Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro's joint venture, Qatalum, has begun a controlled shutdown of its aluminum production following an announcement of a natural gas shortage in Qatar, according to a press release.

The shutdown commenced on March 3 and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The aim is to minimize risks to health, environment, and safety, as well as to prepare the facility for a future restart. A full restart could take six to twelve months, but it remains unclear when production can resume.

Qatalum is owned 50/50 by Norsk Hydro and Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Company. The facility has a nominal capacity of 636,000 tons of primary aluminum and a casting capacity of 664,000 tons.