METLEN ENERGY & METALS S.A.
Press Release
SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM MYTILINEOS GROUP: 2nd FILTER PRESS IN THE ALUMINUM OF GREECE PLANT ENTERS INTO OPERATION
MYTILINEOS Group announces the commencement of the operation of the second filter press in the Aluminium of Greece (AoG) plant, which will help drastically eliminate the disposal of bauxite residues in the Corinthian Gulf, in line with the approved environmental terms for the company.
A special-purpose filter press, the very first one to be used in an alumina production plant in Europe, had already been installed in 2006 and has been in operation since then. During 2009, the second filter press entered into trial operation, with considerable direct benefits.
This investment totalled 5 million euro, while plans are already underway for a next phase involving the installation of a third filter press. MYTILINEOS Group is proceeding with its investment plan for changing the method for handling bauxite residues, based on prior studies on the drying of the red mud and on a series of technical tests to identify suitable industrial equipment. The use of a filter press to treat the red mud from alumina production is the most sophisticated method available today. It allows bauxite residues to be used for other purposes, and in addition:
- Helps reduce disposal volumes on land.
- Allows savings in water resources, as the filtrate is used in a variety of applications.
At the same time, and in application of the results of an ongoing multiannual and complex research project carried out in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Patras, part of the bauxite residues has already been made available as raw material to the cement industry, the ceramic brick and tile industry, and in geological barriers in sanitary landfills, with additional potential for use in road construction.
Since 2005, when MYTILINEOS Group acquired AoG, great efforts have been made to improve environmental performance, supported by considerable investments. The last three years alone saw the launch or completion of projects that help upgrade the environment significantly. In particular, investments totalling more than 15 million Euro were carried out and are nearing completion, of which 50% concern the methods used for handling bauxite residues from alumina production, an issue which today is one of the major challenges faced by the alumina and aluminium industry globally.
MYTILINEOS Group announces the commencement of the operation of the second filter press in the Aluminium of Greece (AoG) plant, which will help drastically eliminate the disposal of bauxite residues in the Corinthian Gulf, in line with the approved environmental terms for the company.
A special-purpose filter press, the very first one to be used in an alumina production plant in Europe, had already been installed in 2006 and has been in operation since then. During 2009, the second filter press entered into trial operation, with considerable direct benefits.
This investment totalled 5 million euro, while plans are already underway for a next phase involving the installation of a third filter press. MYTILINEOS Group is proceeding with its investment plan for changing the method for handling bauxite residues, based on prior studies on the drying of the red mud and on a series of technical tests to identify suitable industrial equipment. The use of a filter press to treat the red mud from alumina production is the most sophisticated method available today. It allows bauxite residues to be used for other purposes, and in addition:
- Helps reduce disposal volumes on land.
- Allows savings in water resources, as the filtrate is used in a variety of applications.
At the same time, and in application of the results of an ongoing multiannual and complex research project carried out in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Patras, part of the bauxite residues has already been made available as raw material to the cement industry, the ceramic brick and tile industry, and in geological barriers in sanitary landfills, with additional potential for use in road construction.
Since 2005, when MYTILINEOS Group acquired AoG, great efforts have been made to improve environmental performance, supported by considerable investments. The last three years alone saw the launch or completion of projects that help upgrade the environment significantly. In particular, investments totalling more than 15 million Euro were carried out and are nearing completion, of which 50% concern the methods used for handling bauxite residues from alumina production, an issue which today is one of the major challenges faced by the alumina and aluminium industry globally.