FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
---------------
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): July 5, 1999
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-9447
(Commission File Number)
94-3030279
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
5847 SAN FELIPE, SUITE 2600
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77057-3010
(Address of Principal Executive (Zip Code)
Offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 267-3777
Item 5. Other Events
On July 5, 1999, Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation (the
"Company"), the operating subsidiary of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation,
announced that its Gramercy, Louisiana, alumina refinery had been
extensively damaged by an explosion and that it expected production at the
plant would be curtailed for several months as a result of the explosion.
On July 7, 1999, the Company announced that it was notifying customers and
suppliers of the Gramercy refinery that it was declaring force majeure as a
result of the July 5, 1999, explosion. In the July 7 announcement, the
Company said that approximately 24 employees were injured and had been
transported to area hospitals and that all but six were treated for minor
injuries and released. Of the six employees remaining in the hospital, the
Company had been informed that two were in critical but stable condition
with burn-related injuries. The two press releases issued in this
connection are incorporated by reference herein, and copies of the press
releases are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1: Press release dated July 5, 1999
Exhibit 99.2: Press release dated July 7, 1999
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION
(Registrant)
/S/ DANIEL D. MADDOX
Dated: July 9, 1999 By: Daniel D. Maddox
Vice President and Controller
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 99.1: Press release dated July 5, 1999
Exhibit 99.2: Press release dated July 7, 1999
Exhibit 99.1
Contact: Scott Lamb (713) 267-3826
KAISER ALUMINUM PRESS ADVISORY
JULY 5, 1999
Kaiser Aluminum's Gramercy, Louisiana, alumina refinery was
extensively damaged by an explosion at approximately 5:15 this morning.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The company has
notified appropriate governmental agencies. Approximately 20 employees
were injured in the blast and were transported to area hospitals.
As a result of the explosion, the company expects that production at
the plant will be curtailed for several months.
The Gramercy facility has an annual rated production capacity of about
1 million metric tons per year of alumina. Kaiser Aluminum's total annual
production of alumina is about 3 million metric tons.
Exhibit 99.2
Contact: Scott Lamb
Telephone: 225-231-5147 today only or
(713) 267-3826 July 7, 1999
KAISER ALUMINUM NOTIFYING CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS OF GRAMERCY, LOUISIANA,
PLANT OF FORCE MAJEURE; COMPANY ASSISTING CUSTOMERS WITH ALTERNATE SUPPLY
ARRANGEMENTS
HOUSTON, Texas, July 7, 1999 -- Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical
Corporation, the operating subsidiary of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
(NYSE:KLU), said today that it is notifying customers and suppliers of its
Gramercy, Louisiana, alumina refinery that it is declaring force majeure as
a result of a July 5 explosion that has rendered the plant unable to
operate. At the same time, the company emphasized that it is working with
its customers to assist them in obtaining alumina from alternate sources.
As previously reported, the company said production at the plant is
expected to be curtailed for several months as a result of an explosion in
the digester area of the plant. At the time of the incident, equipment in
that area was being operated by employees with extensive experience. The
cause of the explosion is under investigation. The company has broad
insurance coverage in respect of the Gramercy facility and its other
operations.
Approximately 24 employees were injured in the blast and were
transported to area hospitals. All but six were treated for minor injuries
and released. Of the six employees remaining in the hospital, the company
has been informed that two are in critical but stable condition with burn-
related injuries.
"Obviously, this is a very sad and unfortunate event," said Ray
Milchovich, president and chief operating officer of Kaiser Aluminum. "We
are taking steps to identify the cause and would hope to learn how to
prevent such an incident from ever occurring again."
Kaiser Aluminum is a leading producer of alumina, primary aluminum,
and fabricated aluminum products. MAXXAM Inc. (ASE:MXM) directly and
indirectly holds approximately 63 percent of Kaiser.
Company press releases may contain statements that constitute "forward-
looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The company cautions that any such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve significant
risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may vary materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of
various factors.
F-814
