Primary aluminum output in Guayana, south Venezuela, continues to dwindle. Aluminum makers Venalum and CVG Alcasa comprise 1,301 cells, yet only 387 cells are operative. Both companies are running at 29% of their installed capacity.

The current number of operative cells slightly represents two out of seven production lines.

The operating problems are due to unsolved shortages of spare parts and raw material. Moreover, nearly 40% of personnel is absent amid poor transportation. In CVG Alcasa, low availability of cranes is accountable for production decline.

Henry Arias, the secretary general of the Trade Union of Venezuela's aluminum company CVG Alcasa (Sintralcasa) recently denounced that 15 executives of the industry were given a rise (109%) although there have been no adjustments in the salaries of 3,000 workers who have been hit by the delayed renewal of their contracts and the loss of benefits.