Alcoa to take over operations in Suriname

The Aluminium Corporation of America (Alcoa) is planning to take over the Australian-based BHP Billiton\'s operations in Suriname.



If the Corporation is successful it will become the only aluminum producer in the South American country.



Alcoa says its subsidiary, Suralco, plans to buy all Billiton\'s operations, which account for 45 percent of refining and mining in Suriname.



Billiton has said it will pull out of the country next year, because it expects to exhaust all its mines by that time.



Bauxite, the main source of aluminum, is one of Suriname\'s top commodities.