By Liam Moloney and Giovanni Legorano
MILAN--The governor of Sardinia Tuesday said he hopes to meet
representatives of utility firm Enel SpA (ENEL.MI) in the coming
days in an attempt to lower electricity prices at a smelter that
Alcoa Inc. (AA) is closing on the Italian island, resulting in
hundreds of job losses amid record unemployment levels.
"Enel may have a central role" over the possibility of finding a
buyer for the smelter should it decide to make investments in the
local area, said Governor Ugo Cappellacci at a conference in
Milan.
"We won't ask [Enel for electricity] discounts that are contrary
to European Union rules, but [will ask for] investments so that the
plant has energy at acceptable [price] levels," said Mr.
Cappellacci.
The governor said he hopes to meet Enel this week.
An Enel spokeswoman declined to comment.
U.S. aluminum maker Alcoa is shutting the plant as part of a
global restructuring.
Last week, Italy's industry ministry said it couldn't accept a
request from Glencore International PLC (GLEN.LN) to pay an
electricity price equal to or below 25 euros ($32.3) per
megawatt-hour to obtain cheaper energy prices from suppliers in
case Glencore purchased the Alcoa smelter.
The ministry added that the EUR35 per MWh proposed by the
government was a price more in line with the average of European
electricity prices.
"We are working on finding a solution," said Mr. Cappellacci
Tuesday. "Glencore hasn't pulled out."
Write to Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@dowjones.com and Giovanni
Legorano at giovanni.legorano@dowjones.com
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