Norsk Hydro: Alunorte issues force majeure notice following 50% production cut

Following orders from federal, state and local authorities in Brazil for the
Alunorte alumina refinery to reduce production by 50 percent, Alumina do Norte
do Brasil SA (Alunorte) issued a force majeure notice on Friday due to the
production cut and current lack of clarity into what measures it would take to
return Alunorte to normal operations.

The force majeure notice comes after a period of extraordinary rainfall led to
flooding in Barcarena, where Alunorte is situated. Due to concerns over possible
water contamination from Alunorte during this flooding, authorities have taken
several measures against the alumina refinery, including orders to cut alumina
production and halt operations at its DRS2 bauxite residue deposit.

Contingency plans are being implemented, and Alunorte is doing its utmost to
reduce the potential negative effect on customers and suppliers.

Hydro, as the largest offtaker of alumina from Alunorte, is taking and assessing
a range of possible mitigating actions to minimize the negative effect for its
customers.

Hydro is South America's biggest aluminium company after acquiring Brazilian
mining company Vale's aluminium assets in the state of Pará in 2011. Alunorte is
the world's largest alumina refinery, employs around 2,000 people and has a
nameplate capacity of an annual 6.3 million tonnes. Hydro owns 92.1 percent of
Alunorte.



Investor contacts
Stian Hasle
+47 97736022
Stian.Hasle@hydro.com

Press contact
Halvor Molland
+47 92979797
Halvor.Molland@hydro.com


Cautionary note
Certain statements included in this announcement contain forward-looking
information, including, without limitation, information relating to (a)
forecasts, projections and estimates, (b) statements of Hydro management
concerning plans, objectives and strategies, such as planned expansions,
investments, divestments, curtailments or other projects, (c) targeted
production volumes and costs, capacities or rates, start-up costs, cost
reductions and profit objectives, (d) various expectations about future
developments in Hydro's markets, particularly prices, supply and demand and
competition, (e) results of operations, (f) margins, (g) growth rates, (h) risk
management, and (i) qualified statements such as "expected", "scheduled",
"targeted", "planned", "proposed", "intended" or similar.



Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking
statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are based on a
number of assumptions and forecasts that, by their nature, involve risk and
uncertainty. Various factors could cause our actual results to differ materially
from those projected in a forward-looking statement or affect the extent to
which a particular projection is realized. Factors that could cause these
differences include, but are not limited to: our continued ability to reposition
and restructure our upstream and downstream businesses; changes in availability
and cost of energy and raw materials; global supply and demand for aluminium and
aluminium products; world economic growth, including rates of inflation and
industrial production; changes in the relative value of currencies and the value
of commodity contracts; trends in Hydro's key markets and competition; and
legislative, regulatory and political factors.



No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been
correct.  Hydro disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section
5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.