Ag - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 23, 1997 TERRACE STANDARD | Business REvIEW Clark courts new aluminum smelter PREMIER GLEN CLARK is bullish on the possibility American companies will build new aluminum smelters in B.C. after pitch- ing them the idea. ‘Within the next 12 months we want to have an agreement to build another aluminum smelter, or aot,” Clark said. ‘The companies, however, arc more cau- tious about specific plans on expanding in general, let alone in this province. ‘Clark met with Alumax Inc.’s chairman and president Dec. 10 at the company’s At- lanta headquarters. ‘The next day he sat down with Alcoa president and CEO Alain Belda in his Pittsburgh office. The premier said both firms are ‘‘very interested in the prospect of building (smelters) in B.C.”” Both companies, he noted, are looking [aay Om Jain for places ta tock up . expansion op- Glen Clark portunities and maintain their market share while world demand for aluminum is rising. Cheap electricity from the Columbia River Treaty downstream benefits due B.C. was the most attractive item in Clark’s sales pitch. The companies, however, won't say if they’re leaning to either answer. Alumax was the most bold in stating its interest in B.C. Tom Hagley, Alumax’s director of public affairs, said B.C. is one of the locations the company has been looking at as an op- portunity to expand its primary capacity. He added Alumax officials had already had some discussions with people at B.C. Hydro prior to Clark’s visit. “We have a serious interest in pursuing expanded production, there’s no question about that,” Hagley said. He added Trinidad, Venezuela, Iceland and other Canadian locations are alternative locations. And Hagley. said they didn’t have a par- . er . a 1 About : Internet TV ‘coming here A CONSORTIUM is plan- aire, jing to introduce a new way we jo surf the "Net in the north- west carly next year. + Futurenet Canada Inc., made up of RCA, Oracle hnd Net Channel, says that pe connecting the Internet with a TV, more people will o surfing, . Patricia Kirk, a Futurenet pfficial up in Terrace fast week from Victoria, said the marrying of Internet and television technology will make the end product less intimidating and more friendly to use. ' Consumers still don’t want to spend $1,000 to $3,000 for PCs,” she said of the cost associated with buying stand alone com- puters for the home. ‘A TV-Internet hardware and software package on the market now means people don’t have to buy a com- puter to surf, Kirk added. _ Northwestemers can hook up to the TV-Intemmet combo right now but the connection would be through a long distance charge. ' By next year, the plan is to enable residents to dial on through by having to only — make a local call, Rates cut THE PRINCE RUPERT ‘Port Corporation is slashing its wharfage rates for lum- ber and pulp by up to 64 per cent. The rate reductions for lumber, which take effect Jan. 1, start at 17 per cent and climb to 64 per cent as volume rises. ; Pulp gets a 22 per cent teduction off the published ~~... . fates for all volumes. = ‘This is a business decl- sion,”’ said port corporation president Don Krusel, “By making Fairview Terminal more competitive we help make our customers more _ " competitive.’” ’ simply exploratory at this point. _ paunities boasting natural harbours and ex- ticular goal on increased production he could talk about, nor a time frame. ‘+4 primary aluminum plant can take two to two and-a-half years to build at a cost of $1 billion, so these things have to be care- fully planned and thought out,’” he said. The talks with B.C., Hagley added, were Alcoa spokesman Bonnie Cersosimo wouldn't say how specifically her employer is looking at B.C. “This is one proposal, one site and one option that somcone has brought to us. I think the fact we're willing to meet and ex- plore ideas says it is a legitimate offer,” Cersosimo said. “The premier seems very enthused about this but we have no particular plans at this time,’’ she added. Clark admitted B.C. is in competition with places like Saudia Arabia and Venezuela, places with large reserves of oil and limited opportunities to use it. “The prospects of getting a second smelter are very high,’’ he said. ‘But if aluminum prices collapse, or the companies get cheaper power (someplace else) then obviously we may not be suc- cessful,’’ he added. Clark went armed with a government commissioned report by the consulting firm KPMG, noting growing demand for the NDY 600RMK. metal and extolling B.C.’s virtues as a place Rel Cee (OR) stering package, 38 to make it. We have slance, and #25" trove, torsion baz By a. It projects world demand for aluminum to Snowblades & + Case-reed induction with dual easy pull grow 35 per cent in the next decade and Accessories for ' Sn Ken ite doonlues meeting it will mean huge new investment, _ «tuted choles orignet teen i _ your ATV. B.C. would be a good place to invest, the « Composite skis . He high-output, US. Bult 600 oc Equd-cofed ti with approximately 20% more horsepower than cur ‘oT model. tea. » XTAA-10 front suspension with Controlled Newly refined liquid-cooled 700cc US. buill twin » Case-reed induction with dual easy pull 3Smun Nodhie INDY 700RMK OOF SroWest “Sted of th Year” D slide carbs s, » XTRA10 front suspension with Controlled Roll: Centre (CAL) steering package, 38° stance, and B25": front and 10.5” rear rave, torsion bar « {36" rack with 1.75" deep lugs ehew mid-helght flared. windshield, larg instrumentation . on p— . sa report notes, because of availability of cheap power. By 2003 — and the return of the Columbia “Downstream benefits — there should. be enough power available for three new smelters, including the proposed Alcan expansion. The province's location puts in close ac- cess to raw materials and the three largest aluminum markets — the U.S. Japan and China, It also has several coastal com- ~ AUTO. tensive infrastructure. _ Whydoyou > always find the _ good deals after the holidays? The Golf CL $229 per month for 24 months . Deluxe & Speaker Stereo’ Cassette: 1.8 Litre. Engine Anti-Theft Alarm System Roadside Assistance. The Jetia GT , $314" per month for 24 months Air Conditioning * Alloy Wheels _..Pramium Sound System Anti Theft Alarm * Reor Spoiler Roadside Assistance! Our Year End Boxing Week Eventis on now. - From now until December 3], we'll be working off the eggnog ond gingerbread by hustling io make everyone that comes in a happy driver We have both the Golf CL ~ ond the Jetta GT in stock, Great 2 Year No Hassle Lease prices, And o New Year's. ~~ resolution to sell them all. So stop byand see what we can do foryou, — Drivers woented:@) |. 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