Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Chevron Australia has entered a new natural gas supply agreement with South32’s Worsley Alumina business, reinforcing the importance of reliable energy supplies to Australia’s alumina refining industry. The deal will support operations at the Western Australian facility, where energy availability remains central to mineral processing and industrial activity. Under the contract, Chevron will supply natural gas to South32 Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd from 1 January 2028. The arrangement continues a longstanding commercial relationship between the companies, with the fuel allocated to the alumina producer’s processing requirements. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
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A new set of sanctions against Russia has been agreed upon between the European Union member states, diplomats confirmed on February 19, 2025. However, this latest package, set to be formally adopted by EU foreign ministers on February 24, 2025, aims to sustain pressure on Moscow ahead of the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis. Among the measures included is a ban on Russian aluminium imports. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, wrote on a social media platform, “The EU is clamping down even harder on circumvention by targeting more vessels in Putin's shadow fleet and imposing new import and export bans." "We are committed to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin." The EU has introduced its 16 th round of sanctions on Russia. At the same...
At the Dubai International Boat Show, Turkish yacht manufacturer Sancrea Yachts unveiled its latest collection of aluminium yachts, headlined by the impressive ALU 90. Measuring 27.8 meters, this flagship model is the product of collaboration with Azerbaijan-based Abbasli Design, renowned for its work on high-profile projects, including Tankoa Yachts' striking 63-meter concept, Project Stardust. Image Source: Sancrea Yachts website Engineered for both efficiency and superior handling, the ALU 90 features advanced naval architecture by SEFT Engineering. Key highlights include RINA certification, a generous seven-meter beam, and a robust twin MAN propulsion system, ensuring top-tier performance on the water. The ALU 90 features a well-designed layout with seven cabins, offering ample space...
Novelis Inc., a global leader in sustainable aluminium solutions and the foremost company in aluminium rolling and recycling, has successfully tested hydrogen fuel to power a recycling furnace at its Latchford, Warrington plant in the UK. Image Source: Linkedln The tests involved installing new burners, regenerators, and furnace lining materials as part of a UK government decarbonisation initiative in collaboration with Progressive Energy, an independent UK energy company. Replacing natural gas with hydrogen in a melting furnace has the potential to cut CO₂e emissions by up to 90 per cent. About the project Prioritising safety, the hydrogen pilot project involved multiple test phases, blending hydrogen with natural gas in varying proportions (30 per cent to 100 per cent) to assess its...
MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals, now known as METLEN Energy & Metals, has entered into two long-term strategic agreements with global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto to strengthen its bauxite and alumina supply chain. Under the first agreement, Rio Tinto will supply METLEN with approximately 14.9 million tonnes of bauxite from the CBG mine in Guinea over an 11-year period, spanning from 2027 to 2037. This bauxite supply will complement METLEN’s existing production from its local mines in Greece, ensuring a stable and diversified raw material source. Under the second agreement, METLEN will supply Rio Tinto with 3.9 million tonnes of alumina from its expanded Agios Nikolaos refinery over an eight-year period, beginning in 2027. The agreement also includes an option for a three-year extension....
In a major development, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India’s largest listed infrastructure firm, has announced that its Minerals & Metals (M&M) business vertical has secured a significant order from Hindalco. The contract involves the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of an 850 KTPA Greenfield alumina refinery plant in Odisha. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has maintained a strong partnership with Hindalco for over three decades, serving as a key EPC contractor in its expansion initiatives across alumina, aluminium, and copper plants. This latest order reaffirms Hindalco’s confidence in L&T as a trusted partner in driving its ambitious growth plans. Meanwhile, L&T’s Metallurgical & Material Handling (M&M) vertical had previously secured a contract to establish an 8 MTPA...
The German multinational luxury automotive company Mercedes-Benz Group is bracing for a significant drop in earnings this year as it faces intense competition and fluctuating global demand. In response, the automaker is rolling out cost-cutting measures, aiming to slash production expenses by 10 per cent by 2027 while working closely with suppliers to lower material costs. Rising prices for key materials like chemical coatings and metals, including aluminium, have hit the company hard. Last year, its operating earnings hit 30 per cent, while the carmaking margin fell from 12.6 per cent to 8.1 per cent. The biggest blow came from its car division, where earnings plummeted by 40 per cent in 2024, largely due to sluggish sales in two of its most crucial markets: —China and Germany. The...
The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was introduced as a bold step in the fight against climate change. It is meant to prevent carbon leakage—where companies move production to countries with weaker climate policies—by ensuring that imported goods face the same carbon costs as those produced within the EU. In theory, this levels the playing field for European industries while pushing other nations towards greener practices. But there’s a problem: CBAM, in its current form, simply does not work for aluminium. Instead of protecting one of Europe’s most critical industries, it risks making it uncompetitive, increasing costs for manufacturers, and even worsening global emissions. Without urgent reforms, CBAM could do more harm than good. An aluminium industry on the...
Horn has expanded its DM range of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting tools with newly developed mills designed for high-efficiency aluminium machining. These tools feature optimised cutting geometries that enhance chip control, minimise cutting forces, and deliver exceptional surface finishes. Image Source: Horn website With over 30 years of expertise in developing and manufacturing precision tools from ultra-hard cutting materials, Horn provides a comprehensive selection of PCD milling cutters designed for efficient and high-performance aluminium machining. Covering a range from simple end mills to advanced modular combination tools, the latest additions are engineered to address the specific challenges of aluminium machining, ensuring superior performance in chip formation, cutting...
As a result, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a technique that can be used for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and monitoring and managing PFC emissions to drive process improvements and emission reductions. Image Source: ISCOBA PDF The aluminium industry is striving to reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) launched an initiative encouraging its members to track and publicly report their emission reduction efforts and progress as part of COP28 in 2023. These potent greenhouse gases significantly contribute to global warming due to their high efficiency in trapping infrared radiation. Thirteen major aluminium producers have endorsed this initiative, publishing their greenhouse gas...
NALCO’s announcement of INR 30,000 crore (USD 3.45 billion) investment in aluminium business expansion brought to the public by Union Minister of Coal & Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, is its first major capex in recent times, including setting up an INR 17,000 crore (USD 1.95 billion) aluminium smelter capacity. State-owned Navratna PSU, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), has chalked out a distribution plan for its progressive INR 30,000-crore expansion plan , marking its first massive capital expenditure in contemporary times. The development project is set to conclude by FY30, with an INR 17,000-crore investment in an additional aluminium smelter construction and noteworthy projects in mining and downstream product manufacturing. Global mining leader Rio Tinto Canada...
Sundaram-Clayton Ltd (SCL), a leading automotive components manufacturer, announced that its Board of Directors has approved the sale of its aluminium die-casting businesses at the Hosur plant to third-party buyers. The decision was made during a board meeting on Wednesday, February 19. Image Source: SCL website Updates about the transaction As disclosed to stock exchanges, the company will divest both high-pressure and low-pressure aluminium die-casting operations at the Hosur facility. However, key details of the transaction, such as the final deal structure, the identity of the potential buyer, and the sale consideration, remain undetermined. The Chennai-based company, formerly Sundaram-Clayton DCD Limited, informed BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India that it would...
China's National Energy Administration has released statistics on power generation and clean energy power generation in 2024, and the transition is impressive. China's aluminium industry is gaining a huge advantage when it comes to moving to clean energy. We are all familiar with the success story in Yunnan province. Despite recurring problems with drought, hydropower in that province is supporting several million tonnes of primary aluminium capacity. But that wasn't where the biggest growth was in 2024. Guangxi province recorded an improvement of 40 per cent over 2024, with hydro, wind and solar all contributing. Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia also saw increases of over 25 per cent. Yunnan province saw a growth in clean energy of 15 per cent. Apart from hydro, wind power is picking up in...
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) recently tested a technology that harnesses sunlight instead of traditional engines. A solar sail is a large, lightweight sheet that captures energy from photons—tiny particles of light emitted by the sun. As these photons strike the sail, they generate thrust, much like wind propelling a sailboat. This allows a spacecraft to travel through space indefinitely without the need for fuel or conventional propulsion systems. Source- KARI KARI's newly developed solar sail spans 10 meters and is crafted from an exceptionally lightweight material. It surpasses the size of NASA's 2023 solar sail and features a specialized film coated with aluminium. Designed for efficiency, the sail's deployment system is highly compact, allowing it to be folded into a...
Constellium, the Paris-based aluminium business, has determined to increase a minimum price of USD 0.15 per pound for all flat-rolled products shipped in the US, owing to the recent market conditions and revolving economic drivers. The price increase is to be effective immediately after announcements, as per the contracts’ appropriation. As a result, select products may require higher increases. The global manufacturer of aluminium rolled products, extruded products, and structural parts based on a large variety of advanced alloys counts close to 12,500 employees worldwide and operates more than 28 manufacturing sites in North America, Europe and Asia. It also holds a research and development unit in China. In a recently conducted survey, unforeseen consumer demand, elevated trade...
Apple has continually evolved the materials used for its high-end iPhone frames, transitioning from aluminium to stainless steel, titanium, and back to aluminium. Innovation and sophistication perfectly define Apple, the American tech giant celebrated worldwide for its cutting-edge gadgets and electronics. Image Source: macworld.com However, according to a recent investor note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, obtained by MacRumors, Apple may revert to aluminium for most of its iPhone 17 line-up. Pu predicts that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature aluminium frames, while the rumoured iPhone 17 Air will stand out with a titanium frame. This shift would mark a significant change for the Pro models, as both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro feature titanium...
Runaya has unveiled plans to expand its Green Aluminium Recovery business and significantly increase its Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) production capacity, more than doubling its output. As part of its sustainability-driven growth strategy, the company is committed to scaling its metal recovery and sustainable manufacturing operations, emphasising resource efficiency and circular economy principles. Runaya's Green Aluminium Recovery business recovers aluminium from industrial waste, minimising landfill use and lowering carbon emissions. The company aims to scale this model globally, enabling industrial growth while promoting sustainable resource management. Additionally, Runaya plans to substantially increase its FRP production capacity to meet the growing demand in the telecom and...
China is the world's second-largest economy after the United States and despite its recent challenges, China poured an impressive $940 billion into clean energy initiatives in 2024, bringing its investment close to the $1.12 trillion spent globally on fossil fuels. This substantial commitment underscores China's accelerating shift toward renewable energy and its pivotal role in reshaping the global energy landscape, as highlighted by a new analysis for the U.K.-based research organisation Carbon Brief. Note: Here’s the graph visualising China's clean energy investment growth and its contribution to GDP from 2023 to 2024. The green line represents the sharp decline in investment growth, while the black dashed line shows the sector's increasing share of GDP. Although there was a slowdown in...
The past week has been all about the dynamic shift driven by rising domestic prices, US tariff policies, and fluctuating supply-demand dynamics in the global aluminium market. According to various news platforms, Chinese aluminium spot prices have hiked to RMB 20,524 per tonne (USD 2,862 per tonne) in South China, followed by RMB 20,504 per tonne (USD 2,859 per tonne) in East China. Both the regions were separately up 1.67 per cent and 1.65 per cent week-on-week. This increase was fuelled by a 0.84 per cent gain in LME prices to USD 2,636 per tonne, trending higher by 1.51 per cent week-on-week along with stronger downstream demand. Meanwhile, a potential speed-breaker looms as the US, under the Trump administration, has imposed a 10 per cent tariff from February and intends to slap...
