Aloca "winding down production" at Texas alumina refinery on Rita

2005-09-23

Aluminum producer Alcoa is "winding down production" at its alumina refinery in Point Comfort, Texas, "getting the plant ready to deal with" hurricane Rita, Alcoa spokesman Kevin Lowery told Platts on 21st. He said Alcoa was following a "standard hurricane evacuation" procudure with local authorities ordering an evacuation and that "a handful of people will be at plant [and will not evacuate] to address emergency issues." Rita is now a top-level category five storm, packing winds of about 165mph over the Gulf of Mexico, hurtling toward Texas.