KAZ wins Alcoa managed services

ASX-listed outsourcer KAZ Group has boosted its annual business with Alcoa to $5 million, signing a new three-year managed IT services contract with the aluminium refining company.

KAZ will provide Alcoa World Alumina Australia with technical systems support services and around-the-clock mainframe systems support as part of the deal.

KAZ already provided applications development, services support and implementation of other key projects under separate contracts. Together, the contracts were estimated as worth about $5 million this year, the company said.

Lagis Zavros, regional general manager at KAZ technology services, said the outsourcer had worked on Alcoa technology support for about four years.

'Winning this new contract extends our relationship and reinforces KAZ's position in Western Australia,' Zavros said.

David Humphreys, IT manager at Alcoa, said the company had put the deal out to tender after a review of its service delivery model. 'We aim to select the best possible provider for a specific service,' Humphreys said.

Alcoa in Australia claims to operate the largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting system in the world, an operation that provides 6,150 direct jobs.

The company has three refineries in Western Australia, two smelters in Victoria, bauxite mines in WA's Darling Range and two aluminium rolling mills in Victoria and New South Wales.