Atalco’s facility in St. James Parish, the last remaining alumina producer in the U.S., is facing mounting pressure from activists, even as state and industry leaders rally in support of its economic and national defense contributions, reports L’Obervateur.
The Gramercy plant supplies alumina, a critical input for aluminum used in aerospace, military, and manufacturing applications. Industry leaders say China’s state-backed overproduction has created artificially low global prices, posing a threat to U.S. supply chain security.
Atalco supports over 550 jobs, 70 percent of which are unionized, and half of which are held by individuals from minority communities. Despite this, the company has drawn criticism from environmental groups, which company officials say distorts regulatory progress and threatens local livelihoods. Read more.
