited. MRN is jointly owned with affiliates of Alcan Inc. (Alcan), Companhia Brasileira de Aluminio, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, BHP Billiton Plc (BHP Billiton) and Norsk Hydro. Aluminio, Abalco, and AWA LLC purchase bauxite from MRN under long-term supply contracts.
6 AWA LLC owns a 45% interest in Halco (Mining), Inc. Halco owns 51% and the Guinean Government owns 49% of CBG, which has the exclusive right through 2038 to develop and mine bauxite in certain areas within a 10,000 square-mile perimeter in northwestern Guinea.
7 AWA LLC has a bauxite purchase contract with CBG that will provide Alcoa with bauxite through 2011.
8 This entity is part of the AWAC group of companies, owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.
9 Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Government of Jamaica.
10 While mining rights extend until 2033, bauxite deposits should not be exhausted until at least 2023.

 

Alumina Refining Facilities and Capacity

 

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of alumina. Alcoa’s alumina refining facilities and its worldwide alumina capacity are shown in the following table:

 

Alcoa Worldwide Alumina Refining Capacity

 

Country


  

Facility


  

Owners

(% of Ownership)


   Nameplate
Capacity1
(000 MTPY)


 

Alcoa
Consolidated
Capacity2

(000 MTPY)


Australia    Kwinana    AofA3 (100%)    2,150   2,150
     Pinjarra    AofA (100%)    3,7004   3,700
     Wagerup    AofA (100%)    2,400   2,400
Brazil    Poços de Caldas    Aluminio (100%)    365   365
     Alumar   

Abalco3 (18.9%)

Alcan5 (10%)

Aluminio (35.1%)

BHP Billiton5 (36%)

   1,400   756
Jamaica    Jamalco   

Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica, L.L.C.3 (50%)

Clarendon Alumina Production Ltd. (50%)

   1,250   625
Spain    San Ciprián    Alúmina Española, S.A.3 (100%)    1,450   1,450
Suriname    Suralco   

BHP Billiton5 (45%)

Suralco3 (55%)

   2,207   1,214
U.S.    Point Comfort, Tex.    AWA LLC3 (100%)    2,305   2,305
              
 
TOTAL    17,227   14,965
              
 

1 Nameplate capacity is an estimate based on design capacity and normal operating efficiencies and does not necessarily represent maximum possible production.

 

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2 The figures in this column reflect Alcoa’s share of production from these facilities. For sites owned by AWAC entities, Alcoa takes 100% of the production from these facilities.
3 This entity is part of the AWAC group of companies, owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited.
4 In 2004, Alcoa received the Western Australian Government’s environmental approval for its previously announced Pinjarra alumina refinery efficiency upgrade, which will increase production at the facility by 657,000 mt per year (mtpy). Completion of the upgrade is expected by the first quarter of 2006.
5 The named company or an affiliate holds this interest.

 

In November 2005, AWA LLC and Alcan announced the signing of a Basic Agreement with the Government of Guinea that sets forth the framework for development of a 1.5 million mtpy alumina refinery in Guinea with further expansion potential.

 

In September 2005, Alcoa announced that its Board of Directors approved plans to make further investments totaling $1.6 billion in the company’s Brazilian “upstream” operations, including: a 2.1 million mtpy expansion of the Alumar consortium alumina refinery in São Luís, state of Maranhao; the creation of a bauxite mine in Juruti, in the state of Para, which will initially produce 2.6 million mtpy; and the modernization of the Poços de Caldas aluminum smelter, in the state of Minas Gerais. Pending finalization of definitive documents, which is expected in due course, the Alumar expansion project will increase the refinery’s capacity from 1.4 million mtpy to approximately 3.5 million mtpy. Through AWAC, Alcoa will own a 54% interest in the expanded refinery and its share of the total facility output will more than double to 1.89 million mtpy.

 

In June 2005, Alcoa’s Board of Directors approved AWAC’s planned expansion of the Jamalco alumina refinery in Clarendon, Jamaica. Pending finalization of definitive documents, which is expected in due course, this project will add 1.5 million mtpy of production to Jamalco, more than doubling the refinery’s capacity to approximately 2.8 million mtpy. The 1.5 million mtpy expansion is expected to cost approximately $1.2 billion. As a result of this expansion project, AWAC’s ownership in Jamalco will increase from 50% to approximately 77%, with the Government of Jamaica continuing to own the remaining minority interest.

 

In January 2005, Alcoa and the Government of the Republic of Ghana announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), under which the parties would evaluate the possible development of an integrated aluminum industry in Ghana, including bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminum production, and rail transportation infrastructure upgrades. Alcoa is working with the Government to conduct feasibility studies that are expected to be completed in 2006, after which the parties will negotiate definitive agreements on the mining, refining, smelting, rail upgrades and ownership structure, as well as total investment costs. The feasibility review will include a study on the creation of an alumina refinery with an initial design capacity of up to 1.5 million mtpy.

 

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Primary Aluminum Facilities and Capacity

 

The company’s primary aluminum smelters and their respective capacities are shown in the following table:

 

Alcoa Worldwide Smelting Capacity

 

Country


  

Facility


    

Owners

(% Of Ownership)


 

Nameplate
Capacity1

(000 MTPY)


 

Alcoa
Consolidated
Capacity2

(000 MTPY)


Australia    Point Henry      AofA (100%)   185   1853
     Portland     

AofA (55%)

CITIC (22.5%)

Marubeni (22.5%)

  353   1943
Brazil    Poços de Caldas      Aluminio (100%)   90   90
     São Luís (Alumar)     

Aluminio (53.66%)

BHP Billiton (46.34%)

  375   201
Canada    Baie Comeau, Que.      Alcoa (100%)   438   438
     Bécancour, Que.     

Alcoa (74.95%)

Aluminium Pechiney (25.05%)

  4094   3074
     Deschambault, Que.      Alcoa (100%)   254   254
Italy    Fusina      Alcoa (100%)   44   44
     Portovesme      Alcoa (100%)   149   149
Spain    Avilés      Alcoa (100%)   885   885
     La Coruña      Alcoa (100%)   845   845
     San Ciprián      Alcoa (100%)   2185   2185
U.S.    Evansville, Ind. (Warrick)      Alcoa (100%)   3096   3096
     Frederick, Md. (Eastalco)     

Alcoa (61%)

Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (39%)

  1957   1197
     Badin, N.C.      Alcoa (100%)   1208   1208
     Massena West, N.Y.      Alcoa (100%)   1309   1309
     Massena East, N.Y.      Alcoa (100%)   1259   1259
     Mount Holly, S.C.     

Alcoa (50.33%)

Century Aluminum Company (49.67%)

  224   113
     Alcoa, Tenn.      Alcoa (100%)   215   215
     Rockdale, Tex.      Alcoa (100%)   267   267
     Ferndale, Wash. (Intalco)     

Alcoa (61%)

Mitsui & Co. Ltd. (39%)

  27810   17010
     Wenatchee, Wash.      Alcoa (100%)   18411   18411
               
 
TOTAL   4,734   4,004
               
 

1 Nameplate capacity is an estimate based on design capacity and normal operating efficiencies and does not necessarily represent maximum possible production.
2 The figures in this column reflect Alcoa’s share of production from these facilities.
3 Figures include the minority interest of Alumina Limited in facilities owned by AofA. From these facilities, Alcoa takes 100% of the production allocated to AofA.
4 During 2004, Alcoa curtailed operations at the Bécancour aluminum smelter, from three potlines to one, due to a strike at the facility. In November 2004, the Syndicat des Métallurgistes unis d’ Amerique (local 9700) approved a new five-year labor agreement at the Bécancour smelter. Upon reaching the new agreement, Alcoa restarted the two idled potlines and returned to full production by the end of May 2005.

 

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5 In 2005, Alcoa undertook certain technology and environmental improvements to three smelters located in northern Spain: Avilés, La Coruña, and San Ciprián. The improvements are aimed at reducing emissions and improving the local environment.
6 The Warrick facility currently has one idled potline.
7 At the end of 2005, all production was temporarily curtailed at the Eastalco smelter located in Frederick, Maryland. The curtailment coincides with the expiration of the smelter’s power contract, as a competitively-priced replacement power supply could not be obtained.
8 The Badin, North Carolina facility has been idled since August 2002.
9 In the first quarter of 2005, Alcoa restarted 60,000 mtpy of capacity at its Massena East and Massena West, New York facilities which had been idled since May 2003. Following the restart, both smelters operate at capacity.
10 In November 2003, Alcoa idled an additional potline at Intalco. Currently, one potline is operating and two are idled.
11 In October 2004, Alcoa announced that workers at the Wenatchee, Washington facility, represented by the United Steelworkers of America and the Aluminum Trades Council of Wenatchee, Washington, accepted a new labor agreement. Two of the four lines at the smelter which had been idled since July 2001 were restarted in July 2005.

 

Alcoa currently has 509,000 mtpy of idle capacity against a base capacity of 4,004,000 mtpy.

 

In February 2006, Alcoa signed an Agreement in Principle with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to build a 341,000 mtpy aluminum smelter in the Cap-de-Ville area in southwestern Trinidad. This agreement follows the signing of an MOU in May 2004 for participation by Alcoa in the development of an aluminum industry in Trinidad and Tobago. Under the Agreement in Principle, Alcoa will take a lead role in the development and operation of the smelter, with the Government installing necessary infrastructure. Alcoa will also sponsor development of a new power station to support the facility. Negotiations are ongoing for the final commercial arrangements, which will be subject to final approvals by Alcoa’s Board of Directors and by the Government.

 

During 2005, Aluminio began a 30% expansion of the capacity of its share of the São Luís (Alumar) aluminum smelter, increasing Aluminio’s share of smelting capacity there by 62,000 mtpy to a total of 263,000 mtpy. When complete, Alcoa’s share of output from the smelter will grow from 53.66% to 60%. Completion of the expansion and startup of the additional capacity is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2006.

 

As noted above, in September 2005, Alcoa announced that its Board of Directors approved plans to make further investments totaling $1.6 billion in the company’s Brazilian upstream operations, including the modernization of the Poços de Caldas aluminum smelter, in the state of Minas Gerais. The modernization is aimed at reducing emissions and costs and improving operational efficiency.

 

During 2005, Alcoa continued construction on its new 346,000 mtpy Fjarðaál aluminum smelter in east Iceland. Alcoa broke ground on the new smelter in July 2004. The smelter is scheduled to begin production in April 2007.

 

Alcoa has a Joint Action Plan in place with the Government of Iceland and three communities in northern Iceland to evaluate the construction of an up to 250,000 mtpy smelter. Through the fall of 2005, three sites have been evaluated and a conclusion on whether to proceed further is expected by March 2006. An MOU covering further development of this smelter project based on a selected site is expected.

 

In 2005, Alcoa continued construction of a new anode plant in Mosjøen, Norway. The facility, being built together with Elkem AS, will produce anodes for Alcoa’s Fjarðaál, Iceland and Elkem Aluminium ANS’ Mosjøen, Norway smelters. Construction of the anode plant is expected to be completed by 2007.

 

Alcoa is exploring aluminum smelting and associated hydroelectric power opportunities in Suriname. In January 2003, Suralco, one of the AWAC group of companies, signed an MOU with the Government of Suriname providing for an initial 18-month exclusive period of investigation of the feasibility of smelting and associated hydroelectric power investment in western Suriname. In December 2004, the parties agreed, retroactively, to extend the MOU through December 31, 2005. Alcoa is in the process of negotiating a follow on agreement with the Government.

 

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Alcoa has an exclusive MOU in effect with the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) for building a smelter in Brunei. In November 2005, the BEDB received a McKinsey report evaluating the use of Brunei’s gas reserves for downstream industry. The potential smelter is one of several industrial developments being considered by the BEDB.

 

Alcoa owns interests in the following primary aluminum facilities that are accounted for on the equity or cost basis method. The capacity associated with these facilities is not included in Alcoa’s consolidated capacity.

 

Country


   Facility

    

Owners

(% Of Ownership)


 

Nameplate
Capacity1

(000 MTPY)


Ghana    Tema     

Alcoa (10%)

Government of the Republic of Ghana (90%)

  2002
Norway    Lista     

Alcoa (50%)

Elkem AS (50%)

  94
     Mosjøen     

Alcoa (50%)

Elkem AS (50%)

  188
Venezuela    Alcasa     

Alcoa (<1%)

Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) and Japanese Interests (>99%)

  210

1 Nameplate capacity is an estimate based on design capacity and normal operating efficiencies and does not necessarily represent maximum possible production.
2 In 2003, the smelter was idled due to a power shortage. In August 2005, under the MOU discussed immediately below, Alcoa and the Government of Ghana announced plans to re-start three potlines representing 120,000 mtpy. As of year-end 2005, two potlines have been restarted.

 

As noted above, in January 2005, Alcoa and the Government of the Republic of Ghana signed an MOU, under which the parties would evaluate the development of an integrated aluminum industry in Ghana, including aluminum production. Alcoa is working with the Government to conduct feasibility studies for the project. These studies are expected to be completed in 2006, at which time the parties would negotiate definitive agreements on smelting and other matters.

 

At the end of 2005, the shareholders of Hamburger Aluminium-Werk closed the 132,000 mtpy Hamburg, Germany smelter due to escalating power costs. The Hamburg smelter is owned 33.33% each by Alcoa, Austria Metall AG and Norsk Hydro.

 

Energy

 

Alcoa produces aluminum from alumina by an electrolytic process requiring large amounts of electric power. Electric power accounts for approximately 25% of the company’s primary aluminum costs. Alcoa generates approximately 24% of the power used at its smelters worldwide and generally purchases the remainder under long-term arrangements. The paragraphs below summarize the sources of power and long-term power arrangements for Alcoa’s smelters.

 

North America - Electricity

 

The company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI), generates approximately 25% of the power requirements for Alcoa’s North American smelters. The company generally purchases the remainder under long-term contracts. APGI owns and operates two hydroelectric projects, Tapoco and Yadkin, consisting of eight dams under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses. APGI hydroelectric facilities provide electric power for the aluminum smelters at Alcoa, Tennessee and Badin, North

 

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Carolina. APGI received a renewed 40-year FERC license for the Tapoco project in 2005 and the Yadkin hydroelectric project license is up for renewal in 2008. With the Badin smelter idled, power generated from APGI’s Yadkin system is largely being sold to an affiliate, Alcoa Power Marketing, Inc. The Tennessee smelter also purchases power from the Tennessee Valley Authority under a contract that extends to 2010.

 

In the Pacific Northwest, Alcoa has a contract with Chelan County Public Utility District located in the State of Washington that is sufficient to supply about half of the capacity of the Wenatchee smelter through October 2011. In addition, Alcoa has a contract through September 2006 for a limited amount of power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) that can be used to cover the remainder of the capacity at the Wenatchee smelter or to operate the Intalco smelter. Alcoa is currently returning part of its BPA power through the end of the contract period. BPA has embarked on the contracting process for the period October 2006-September 2011, but it is not yet clear whether the BPA offer will be adequate for Intalco and/or Wenatchee operations.

 

The company, through APGI, generates substantially all of the power used at its Warrick smelter using nearby coal reserves. A 1996 coal supply contract satisfies up to 70% of the fuel requirements of the Warrick power plant supplying the smelter through June 2006. In May 2005, Alcoa acquired mining rights to the nearby Friendsville, Illinois coal reserves, and it expects coal from this mine to be available for its use by the summer of 2006. When fully operational, the mine will be capable of producing approximately 1 million tons of coal per year, approximately 45% of the Warrick power plant’s requirements. In April 2001, under the terms of an operating agreement, the company assumed operation of the power plant that supplies the Warrick smelter from Vectren (formerly Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company) until at least 2008. In July 2005, Alcoa announced its plans to invest approximately $330 million at the Warrick power plant to improve environmental performance and operational efficiency and lower costs.

 

Power for the Rockdale smelter is generated by company-owned generating units and TXU Generation Company LP (TXU)-owned generating units. Historically, both the company-owned and the TXU-owned units used lignite supplied by the company’s Sandow Mine. The company has opened a new lignite mine, the Three Oaks Mine, on adjacent land it owns or controls. The fuel supply for the company-owned and TXU-owned units is transitioning from the Sandow Mine to the Three Oaks Mine, with active mining in Sandow expected to conclude in 2006. Company-owned generating units supply about one-half of the total electricity requirements of the smelter, although this capacity will retire not later than 2007. TXU supplies the balance through a long-term power contract that does not expire until at least the end of 2038, with the parties having the right to terminate the contract after 2013 if there has been an unfavorable change in law or after 2025 if the cost of the electricity exceeds the market price. TXU and Alcoa recently signed a letter of intent in connection with the possible development of a new circulating fluidized bed power plant adjacent to the existing Sandow Unit Four Power Plant. Alcoa would supply lignite for the new unit from the Three Oaks Mine, and have a right to purchase a portion of the plant’s electricity output.

 

In the Northeast, the purchased power contracts for both the Massena East and Massena West smelters in New York expire not earlier than June 30, 2013, following their extension for 10 years upon New York Power Authority (NYPA) having relicensed its St. Lawrence-FDR Hydro Project. The company is currently in discussions with NYPA to extend the power supply arrangements in order to facilitate potential technical improvements in the plants, but may terminate either of these contracts with one year’s notice.

 

The Deschambault and Bécancour smelters located in Quebec purchase electricity under long-term contracts with Hydro-Quebec that expire in 2014, subject to extension provisions. The smelter located in Baie Comeau, Quebec purchases approximately 65% of its power needs under the Hydro-Quebec contract and receives the remainder of its power needs from a 40%-owned hydroelectric generating company, Manicouagan Power Company.

 

The Mt. Holly smelter