SCANDINAVIA SPOTLIGHT
Iceland
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| Breaking ground in July 2004 for a project that encompasses both a smelter and power plant in Reydarfjordur, Iceland, are, from left: Tomas Mar Sigurdsson, CEO of Alcoa Fjarðaál; Gudmundur Bjarnason, Mayor of Fjardabyggd municipality; Andy Greig, President M&M, GBU, Bechtel; Valgerdur Sverrisdottir, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Bernt Reitan VP, Alcoa & Group President, Primary Products. |
For
a country with a labor force of only 167,000 to distribute across its
40,000 sq. miles (103,000 sq. km.), Iceland is garnering some mammoth
investments and is projected to see 4- percent economic growth through
2006.
Much of the momentum is coming from just two major aluminum projects. Alcoa's double investment in a smelter and a hydroelectric plant is projected to cost $2.2 billion. And Century Aluminum is spending close to $600 million on expanding its own smelter in Grundartangi, adding 130 jobs to its current payroll of 190. The expansion is expected to add about 4 percent to Iceland's annual export revenues.
Among Century's other operations are plants in West Virginia and Kentucky, as well as a plant co-owned with Alcoa in Mt. Holly, S.C.
company that also sets the tone for this nation's economic vibrance.
Based in Ringkobing, Jutland, Vestas Wind Systems is a name familiar worldwide as the largest global wind turbine manufacturer. The 25-year-old company has production facilities in 10 countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Its turbines are involved in a new wind energy farm in Sweden operated by utility Vattenfall, and the company just received a $65-million order for equipment headed to a Quebecois wind farm. As the company acquired fellow Danish firm NEG Micon early in 2004, it trimmed 475 people and moved its headquarters from Ringkobing to NEG Micon's home base of Randers, projecting cost savings of some $83 million annually through 2006. Vestas now is projected to have a 35-percent market share, along with employing around 9,500 people worldwide.
The real growth behind Vestas' projected 2004 revenues of $3.1 billion is coming from Germany, the Asia Pacific, India and the British Isles. A new plant is being built in Australia, and the company is considering new plants in both North America and China. That said, the company's fortunes are intertwined with those of its home nation, which is embarking on three separate wind farm projects. In Sweden, too, interest in renewable energy (especially in the wake of the government's decision not to go forward on a new nuclear plant) means good things for Vestas, and for Scandinavia's energy base.
Much of the momentum is coming from just two major aluminum projects. Alcoa's double investment in a smelter and a hydroelectric plant is projected to cost $2.2 billion. And Century Aluminum is spending close to $600 million on expanding its own smelter in Grundartangi, adding 130 jobs to its current payroll of 190. The expansion is expected to add about 4 percent to Iceland's annual export revenues.
Among Century's other operations are plants in West Virginia and Kentucky, as well as a plant co-owned with Alcoa in Mt. Holly, S.C.
Denmark
While Copenhagen certainly gets its share of projects
via its port, airport headquarters and Medicon Valley synergies, it's
a Denmark-based
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| Vestas manufactures wind turbines that are as tall as 242 feet (73.4 meters) and are equipped with blades as long as 77 feet (23.3 meters). |
Based in Ringkobing, Jutland, Vestas Wind Systems is a name familiar worldwide as the largest global wind turbine manufacturer. The 25-year-old company has production facilities in 10 countries, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Its turbines are involved in a new wind energy farm in Sweden operated by utility Vattenfall, and the company just received a $65-million order for equipment headed to a Quebecois wind farm. As the company acquired fellow Danish firm NEG Micon early in 2004, it trimmed 475 people and moved its headquarters from Ringkobing to NEG Micon's home base of Randers, projecting cost savings of some $83 million annually through 2006. Vestas now is projected to have a 35-percent market share, along with employing around 9,500 people worldwide.
The real growth behind Vestas' projected 2004 revenues of $3.1 billion is coming from Germany, the Asia Pacific, India and the British Isles. A new plant is being built in Australia, and the company is considering new plants in both North America and China. That said, the company's fortunes are intertwined with those of its home nation, which is embarking on three separate wind farm projects. In Sweden, too, interest in renewable energy (especially in the wake of the government's decision not to go forward on a new nuclear plant) means good things for Vestas, and for Scandinavia's energy base.
