Construction phase for the Fjardaál aluminum plant

The Fjardaál aluminum plant is owned by the American aluminum producer Alcoa and the construction cost was 1.57 billion USD (according to consulting company WoodMackenzie). Construction began in 2004 and the plant started production in 2007. In 2008 the plant was completed and full production was attained April 8 2008. The plant consists of an aluminum smelter plant with two lines and a silo for aluminum oxide, a casthouse where the smelted aluminum is cast into various products and a deep-water port. The plant receives its energy supply from the Kárahnjúkar hydroelectric powerplant owned by the public energy company Landsvirkjun.

The first task was to prepare the construction site, which included among other things a leveling of the construction area, which slopes down towards the fiord, and secure enough space for the plant itself and storage of the construction elements on the site. The construction itself most part took place by sailing pre-fabricated elements to Iceland to be assembled on the site. The picture below shows a ship off-loading construction elements for the plant in 2006.

The harbor at the Fjardaál smelter (Photo: Greenland Development) 

Accommodation for the construction workers was built between Reydarfjördur city and the construction site – Fjardaál Team Village.

The workcamp during the construction phase - Fjardaál Team Village (Photo: Greenland Development)

At the same time of the construction of the plant expansion of the local community also took place. Besides housing the local health center was expanded, as well as a construction of a bypass road to divert the increased heavy traffic away from the town.