ALCOA threatens to lay off workers in Suriname bauxite sector
Published:Thursday | June 5, 2014 | 4:33 PM
Suriname President Desi Bouterse says the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) plans to cut production at Suralco to a third and lay off 1,000 workers including 800 contractors.
Bouterse told the country's Parliament that the issue is of national concern for which a joint solution must be found.
ALCOA has been active in Suriname since 1916, mining bauxite to feed the Paranam refinery.
With an output of some 2.2 million metric tons per year, bauxite mining has been Suriname’s main earner.
However, ALCOA says if it is to remain in Suriname, it will have to reduce its production to 360,000 tons of refined bauxite annually.
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