ATLANTA, Dec 13, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Novelis Inc. (NYSE: NVL) (TSX: NVL) today announced that its Pindamonhangaba rolling complex near Sao Paulo, Brazil, has won the "Top Gold Award" for Health, Safety at Work and Environment from the Brazilian Agency of Safety (ABS). The achievement marks the first time the agency has granted a "Top Gold" rating to a company in recognition of its management systems and results in the area of health, workplace safety and environment.

The ABS award program recognizes companies that perform at or above regulatory standards in the areas of occupational accidents and disease prevention, natural resources preservation and fire and emergency response.

"The Novelis integrated health, safety and environmental systems are significantly superior to those of other companies," said Fabio Toledo Pizza, ABS Administrative Officer and General Prizes Coordinator. This is the first time that the ABS has awarded a Gold prize. Novelis had previously won two Silver ABS awards. "We could find no fault with the Novelis systems," said Pizza.

In all, the Pindamonhangaba facility was granted five ABS awards in the 2005 competition:

- Top trophy for Health, Safety at Work and Environment Management System -- GOLD category.
- Top trophy for Environment Management System - GOLD category.
- ABS trophy for Safety and Health at Work.
- ABS Environment trophy.
- ABS trophy for Emergencies, Prevention and Fire Fighting.

Novelis is the market leader in South America for aluminum rolled products. The Pindamonhangaba plant is the region's largest and most modern aluminum rolling and recycling center, producing aluminum sheet for the packaging, transportation and construction markets. The plant is certified to ISO 14001, ISO 9000 and OHSAS 18001 norms, and conforms to the Novelis management system, which includes a program of 45 global environment, health and safety (EHS) guidelines.

"Excellence in EHS is directly related to our operational performance in areas such as quality and delivery," said Tadeu Nardocci, president of Novelis Brazil. "It is central to our overall discipline in operations and our dedication to continuous improvement. We are extremely proud to win this award."

Novelis is the global leader in aluminum rolled products and aluminum can recycling. The company has 36 operating facilities in 11 countries and more than 13,000 employees. Novelis has the unrivaled capability to provide its customers with a regional supply of technically sophisticated rolled aluminum products throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Through its advanced production capabilities, the company supplies aluminum sheet and foil to the automotive and transportation, beverage and food packaging, construction and industrial, and printing markets. For more information, visit www.novelis.com.

SOURCE Novelis Inc.

Media, Charles Belbin, +1-404-814-4260, or
charles.belbin@novelis.com, or
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