Asahan not to boost output<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Reuters): Nippon Asahan Aluminium Co Ltd said yesterday
\nthat operation rates at its smelter in Indonesia remained reduced
\nas recent rainfall had failed to boost water levels at a lake
\nthat supplies power to the plant.<\/p>\n
"Rain fell on the smelter, but not over the lake. Nothing has
\nchanged the severe water situation," an official at Nippon
\nAsahan, which owns 59 percent of PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium,
\ntold Reuters.<\/p>\n
He said water levels at Lake Toba had fallen to just a few cm
\nabove the minimum permitted level of 902.40 metres.<\/p>\n
The official said Nippon Asahan was still in talks with the
\nIndonesian government over production levels at the smelter for
\n1998\/99 which started on April 1. No decision had yet been made,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
It had originally planned to produce 175,100 tons in the
\ncurrent business year, against its capacity of around 220,000
\ntons, but falling water levels had forced Asahan to reduce
\nproduction this year.<\/p>\n
The smelter in north Sumatra has not disclosed how many
\nfurnaces were out of operation as a result of falling water
\nlevels at Lake Toba.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asahan-not-to-boost-output-1447893297",
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