Alcoa to shut down Portovesme aluminum plant

(ANSA) - Portovesme, August 25 - New York City-based aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. is shutting down its plant in the Sardinian city of Portovesme, company sources said Monday.
    "The closing will reduce our overall output by 150,000 tonnes, to 3.6 million tonnes a year," the company said in a statement.
    The US aluminium giant in 2012 powered down its Portovesme smelter, which employed hundreds of people in the area.
    The plant has technically been at a standstill since November 1, 2012, while Alcoa promised to keep all workers employed through the end of 2012. "Production halted in 2012 due to high costs and a limited outlook in terms of plant competitiveness," the company said. Workers have repeatedly demonstrated and asked for government intervention to keep the plant open.