Acquisition in Russia New Plant in China Growing Presence  Refinery Studied Waste vs. Waste  Growing Alcoa operations  in Romania include two  AFL Automotive plants that produce wire harnesses for the automotive market. These facilities increasingly are involved in their communities through Alcoa Foundation grants and employee volun- teerism. Alcoa’s European Extruded & End Products business now is building an extrusion facility in north- west Romania to serve European commercial and residential building and  construction markets.  Alcoa completed its acquisition from RusAL of two fabricating facilities in Samara and  Belaya Kalitva in the Russian Federation. The Company plans to invest capital and tech- nology in the plants in 2005, while also investing and training to make the operations consis- tent with those of other Alcoa operations and strengthen their competitive position.  Alcoa Closure Systems Inter- national opened a new plant in Hangzhou, its second plant in China. The facility presently produces plastic closures,  primarily for export to bever- age producers in Japan. Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals is a lead partner  in a project exploring  possible joint development  of an alumina refinery  with the Government of  the Republic of Guinea.  A feasibility study should  be completed in 2005. The study includes community consultations. Alcoa’s Kwinana, Australia, alumina refinery reduced  the need for ongoing manage- ment of closed bauxite residue  storage areas using waste  carbon dioxide (CO$_{2}$) from  a nearby industrial facility. Mixing high concentration CO$_{2}$ with bauxite residue before it is deposited in drying beds creates a more benign bauxite waste. 17