Alcoa has announced plans to begin negotiations with the Spanish Works Council on June 25 to initiate layoffs at its San Ciprián smelter.
The company had announced plans to layoff workers and shut down the smelter in late May, citing the financial unviability of the facility in the current environment.
The facility also houses an alumina refinery, which won’t be unaffected by the workforce reduction or the smelter’s restructuring, Alcoa clarified in a statement on June 17. The company added that up to 534 employees could be laid off, but that it would make a final decision on the number only after its consultation with the Works Council, which is likely to last around a month.
The aluminum maker plans to retain part of its cast house after completing restructuring of the San Ciprián smelter.
San Ciprián is the second smelter being idled by Alcoa to contain its capacity in an oversupplied primary aluminum market. The company recently idled its smelter in Ferndale, Washington.