NEWS FROM LYNEMOUTH SPECIAL ISSUE MAY 2012

Decommissioning plans at Lynemouth

Mike Brierley, Business Performance Director takes us through the decommissioning process at Lynemouth Smelter.
Following the closure announcement, plans are being developed for the decommissioning of Lynemouth site ready for either re-use or demolition under the Regional Economic Development (RED) Programme. The initial focus has been on the Potrooms as this will be the longest and most complex part of the process. The plans for it have been fully developed and those for Carbon and Casting are underway. The scope of the work is significant and involves the removal of all materials and equipment from the process ready for recycling, re-use or sale. This necessitates dealing with a number of waste streams including: 9000 anode rods, 5000t of bath cover material, 7000 pot doors, 352 pot canopies, 1000t of alumina in the pot hoppers, 350t Al fluoride in the pot hoppers and 7500t of Carbon from the anodes. Wherever possible, the material will be recycled either in Casting for the remelt operation or in the Carbon Plant producing anodes for Lochaber. Other material will either be disposed of or scrapped via the appointed contractor. We are also undertaking a thorough clean of the scrubber systems and a general clean of the building ledges and walls using specialist contractors. As this work progresses we will remove the first pot for demolition in July this year. The process to remove all 352 is expected to take just under two years as the spent pot lining has to be disposed of via an authorised processor, and their available capacity is limited to around four pots per week. As the pots are removed we will progressively remove the floor slabs and supports to prevent them becoming unstable. The decommissioning of the Carbon and Casting Plants will similarly involve the removal of all process materials followed by cleaning to the required standard for RED activity. Throughout the decommissioning process our goal of zero harm will be maintained and we will do this by continuing to work to Rio Tinto Alcan stringent Health, Safety and Environmental standards. Risk assessments and standardised work documents have been developed for the decommissioning activities and we will also liaise closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency to ensure compliance with their requirements.

The way forward

The closure of Lynemouth Smelter is going to have a significant impact on our local communities as the plant has been the largest private sector employer in Northumberland in recent years. In order to mitigate that impact, Rio Tinto Alcan will deploy a programme of Regional Economic Development (RED) at Lynemouth. John McCabe - who has been with the company since 2002 and has worked with all key regional stakeholders - has been appointed RED Director and he takes up the story:
The ultimate aim of the RED programme is to attract new investment and jobs to the site. This may involve one or several businesses taking over some buildings on our land and using them for different purposes. Unfortunately, it isnt a quick fix but it will hopefully secure a better long-term future for the people who live or work in our region. We have to ensure the RED work is aligned to the decommissioning programme. For example, we wouldnt want to demolish a building and then discover a potential new investor had an interest in it. We will also be working closely with local politicians, the County Council, Local Enterprise Partnership, the UK Government and other interested parties on ensuring we promote the site and all of its credentials to potential investors with credible and sustainable business plans. The site contains a number of buildings that could be put to other uses and it has excellent utility connections and transport infrastructure being so close to two major ports, the airport and the A1. We will also remind potential investors of one of the main reasons the former Alcan built a Smelter in Northumberland in the first place and that is the close proximity to a dedicated and committed workforce. Its essential we attract the right kind of investment to the site. Were going to have to scrutinise very carefully the expressions of interest we receive because we want to ensure our place is taken at Lynemouth by a business or businesses that share our values and our commitment to the local economic community. One of the key issues for me going forward will be to ensure that we communicate and engage with our local communities to ensure that people not only know how things are developing, but they also get the opportunity to contribute and put forward their views. A website dedicated to the site and the RED strategy is being developed and we have the twitter feed @RTA_Lynemouth already in place. In addition, we will also provide people with the opportunity to put forward their thoughts at public meetings we will hold as we move forward. RED has worked very successfully in other locations, usually when the company and local community leaders have worked together on shared objectives. Thats our starting point at Lynemouth and the goal is to see a significant number of good quality, secure jobs returning to this site.Its an ambition Rio Tinto Alcan is committed to pursue and on a personal level, its something I feel very passionate about so I will be doing everything I can to achieve it. Linked to the RED programme is the legacy that Rio Tinto Alcan wants to leave behind at Lynemouth. I hope we have changed many lives for the better in the past 40 years through our donations to charities, voluntary groups and other good causes. Our legacy programme will have a slightly different focus but just like the wider RED project, our aim is to ensure we leave the community stronger and more selfsustaining in the face of future challenges. We will take our time and select only those projects that offer demonstrable and sustainable benefit to the community and, again, we will be particularly interested in initiatives that are aligned to Rio Tinto Alcans own values. The closure of the Smelter is a sad time for all concerned but through the RED and legacy programmes, Rio Tinto Alcan will play its part in securing a better long-term future for the communities of South East Northumberland.

Throughout the decommissioning process our goal of zero harm will be maintained

All aboard
On 21 March 2012, Lynemouth Smelter received its last shipment of alumina.
Over the last 40 years, the site has received over 20,000 train loads of alumina meaning that over 10,000,000 tonnes has been delivered to the Smelter since operations began. Guy Morton, Blyth SUF and Scrubbers Process Leader, said: The final shipment of 600 tonnes marked a historic day for Lynemouth. At full capacity there would have been around 14 sets or trains delivering to the site each week from Blyth SUF so its a big change. Id like to give a big thank you to everyone for their hard work around the delivery of alumina to the Smelter, from the start of production, to the day of the last train.

Last metal
On the 29 March 2012, the final metal was poured from the last scheduled crucible to come in from Lynemouth Potrooms to the Cast House.
A team of operators helped to pour the crucible, a process which was witnessed by a number of people who had come from their area of work or the lunch room. The hot metal was poured into sow pans which will eventually be melted down and made into a keepsake for all employees. Damian Pye, Cast House Manager, said: It was a sad day which marks the end of 40 years of history at Lynemouth Smelter. The operators handled the last hot metal with professionalism and dignity, and finished as they have operated all through the years.

It was a sad day which marks the end of 40 years of history at Lynemouth Smelter

The final shipment of 600 tonnes marked a historic day for Lynemouth

Special exhibit welcomes guests

Lynemouth Smelter recently held three Showcase Days to offer local businesses, stakeholders and family and friends of employees, past and present, the opportunity to visit the site.
Guests were able to see first-hand the equipment, people and processes of a commercial aluminium smelter. A special marquee housed a significant exhibition of archive materials including photographs, past issues of internal newsletters and magazines, corporate gifts and staff mementos. Materials were donated by family members of past and present staff including Alison Proudfoot, whose father, the late Ray Johnstone, previously worked as Training Manager at the site. Throughout the day, members of staff volunteered as tour guides around operational areas including the Casting Plant and Potrooms. The Careers Centre was also open to view as was the Medical Centre. Stands highlighted the sites community engagement activities, process history, historic milestones, apprenticeship training programme, farms activity and more. David Ian Jones, Works Director at the Smelter, said: The three Showcase Days were extremely well attended and were pleased so many people were keen to see our workplace and meet our people.

And finally
This is the final edition of Contact Magazine and were signing off with some faces you may recognise from years gone by. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so much to Lynemouth in the last 40 years. If youre staying as part of the decommissioning team, please continue to work safely. If youre leaving Lynemouth, we wish you every success for the future. Good luck.

The exhibits and displays helped visitors to appreciate the industry and to showcase the history and achievements our employees have contributed to at Lynemouth. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the team of volunteers who worked hard to put together exhibits and organise the day. With over 700 people attending on the Saturday the fact that everything went smoothly is testament to the quality of the planning and organisation put in by the team.