NY Automotive Aluminum Plant Catches Fire Again

A new fire was reported Thursday at the Novelis aluminum smelting plant in New York State, which had already been affected by a similar incident last September.

The industrial complex supplies raw materials to a large part of the US automotive industry, which is why it has caused stoppages since October, at least on the assembly lines of Ford, Nissan, and Stellantis.

Novelis representatives told local media that they are not yet assessing whether the new incident will delay repair work. The company had estimated that it would resume operations in the second half of December.

All personnel at the plant were evacuated in accordance with protocols, and the fire is now under control, according to the latest reports.

Novelis boasts of being the largest supplier of aluminum sheets to the automotive industry with a 50% market share.

The company said that the smelter is being repaired 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that it has even installed stadium floodlights to facilitate the work.

In its most recent quarterly earnings conference, Ford acknowledged that the disruption in the supply chain cost it close to $1 billion.