Ormet Plant May Be Repurposed

Niagara Worldwide LLC is currently in talks to repurpose the 1,700-acre site of the former Ormet Plant in Hannibal, Ohio.

"We are talking to the world," said Eric Spirtas, president of Niagara Worldwide and Hannibal Development Partners. "In an effort to determine global interest in this specialized facility, we are communicating with every aluminum-related business group worldwide to share with them what sets here in Hannibal."

Spirtas explained that while there is not a simple switch to throw that begins the daily output of 1.6 million pounds of aluminum, there is a path to reusing the site.

"We have been contacted to consider specific operations like a cold pour process in the current cast house that would use furnaces to melt the aluminum for remolding stock, while another team has spoken to us about an entire smelting reuse," Spirtas added.

To even consider a resurrection of the historic smelter and its system, which remains fully intact today, a completely integrated plan with new power, government backing and community support would be required.

Spirtas also mentioned a possibly larger site opportunity unrelated to the aluminum market.

"We are in negotiations with three very large oil and gas service providers that work hand-in-hand with the oil drilling, gas processing and fuel transportation markets now imbedded in this region due to the Utica and Marcellus shale exploration," he noted.

If this effort is successful, there could be multiple uses for the 12 miles of rail, 50-barge docking port and pneumatic loading and unloading systems at the site.

For more information, visit www.niagaraworldwide.com.