Nespresso is expanding its aluminium coffee capsule recycling network across New Zealand, adding 25 JB Hi-Fi stores as collection points and bringing the total number of participating retail locations to 138. The move gives coffee drinkers more places to return used capsules, helping make recycling a little easier after that final, satisfying sip. The new collection points join existing locations at Briscoes and Noel Leeming stores. The expansion also complements other return options available through Nespresso, including its boutiques, public collection points, NZ Post drop-off locations and courier collections from customers’ homes. The aim is to make returning used capsules more convenient, recognising that a single collection method will not work for everyone. For those who enjoy...
Iran has ruled out reopening the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets seven conditions outlined in a June memorandum of understanding, prolonging uncertainty over a critical global energy shipping route as diplomatic efforts continue. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran’s position remained firm, state media reported on October 4. Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly under which normal maritime passage through the strait could resume within seven days if its conditions were met. Washington responded to the proposal last week through Qatari intermediaries. “The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the...
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ADNOC and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have inked a landmark five-year supply deal worth $500 million (AED 1.84 billion), securing up to 1.5 million tonnes of calcined petroleum coke (petcoke), a crucial ingredient in aluminium production. Announced at the high-profile 'Make it in the Emirates' event in Abu Dhabi, the agreement highlights ADNOC's drive to power the UAE's industrial future and strengthen homegrown supply chains. This strategic partnership not only fuels EGA's aluminium operations but also reinforces the nation's vision of becoming a global hub for sustainable, value-added manufacturing. Under the new agreement, ADNOC Refining will meet at least 30 per cent of EGA's calcined petcoke needs directly from its Ruwais Refinery over the next five years. This move marks a...
Guinea, a West African country bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, has an economy that is profoundly intertwined with its bauxite mining industry, which serves as a cornerstone of national economic activity, export earnings, and foreign investment. Recently (May 2025), Guinea announced the repossession of 51 mining licenses, including those for bauxite, citing non-compliance with development timelines and operational requirements. This includes licenses for companies like Kebo Energy SA and Emirates Global Aluminium, specifically due to their failure to fulfil commitments to build local alumina refineries. This serves as a strong warning to other major operators. But why is the country, whose economic development largely depends on bauxite trade, taking such an eccentric decision?...
Switzerland has reportedly banned the sale and import of Russia-origin aluminium in unwrought form, effective Thursday, May 15. The measure also extends to Belarusian aluminium, alongside new restrictions imposed on certain exports. This move by Switzerland is in line with the European Union's 16th sanctions package , introduced in February 2025, targeting imports of aluminium, military equipment, and all those vessels transporting Russian oil. The goal of the EU's sanctions was to undermine Russia's revenue streams and limit its ability to finance the war with Ukraine. Switzerland had implemented similar sanctions at the onset of the conflict three years ago. However, authorities observed Russian aluminium continued to enter the country indirectly, often routed through intermediaries...
A strategic partnership has been initiated in Chile between Corporación Nacional Del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) and Rio Tinto in an initiative to operate a high-grade lithium project within the region. As of May 10, 2025, both parties involved have signed a binding agreement, which is deemed to be the next step in this broader strategic partnership. Image source: riotinto.com The idea of this joint venture struck between the two firms first came into form back in 2022, where they signed an agreement for collaboration that has been made by focusing on their accumulated experience in designing, construction and operation of the underground mines. Fast forward to 2023, both companies exchanged information with each other, like mutual interest, objectives, electrification of mining activities,...
The L’OCCITANE Group, a certified B Corporation and leader in premium sustainable beauty and wellness, has named Adriana Nicolae as its new General Manager, Travel Retail APAC. In this dynamic role, Nicolae will be at the forefront of redefining the brand’s travel retail presence across Asia-Pacific, supported by the expertise and passion of the Group’s seasoned APAC travel retail team. Her leadership marks an exciting new chapter in L’OCCITANE’s journey to inspire beauty that goes beyond borders. Adriana Nicolae commented, ‘I am excited to lead our efforts in a dynamic sector that connects travellers with unique products and experiences. The APAC region is a strategic hub for travel retail with a rapidly evolving market landscape. I look forward to collaborating with our talented travel...
Aluminium dross, a once-ignored by-product of the aluminium industry, is now stepping into the spotlight. Formed as a thin, skin-like layer on molten aluminium during melting and processing, dross is the result of natural surface oxidation. For years, it was treated as industrial waste, routinely dumped into landfills. This not only posed serious environmental hazards but also led to the loss of valuable aluminium and other materials locked within the dross. But times have changed. Today, with sustainability high on the industry's agenda, dross is no longer an afterthought. It's become a focal point in the push toward a circular aluminium economy. Thanks to cutting-edge technologies, recovery rates now exceed 95 per cent, turning what was once a liability into a high-value resource....
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has reportedly expanded its EternAl™ low-carbon range with the launch of ‘EternAl-AC’, a new line featuring verified carbon offsets from Alba’s own operational efficiencies. Image source: Alba Owing to features like carbon offset mechanism and a tiered carbon classification system spanning net-zero footprint (EternAl-ACO) to up to 4 tonnes CO₂e per tonne (AC4), EternAl-AC contributes directly to carbon reduction goals, helping customers with flexible, transparent low-carbon solutions providing clear and verified data. This new product range also enables customers to access traceable, third-party verified greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets originating from Alba’s internal sustainability initiatives. Also read: Alba, the first Middle-Eastern aluminium smelter,...
In a week of proud announcements, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has unveiled two noteworthy investment decisions with an intent of sweeping diversification and localisation strategy, while simultaneously contending with mounting geopolitical pressure in its upstream supply chain. On May 16, EGA signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE’s Tawazun Council and US-based RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) to extract and refine gallium, a strategic rare metal, at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. Once operational, this initiative would elevate the UAE to the second-largest global producer of gallium, following China, reinforcing its ambitions to become a central node in the critical minerals supply chain for semiconductors, defence systems, and next-gen...
Canyon Resources Limited has secured a substantial USD 24.5 million investment from its major shareholder, Eagle Eye Asset Holdings, following the exercise of 350 million options. This move will raise Eagle Eye’s ownership in Canyon to 54.7 per cent and strengthen the company’s cash position, enabling accelerated progress on the Minim Martap Bauxite Project. Image credit: canyonresources The Minim Martap project, located in central Cameroon, is a high-grade bauxite resource poised to become a key player in the aluminium supply chain. By focusing on direct shipping ore (DSO), the project aims to streamline the transition from raw bauxite to aluminium production, catering to the growing global demand for sustainable and efficient aluminium sources. In its financial year ending June 30,...
Rjukan is set to witness the upgrade of the hydropower production initiated by Hydro, a leading aluminium and renewable energy company. For the upgrade, the firm is initiating an impact assessment, which further includes submitting a new application for setting up a new hydropower plant. Image source: hydro.com With the upgrade of the hydropower, the region can benefit in various ways, including: Modernised power production with increased flexibility and pumped storage for the power system in Norway Providing up to 750 MW of upgraded capacity for maximum production and pumping Expected increase of up to 50 per cent of Mana River's gross annual production Optimises the current annual production of 3 TWh of power from the firm's existing plant in the region Reduced risk of floods during the...
Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI), in collaboration with strategic partner LS Cable & System, has officially inaugurated a new extrusion production hall in Gumi, located in South Korea's Gyeongsangbuk-do province. The state-of-the-art 13,800 m² facility, equipped with a fully automated extrusion line, represents a significant milestone following a €46 million (US$50.1 million) investment. The opening ceremony for the site was held on May 15, 2025. HAI Materials Korea (HAIMK) will produce complex aluminium components for the South Korean market at the new facility. The site features a fully automated extrusion line with a pressing force of 60 meganewtons, along with comprehensive upstream and downstream systems to support advanced manufacturing processes. Also read : HAI expands capacity...
According to customs data, China's unwrought aluminium and aluminium products imports in April saw a 3.8 per cent decline year-on-year, but it increased 8.82 per cent month-on-month. In April 2025, China’s unwrought aluminium and aluminium product imports stood at 370,000 tonnes, representing a 3.8 per cent year-on-year fall from 380,00 tonnes . In the first four months of 2025, China's imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products totalled 1.32 million tonnes. This number shows a fall of 11.4 per cent from the first four months of 2024, where the imports stood at 1.49 million in the same year. However, on a month-on-month comparison, China’s unwrought aluminium and product imports rose 8.82 per cent from 340,000 tonnes. That was a rebound after a monthly fall of 10.6 per cent in...
Vedanta Chairperson Anil Agarwal has reportedly called for imposing a 12 per cent safeguard duty on aluminium imports into India, similar to the one recently applied to steel. According to Agarwal, such a measure is essential to protect the domestic aluminium industry from a surge in cheap imports. Image source: Vedanta Aluminium In April, the Indian government introduced a safeguard duty on steel imports for 200 days, aimed at protecting local producers from an influx of low-quality steel. The move targets explicitly imports priced below the global benchmark. Agarwal is now urging the government to implement a similar safeguard on aluminium, arguing that India, a rapidly growing economy, is increasingly vulnerable to cheap imports. He pointed out that, with the United States no longer a...
Premier Energies, a fully integrated manufacturer of solar cells and modules, has unlocked two significant joint venture agreements (JV). The agreements unlock significant potential in the solar manufacturing industry. The first one signed with Hyderabad-based Nuevosol Energy Pvt. Ltd., a leading producer of solar PV mounting structures aims to manufacture aluminium-based solar module frames and other value-added components essential to solar module production. Under the agreement, Premier Energies will hold a majority stake in the venture. The JV plans to establish a 36,000 MT per year aluminium extrusion and anodising facility in Seetharampuram, Telangana, to support Premier Energies' solar manufacturing ecosystem. Commercial operations are slated to commence in FY 2027. A 74:26 joint...
When London hosted the first formal UK–EU summit since Brexit on 19 May 2025, it wasn’t just a photo opportunity. It was a full-blown recalibration of economic realism. The commonly called ‘Brexit reset deal’ signalled a deliberate pivot back to Brussels after half a decade of friction, lost trade, and mounting industrial fatigue. With four key pillars, including access to the EU’s EUR 150 billion defence rearmament fund, regulatory easing for agricultural checks, a youth mobility visa scheme, and reinstated e-gate privileges for UK travellers, this was no ceremonial gesture. Yet the biggest headline for business? A potential rescue line for British exporters haemorrhaging market access and margin to post-Brexit red tape. And nowhere is the reset more urgent — or consequential than in the...
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) is all set to showcase its advanced innovations at Make it in the Emirates (MIITE) 2025, one of the UAE's premier industrial events, serving as a platform to promote innovation, investment, and industrial growth across various sectors. MBRSC will showcase MBZ-SAT—the region's most advanced satellite—as a pioneering example of how space technology can drive industrial development, innovation, and collaboration. Launched into orbit on January 14 this year, this landmark mission underscores the UAE's expanding expertise in next-generation satellite technology. It reflects the nation's ambition to establish itself as a global leader in advanced manufacturing and space innovation. MBZ-SAT, engineered entirely by Emirati talent, marks a bold new...
To support France’s push for greener infrastructure, French startup Closura has introduced aluminium solar carports that combine renewable energy generation with durable, lightweight construction. Built from marine-grade aluminium, these structures are designed to help businesses and municipalities meet new sustainability mandates, reduce energy costs and lower their carbon footprints. Image credit: Closura Based in Le Thou, southwestern France, Closura’s initiative responds to the Climate and Resilience Act (2021) and the APER Act (2023), which require large parking lots to install photovoltaic canopies over at least 50 per cent of their area between 2026 and 2028. The choice of marine-grade aluminium for the carports ensures durability and lightness, making the structures resilient...
Aluminium Dunkerque, a leading producer of primary aluminium in Europe, has taken a bold step toward greener metal production with the launch of its new Furnace 8, a state-of-the-art melting furnace dedicated to aluminium recycling. This innovation will enable the plant to recycle 7,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap annually, boosting output by 20,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium each year. More than just a furnace, this development is a part of Aluminium Dunkerque's wider mission to support reindustrialisation in France and reduce dependence on high-carbon aluminium imports. Furnace 8 aims to slash CO2 emissions by 10 per cent of ingots produced, cutting a total of 25,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Guillaume de Goÿs, CEO of Aluminium Dunkerque, said, "Each year, France still exports nearly...
