CariSal Limited in supply agreement with Alcoa

Alcoa World Alumina LLC is part of Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, a global alliance between Alcoa Inc, and Alumina Ltd, with Alcoa holding 60 percent.

CariSal Unlimited is a wholly owned subsidiary of CariSal Holdings Limited, St Lucia with principal shareholders including Seneca Chemical and Guardian Energy Holdings Limited. The plant, expected to be producing by late 2009, will also manufacture high purity calcium chloride as the primary co-product.

CariSal is “Green by Choice” and has designed the plant to discharge zero liquid waste, employ the latest technology for reduction of air emissions, practice carbon dioxide sequestering and utilise “Green and Cool” design features for the facility administration building.

“We are extremely pleased to have this long-term structure in place with Alcoa, who we consider both a partner and a customer. Their contributions have been instrumental in moving our venture forward”, stated Dick Lietzau, CEO of CariSal Holdings. “We believe our Trinidad location, and high calcium chloride purity, will lead to similar, long-term partner agreements within the targeted market sectors of oil field completion fluids and dust control. Our proximity to the high growth Latin American and West African oil corridors is key to our marketing and distribution strategy.”

Conve & AVS Inc, Miami, Florida has been awarded the engineering and fabrication of the caustic soda plant which will utilise INEOS BICHLOR electrolyser technology. Commonwealth Engineering and Construction, Houston, Texas is providing engineering and procurement for the balance of plant. Construction will be by local Trinidad contractors.

In cooperation with the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, CariSal Unlimited has secured favorable long-term supply agreements for electricity and natural gas that support the economics for the project.