Venalum hits production record in February

Primary aluminum reducer CVG Venalum hit a record in February when it produced 35,000t of aluminum, the company reported. According to official projections the company is on track to produce 438,000t of aluminum this year. Reduction manager Juan Contreras said CVG Venalum's goal is to "guarantee operative stability through this year's production plan, as well as to continue on the look out for opportunities that will improve not just production, but also costs." Of the 905 cells operational at CVG Venalum, 898 were operating during the month and power consumption efficiency was better than expected. Puerto Ordaz-based Venalum in eastern Venezuela's Guayana region is 80% controlled by state-heavy industry conglomerate CVG and 20% by a group of Japanese trading companies. It is Latin America's largest aluminum smelter.