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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Last-ditch meeting to save plant | Last-ditch meeting to save plant |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Politicians have met the owners of Anglesey Aluminium in a last ditch attempt to secure a new power deal for the plant. | |
| Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said there was a "glimmer" of hope. | Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said there was a "glimmer" of hope. |
| Without a power deal metal production will end in September, with the loss of hundreds of jobs. | Without a power deal metal production will end in September, with the loss of hundreds of jobs. |
| The plant's majority shareholder, Rio Tinto Zinc, has already rejected an UK government rescue package worth nearly £50m. | The plant's majority shareholder, Rio Tinto Zinc, has already rejected an UK government rescue package worth nearly £50m. |
| The plant, on the outskirts of Holyhead on Anglesey, currently buys electricity cheaply from the nearby Wylfa Power Station. | The plant, on the outskirts of Holyhead on Anglesey, currently buys electricity cheaply from the nearby Wylfa Power Station. |
| Jobs will be lost, and metal production will come to an end on the site, at the end of September, when that deal comes to an end. | Jobs will be lost, and metal production will come to an end on the site, at the end of September, when that deal comes to an end. |
| I'm just determined to try and find a solution if I can Peter Hain | I'm just determined to try and find a solution if I can Peter Hain |
| Mr Hain told BBC Radio Wales that the majority shareholder, Rio Tinto Zinc, had indicated that there was nowhere else to go but closure. | Mr Hain told BBC Radio Wales that the majority shareholder, Rio Tinto Zinc, had indicated that there was nowhere else to go but closure. |
| But following a meeting on Friday with Anglesey Aluminium management it was "indicated" that there were issues which could be discussed. | But following a meeting on Friday with Anglesey Aluminium management it was "indicated" that there were issues which could be discussed. |
| "Possibly there may be a way of resolving this, and the board is meeting for the first time tomorrow [Tuesday] morning, and I'm meeting the key members this evening to try and find out if we can crack the problem, and find some kind of future for the plant," he said. | "Possibly there may be a way of resolving this, and the board is meeting for the first time tomorrow [Tuesday] morning, and I'm meeting the key members this evening to try and find out if we can crack the problem, and find some kind of future for the plant," he said. |
| Mr Hain added that the rescue package of nearly £50m was "very generous". | Mr Hain added that the rescue package of nearly £50m was "very generous". |
| Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) had expressed its view on the matter, but the other shareholder, Kaiser, had not, nor had the Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM) board, he said. | Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) had expressed its view on the matter, but the other shareholder, Kaiser, had not, nor had the Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM) board, he said. |
| Anglesey economy | Anglesey economy |
| "It may be that we're back to square one and the RTZ high command position is it. | "It may be that we're back to square one and the RTZ high command position is it. |
| "On the other hand it may be we can find a way forward because we want to support production on the site as it's absolutely crucial to the Anglesey economy," he said. | "On the other hand it may be we can find a way forward because we want to support production on the site as it's absolutely crucial to the Anglesey economy," he said. |
| One way forward may be to "rearrange" the rescue package. | One way forward may be to "rearrange" the rescue package. |
| "It would remain in the same envelope - same total over four years, but given the high price of aluminium it could be front loaded," he said. | "It would remain in the same envelope - same total over four years, but given the high price of aluminium it could be front loaded," he said. |
| Mr Hain denied the rescue package would only provide a short-term solution, because part of the "obligation and purpose" of the money was to construct a new bio-mass power station on the site, to provide "long-term, secure" electricity supply. | Mr Hain denied the rescue package would only provide a short-term solution, because part of the "obligation and purpose" of the money was to construct a new bio-mass power station on the site, to provide "long-term, secure" electricity supply. |
| 'Crucial meeting' | 'Crucial meeting' |
| "If we can keep the company going, and the plant going, over that period, which is what the public investment is about, then it has a secure future," he said. | "If we can keep the company going, and the plant going, over that period, which is what the public investment is about, then it has a secure future," he said. |
| "The question is how we get from A to B." | "The question is how we get from A to B." |
| Mr Hain acknowledged that the fact redundancy notices had been sent out seemed to suggest that the board at AAM was in agreement with RTZ's position, but "that was not the indication I was given on Friday". | Mr Hain acknowledged that the fact redundancy notices had been sent out seemed to suggest that the board at AAM was in agreement with RTZ's position, but "that was not the indication I was given on Friday". |
| The minister said he was "not confident or unconfident" that a solution to save hundreds of jobs would be found. | The minister said he was "not confident or unconfident" that a solution to save hundreds of jobs would be found. |
| "There is a glimmer of hope, but it's a very fine one," he added. | "There is a glimmer of hope, but it's a very fine one," he added. |