The expansion of the Nordural aluminium smelter at Grundartangi is expected to start within the next six months. Nordural, owned by the U.S. company Columbia Ventures Corporation, began operation of a 60,000- tonne- per- year smelter at Grundartangi in June 1998. In July 2001, the production capacity was increased to 90,000- tonnes- per- year and another expansion will take place over the next three years, increasing the production capacity to 180,000 ton per year. Currently, there are 200 employees working at the Nordural smelter, and the expansion is expected to create up to 150 new jobs.