Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced a technology upgrade pilot at the company’s Al Taweelah smelter, which will further improve productivity and efficiency. The pilot upgrades to 13 DX technology reduction cells will be used to prove the performance of the new technology, called E40, before industrialisation across all 808 DX technology reduction cells at potlines 1 and 2 at Al Taweelah. If applied to all 808 reduction cells, EGA’s E40 technology has the potential to increase hot metal production from the two potlines by 67 thousand tonnes per year, while reducing net specific energy consumption and associated carbon dioxide emissions from power generation by approximately six per cent per tonne of...
Maaden’s aluminium business delivered a stronger Q2 2026 performance, with revenue rising 49 per cent year on year to USD 1.01 billion, supported by higher aluminium production and stronger realised prices. According to industry sources, Maaden’s aluminium business produced 242,000 tonnes in Q2 2026, while realised aluminium prices reached USD 3,915 per tonne, up 51 per cent. The combination of higher aluminium output and stronger realised prices helped drive the 49 per cent increase in Maaden aluminium revenue to USD 1.01 billion. The growth came alongside gains in both volume and pricing rather than from a one-off accounting effect. The stronger Q2 performance puts aluminium prices in focus for Maaden’s earnings. With realised aluminium prices reaching USD 3,915 per tonne, the company...
Grow with
AL Circle
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, announced the appointment of David Stone as the Chief Executive Officer – Coal Mines. In his new role, David will oversee the entire coal mining operations of the company, spearheading strategy and leveraging technology and innovation to optimise resource efficiency. David's expertise will be crucial to optimising resource efficiency at Vedanta Aluminium's thermal power plants in Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh in Odisha and Korba in Chhattisgarh. The company also keeps a sharp focus on sustainable mining practices. The company has five operating coal mines with a combined capacity of ~40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). These include Jamkhani, Kuraloi, Radhikapur, Ghogharpalli, and Barra, which are under exploration. With a distinguished...
Over the weekend, Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyễn Chí Dũng, inspected several Vietnamese-invested projects in southern Laos, acknowledging both the progress and the challenges these initiatives face. This transparency is crucial for our collective preparedness. The minister visited the construction site of the Kaleum coal mine and the proposed location for the Kaleum Coal-Fired Power Plant in Sekong Province. Phonesack Group will operate both projects. The coal mine boasts an annual production capacity of up to 20 million tonnes, of which three million tonnes are planned for export to Vietnam. The US$4.06-billion power plant project, led by the Petrovietnam Power Corporation (PV Power), is of strategic importance and is currently seeking financing partners for...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, a Malaysia-headquartered integrated aluminium producer, reported that its smelter in Samalaju Industrial Park caught fire. The accident broke out at the Phase 3 smelter, affecting 100 out of the 300 pots, and thankfully bypassed Phases 1 and 2. Press Metal also reported that the unprecedented incident caused no fatalities or injuries. The company said: "We are grateful that swift evacuation procedures ensured there were no injuries or fatalities." About 9 per cent of the total smelting capacity across Samalaju and Mukah was affected by the fire breakout, said Press Metal. Three to four months are anticipated to complete the restoration of the pots, which will lessen 3 per cent of the company's smelting capacity on a full-year basis. Press Metal further...
Italian officials are calling for an early review of the European Union's plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin criticised the policy as "absurd" and driven by an "ideological vision," arguing that it imposes a rigid, state-controlled approach to policymaking within the bloc. Speaking at the TEHA business forum in Cernobbio, Italy, Pichetto Fratin highlighted the significant challenges of the EU's decision, particularly in light of the ongoing slowdown in the European auto industry. He stressed that the ban should be reassessed to reflect shifting market realities. Italy's Industry Minister Adolfo Urso also weighed in, suggesting that the planned mid-point review of the legislation, currently scheduled for 2026,...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), China’s average alumina price has again gained RMB 4 per tonne after the three consecutive days of restraint. With the latest rise, the price has reached a new high in two years at RMB 3,942 per tonne, marking a week-on-week increase of RMB 10 per tonne and a month-on-month rise of about RMB 38 per tonne. In key regions like Henan and Shanxi, the increase is even higher, with prices up by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 3,935 per tonne in Henan and RMB 3,960 per tonne, respectively. This rise follows a significant period of price stability and has implications for the overall aluminium market. The prices have remained unchanged in other regions like Guizhou and Guangxi, averaging at RMB 3,935 per tonne and RMB 3,955 per tonne, respectively. A00...
On September 6, Altor, a private equity fund, exercised its put option, obligating Hydro to acquire an additional 20 per cent stake in Vianode. This transaction results in both Altor and Hydro holding equal 50/50 ownership stakes. Why the put option A put option is a financial contract that grants the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to sell a specified quantity of an asset at a set price, known as the strike price, within a predetermined time frame before the option's expiration date. After Elkem's exit from Vianode in March 2024, Altor and Hydro became the remaining shareholders, holding 70 per cent and 30 per cent stakes, respectively. Their shareholder agreement includes a put-and-call option, allowing either party to adjust ownership to an equal 50/50 split and share...
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development, popularly known as GIADEC, has announced its keen interest in expanding the country’s bauxite production and enhancing its capacity in line with the growing demand for primary aluminium raw materials. In June 2024, GIADEC received approval for a mining lease from the Ghana Parliament, which is expected to turn into a crucial development in the country’s mining sector. The approval for a new mining lease will likely boost local economies and employment, depending on how the mining operations are managed and regulated. Under the approval, GIADEC has added two new hills to mine bauxite in a bid to support the government and the people of Ghana. Bauxite mining at these two new hills will ensure to meet the most significant volume that GIADEC needs...
On Monday, LME aluminium opened at US$2,344.5 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,365 per tonne and a low of US$2,326.5 per tonne before closing at US$2,362.5 per tonne, up US$21 per tonne, a 0.90 per cent increase. The LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price dwindled by US$50.5 per tonne or 2.13 per cent and US$50 per tonne or 2.11 per cent to settle at US$2,317 per tonne and US$2,318 per tonne. As per the LME price graph, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price contracted by US$55 per tonne or 2.30 per cent to dock at US$2,333 per tonne and US$2,333.50 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price declined by US$49 per tonne to peg at US$2,448 per tonne and US$2,453 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 834850 tonnes. Live...
On Sunday, September 8, a hopper filled with coal collapsed at an alumina refinery owned by Maa Kudargarhi Group in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, taking away the lives of four workers. A hopper, which is also referred to as a bunker by workers, is used to store fuel like coal or rice husk in large quantities. As per preliminary information, one such steel hopper collapsed on ten men working beneath it. Four lost lives were retrieved from the site, while the remaining six were found survived. Of them, one was critically injured and rushed to the hospital, and the five others managed to escape unharmed, said a police officer. He added the accident took place due to negligence as per the first impression. The police officer also said the deceased were from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar....
Gumei Metal, a manufacturer of a wide selection of aluminium products, was honoured with the prestigious China Green Building Materials Product Certification. The China-based company received the award for three aluminium products, achieving the highest distinction—the three-star certification. "This recognition not only highlights the superior quality of our offerings but also underscores our unwavering commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development," said Gumei Metal. The China Green Building Materials Product Certification is a program launched by the State Administration for Market Regulation in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This program aims to drive the green...
The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has recently updated its architectural grade aluminium oxide coatings specification. The revised document, AAMA 611-24, is titled "Specification for Anodized Architectural Aluminum." The document outlines the latest test procedures and requirements for architectural product coatings applied to extrusions and panels. This new version supersedes the 2020 update and is now available for purchase in the FGIA online store. The Anodized Specification Task Group, under the direction of the AMC Finishes Committee, has updated the AAMA 611-24 document. This revision includes new testing information for a corrosion resistance procedure. The updated AAMA 611-24, along with other FGIA publications, can be purchased from the FGIA online store at a...
Vedanta Limited’s demerger process has progressed further, with the company submitting its plan to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) after receiving approval from 75 per cent of its secured creditors, said Chairman Anil Agarwal. He also said the company expects to accomplish the demerge process by the end of FY204-25. The demerger will separate Vedanta’s six business units into individual entities, each focused on specific areas like aluminium, oil and gas, power, steel, and base metals. Only the existing zinc business and newly started ventures will remain under the wings of Vedanta Limited. On accomplishing the demerger, Vedanta’s shareholders will get one new share in each of the five companies, strengthening the company’s business model and economy. Also, this demerger will...
At the opening ceremony of the 2024 Global Energy Transformation Conference on September 7, Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, emphasised the need to accelerate green and low-carbon development in China. By the end of the year, key emission industries, including aluminium, steel and cement, will be integrated into the national carbon emissions trading system alongside the power industry. What is carbon trading market A national carbon trading market is a carbon pricing system that facilitates the buying and selling of carbon credits and renewable energy certificates. It aims to meet climate goals and advance climate actions in a cost-efficient manner. Adopting carbon emissions trading is a vital policy tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide,...
Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has invited Chinese business leaders to participate actively in the country's ongoing economic transformation. Speaking at the China-Ghana Business Forum in Shenzhen, the President emphasised the strong and long-standing relationship between the two nations and highlighted Ghana's vast investment opportunities. With the country aiming to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on traditional exports like gold and cocoa, President Akufo-Addo stressed that Chinese investment would be pivotal in driving this shift. He noted that China, as one of Ghana's largest trading partners, plays a key role in the country's development strategy, and the active participation of Chinese investors can significantly shape Ghana's economic future. Ghana and...
According to the Shanghai Metal Market survey (SMM), as of 9th August 2024, the week initiated a reduction in China’s A00 aluminium ingot price by RMB 50 per tonne. Today, the average aluminium price settled at RMB 19,160 per tonne, with the spot contract price likely to be traded at a discount price of RMB 20 per tonne to a premium price of RMB 20 per tonne. The average price of A00 aluminium ingot is hovering between RMB 19,140 per tonne to RMB 19,180 per tonne. The price of low-carbon aluminium has also dwindled by 53 per tonne, now standing at RMB 20,029 per tonne. High-purity aluminium (99.99%) and (99.996%) have also seen a downfall in price by RMB 100 per tonne, sticking at RMB 26,200 per tonne and RMB 27,200 per tonne, respectively. Region-wise analysis: The average price of...
On Saturday, September 7, Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation reportedly started installing the aluminium third rail replacing steel on the North-South corridors, aiming to reduce energy loss by about 84 per cent. Metro Railway has set a target of two years to complete the entire replacement project with aluminium. In addition to reducing carbon footprint, this initiative will save around INR 1 crore a year per km of the 35-km corridor. On Sunday, Metro Railway updated that it already completed the replacement of a 200-metre-long third rail, which is claimed to have superior electrical conductivity, lessening voltage drops and energy losses. On completion of the initiative, Kolkata Metro Railway will be at par with Singapore, London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul Metros, where the...
Last Friday, LME aluminium opened at US$2,384 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,394 per tonne and a low of US$2,340 per tonne, and closed at US$2,341.5 per tonne, down US$36.5 per tonne or 1.53 per cent. On Friday, September 6, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price moved up by US$2 per tonne or 0.08 per cent to clock at US$2,367.50 per tonne and US$2,368 per tonne. As per the LME graph, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price added US$7 per tonne or 0.29 per cent and US$6.5 per tonne or 0.27 per cent to settle at US$2,388 per tonne and US$2,388.50 per tonne. On the same day, December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price increased by US$4 per tonne or 0.16 per cent to dock at US$2,497 per tonne and US$2,502 per tonne. LME aluminium opening...
Globally, industrial emissions are a major contributor to air pollution, and Asia is no exception, negatively impacting both the environment and public health. China and India are the region's leading contributors to industrial emissions and are also ranked among the world's top polluting nations. These emissions release various harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). According to the World Health Organization (2023), air pollution is responsible for over 6.5 million deaths globally each year and is linked to a range of serious issues such as chronic diseases, impaired cognitive function, reduced visibility, acid rain, and climate change. Aluminium is a crucial material for many...
