![\"21586193](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4N3SV8Y_image_crop_90108.webp\")
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\nNew Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai.
\nPhoto: ekays\/123RF\n<\/p>\n
Contact Energy has signed an agreement with Rio Tinto to deliver the power necessary to restart the Line 4 potline at the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai.<\/p>\n
The non-binding letter of intent for a power purchase agreement would support the restart of the idle Line 4 potline, to the three other production lines in operation.<\/p>\n
The smelter act would become a long-term customer for Contact’s recently consented Southland Wind Farm, helping unlock new renewable generation and regional economic growth.<\/p>\n
The smelter would become a long-term customer for Contact’s recently consented Southland Wind Farm, helping unlock new renewable generation and regional economic growth.<\/p>\n
Line 4 at Tiwai Point had been idle since 2020, when Rio Tinto was still contemplating shutting down production at Tiwai entirely.<\/p>\n
That dynamic was changed after Rio Tinto signed a long-term agreement to power the Tiwai aluminium smelter for another 20 years, which was expected to be a trigger for new long-term investment in renewable energy.<\/p>\n
Restarting the restart the Line 4 potline would require about 50 MW of additional electricity and would deliver increased production and export earnings for New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The commodity price for aluminium rose 6.3 percent in April on March, and was 51 percent up on the year earlier, after a large aluminium smelter in the United Arab Emirates was damaged in late March, tightening global supplies.<\/p>\n