Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Alcan Inc., the world's second-largest aluminum producer, said it plans to shut a 66-year-old aluminum smelter in Lannemezan, France, because the facility is inefficient.

The plant, which employs 300 people, accounts for 1 percent of the Alcan's primary metal production, Montreal-based Alcan said today in a statement distributed by PRNewswire. Alcan said it expects to have the plant shut down sometime during 2008.

Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Inc. is the biggest aluminum maker.

To contact the reporter on this story: Daniel Enoch in Washington at denoch@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 13, 2005 11:11 EDT