December 27 (SeeNews) - Montenegro's Uniprom plans to complete the planned shutdown of the electrolysis plant of aluminium smelter KAP by December 30, local media reported.
Uniprom has already shut down half of the electrolysis cells at the plant, public broadcaster RTCG quoted the general manager of KAP, Nebojsa Dozic, as saying on Sunday.
Last week Uniprom ordered the smelter to begin a phased shutdown of cells in the electrolysis plant on December 15 - a move which will lead to a halt in the production of primary aluminium - due to a hike in electricity price that state-run power utility EPCG [BEL:EPCG] proposes to come into force at the beginning of next year.
Earlier this month, Uniprom proposed to EPCG to take over the production of primary aluminium at KAP free of charge for a year, starting January 1 in order to avoid the plant's closure. However, EPCG responded that its majority shareholder, the government, has the responsibility of deciding whether to accept the proposal, as the utility company is not registered for aluminium production.
KAP holds a share of about 20% in Montenegro's exports.