Dutch aluminium maker Aldel halts more output over high energy prices

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch aluminium maker Aldel on Friday said it was mothballing the remaining capacity at its facility in Farmsum, citing continuing high energy prices and a lack of government support.

Aldel joins a growing list of companies cutting or halting European production as gas and electricty prices have soared hundreds of percent this year over 2021 levels.

Norway's Yara has cut ammonia production, steelmaker ArcelorMittal is switching off one of its furnaces in Bremen, Germany and Belgian Zinc smelter Nyrstar is closing a Netherlands smelting plant.

Among aluminium makers, Slovenia's Talum has cut capacity by 80% and Alcoa is cutting one of three production lines the Lista smelter in Norway.

"A controlled pause makes it possible for (Aldel) to be ready to start production again when circumstances improve," Aldel said in a statement.

The company had halted primary production in Delfzijl in the Netherlands in October 2021 but continued production of recycled aluminium.

Aldel, the Netherlands' only producer of primary aluminium, has capacity to produce 110,000 tonnes of primary aluminium and 50,000 tonnes of recycled aluminium annually.

After a bankruptcy and changes of ownership in recent years, the company has around 200 employees. Its full name is Damco Aluminum Delfzijl Cooperatie U.A.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; editing by Jason Neely and Jane Merriman)