The expansion is taking place at its integrated aluminium rolling and recycling complex in Pindamonhangaba, Sao Paulo.
The expansion includes two new furnaces, which will increase the plant’s capacity to recycle used beverage cans and other scrap by a third to 200kt/y.
The expansion will allow a nearly 20% increase in sheet ingot production to feed the plant’s rolling mills. The new equipment is expected to come on stream in the spring of 2011.
It means the company can increase production of rolling ingot for its mills and reduces the need to purchase ingot from external parties. Novelis Brazil processed approximately 8bn cans in 2009.
Novelis sites in Brazil include primary aluminum units in Aratu (BA) and Ouro Preto (MG), aluminium rolling operations in Pindamonhangaba and Santo Andre (SP), and nine hydropower plants located in the State of Minas Gerais.