The world's new aluminiun smelters in Mozambique and Alma will convert electric power that is at present surplus to local requirements into blocks of aluminium which can then be easily exported. Aluminium is often considered to be "frozen energy" because it takes a great deal of power to produce the metal-the average smelter needs as much electricity as a town of 500,000 people. The projects went ahead only after they attracted competitive and highly attractive power supply contracts.