:: Coega Aluminium Smelter Talks Still Focused on Alcan

South Africa was determined to build a R12 billion aluminium smelter at Coega and Canadian company Alcan remained its focus in talks on the development, trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said yesterday.

The Coega smelter idea was started by French group Pechiney before that company's purchase by Alcan.

The government, fearing that Alcan may pull out of the project, has for several months been seeking new investors to support the project. "The government is determined that all it has planned at Coega goes ahead ... and that includes the aluminium smelter. We are doing everything possible to ensure the project is completed," Mpahlwa said.

"We remain in discussions with Alcan. It has taken a long transition from their purchase of Pechiney but we are talking and it looks promising."

Asked whether the government was talking to other potentially interested companies, Mpahlwa replied: "There are a number of interested parties but our talks focus on Alcan right now."