Norsk Hydro’s Qatalum Plant to Run at 60% Capacity After Gas Flow Resumes

Norsk Hydro’s Qatalum aluminum smelter in Qatar will avoid a complete shutdown after gas supplies to the facility were restored, allowing operations to continue at reduced capacity. According to company updates, the plant is expected to maintain production at roughly 60% of its total capacity.

Qatalum is a 50/50 joint venture between Norsk Hydro and Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Company (QAMCO), a subsidiary of state-controlled QatarEnergy. Located in the Mesaieed Industrial City, the smelter has a nameplate production capacity of around 648,000 metric tons of primary aluminum annually, making it one of the major aluminum facilities in the Middle East.

Operations at the plant came under pressure after QatarEnergy halted production of liquefied natural gas and certain downstream products, creating uncertainty about the supply of natural gas used to power the energy‑intensive aluminum smelting process. The disruption initially raised the possibility of a full shutdown at the facility.

However, with gas flows partially restored by one of the partners, Qatalum is now expected to keep running at reduced output levels. Analysts note that maintaining partial production could help limit supply disruptions in the global aluminum market, particularly for buyers in Europe and the United States.