“These are difficult times for Hydro as a company, for our employees in Alunorte, who feel uncertain about what this will mean for their jobs, and for the communities around our plant, who are living under conditions of poor water quality and dysfunctioning infrastructure systems,” said Brandtzæg.

During his stay, he visited Bom Futuro, one of the communities in Barcarena where Hydro and the local municipality are offering free health care consultations for the population as well clean, free drinking water.

Through Saturday, Hydro had distributed more than 50,000 liters of water to the communities of Bom Futuro, Burajuba and Vila Nova, which are close to Hydro Alunorte.

“Hydro is gravely concerned about the situation and for the population in this area, and we will continue to provide Hydro’s support to improving the situation, both in the short term and in the longer term,” said Brandtzæg.

Executive vice presidents Inger Sethov (Communication & Public Affairs), Anne-Lene Midseim (Legal & CSR) and Katarina Nilsson (People & HSE), joined his trip to Brazil.

Town hall meeting

At Alunorte, Brandtzæg met with the plant and business area management, as well as with union representatives. He was joined by Sten Roar Martinsen, who is employee representative in Hydro’s board of directors.

Addressing employees at Alunorte, Brandtzæg expressed clearly that Hydro’s dedication to safe and environmentally sound operations is universal and absolute.

“No matter where Hydro operates in the world, we have the same high expectations to our operations. Health, safety and the environment are our highest priorities,” Brandtzæg said.