National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is advancing its INR 30,000 crore or INR 300 billion (USD 3.18 billion) aluminium smelter expansion project at Anugola or Angul, Odisha, which is expected to more than double its existing smelting capacity from 460,000 tonnes per annum to approximately 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The Navratna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Mines has secured key statutory approvals and initiated partnerships and preparatory measures for the project, which is targeted to begin operations in 2030-31. A recent meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) focused on facilitating land acquisition for the proposed facility and addressing associated compensation and rehabilitation matters. Explore the...
Impact Minerals has proposed changing its corporate name to Altrica Advanced Materials as it sharpens its focus on high-purity alumina (HPA) development. The proposed rebranding reflects the company's strategic shift towards its 80 per cent-owned Lake Hope project in Western Australia, which has become its principal priority for management attention and development capital. The name change will require shareholder approval through a special resolution at the company's annual general meeting scheduled for November 30, 2026. The proposal follows an October strategic review that established a clearer direction for the company's HPA activities while separating them from its earlier focus on precious and base metals exploration. Lake Hope remains central to HPA development strategy The Lake...
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The diversified miner and metal producer, South32, has maintained its outlook for a few commodities over the longer term, despite the decrease in base metal prices. Following the company's annual general meeting (AGM), Graham Kerr, the CEO, said, "In the company's longer-term, commodities such as copper, nickel, zinc and silver would pursue to play an essential role in decarbonising the world." "That demand will be super strong, and the reality is that supply over the last five or six years has been shrinking, and there has been a severe lack of investment and exploration. So we will see higher prices in the long-term, which will make the industry very attractive." Regarding South32’s outlook on further acquisitions in the base metals sector, Kerr pointed out that there were few...
Globally acclaimed portable espresso maker, Wacaco Company Ltd, is about to introduce its second generation of the well-received Minipresso NS capsule espresso machine. These models are compatible with all kinds of Nespresso Original Capsules. Nespresso Capsules are usually comprised of aluminium, and NS2 is keen on producing aluminium coffee pods. Anyhow, aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and its usage cuts down the ratio of carbon footprint left on the planet. Minipresso NS2 is user-friendly and uses high-end technology to brew the perfect cup of coffee every day. The machine is completely manually operated without any battery or electricity. The machines are made of wheat-composed polymers, which are also a sustainable material. This entire design focuses on improved user experience....
AMAG Austria Metall AG, the biggest company in the Austrian Aluminium industry sector, announced a positive third quarter, with sales and profitability showing significant Y-o-Y growth. In the company's history, this was the first time an operational result (EBITDA) of over EUR 200 million was produced. In the first three quarters of 2022, AMAG group's revenue surged by 47 per cent to EUR 1,353.9 million, from EUR 923.8 million recorded between Q1 to Q3 in 2021. The main reason behind this increment can be credited to higher aluminium prices, price changes brought on by rising costs and product mix optimisation. Total sales were marginally higher than the same period in the previous year (Q1–Q3/2021: 337,800 tonnes), coming in at 341,500 tonnes. "Despite numerous challenges, we have...
In March, Apple Inc. announced its first trial application of carbon-free aluminium smelting for the aluminium used in the iPhone SE 2022 and presently, low-carbon aluminium is applied in the production of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple elucidates that increasing the device's energy efficiency can significantly shrink the carbon emissions generated during its use. The M1 chip, for example, is said to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 34 per cent due to low power requirements per watt. On October 25, 2022, Apple Inc. stated it would go for new investments to build European solar and wind projects. The world-famous consumer electronics house advised its suppliers and traders to reduce the carbon content to zero in operations linked to manufacturing iPhones and other products. With...
Researchers from the Sheffield Titanium Alloy Research (STAR) group joined hands with ECKART GmbH, Schluechtern, Germany, to convert surplus aluminium alloy powders from atomisation into sheet material in two solid-state steps for aerospace use. The STAR group is part of the University of Sheffield. The project was led by Dr Simon Graham, a research associate at Sheffield University. The research aimed to transform excess aluminium alloy powders from atomisation into sheet material in two solid-state processes using field-aided sintering technology (FAST) and hot rolling. The A20X alloy powder utilised by the researchers came from Eckart. The as-atomised particle size range is frequently disregarded as a problem, although Metal additive manufacturing (AM) processes are typically...
Bravo Sierra produces world-class body care products specially crafted for military families and veterans. Recently, they've released body washes in 16-ounce aluminium wash bottles with assorted pumps, suitable for reuse. Once the seal is broken, the user can insert the pump and use the recyclable aluminium can for eternity. These Bravo Sierra body washes are mainly available in two different flavours; one is Citrus and Cedarwood, and the other is White Vetiver and Cedarwood. The names indicate that each fragrance will have an earthy undertone, which men very much prefer. The entire scheme might look excessively flashy, but there are valid reasons for this sudden swap from single-use bottles to an entirely refillable spectrum. Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and recycled aluminium...
In protest over stalled pay negotiations, Rio Tinto workers at the Gove bauxite mining operation have planned to take industrial action. According to the union, workers have not been paid a raise in three years as the company has put off talks on a new enterprise agreement. Lloyd Pumpa, the United Workers union organiser, said, "All our members in Gove wanted out of this bargaining process was a few clauses tidied up and a reasonable wage increase afforded to them, at a mine which has constantly met or exceeded production targets for years." "Workers are completely fed up with the blown-out process”, Pumpa added. Pumpa said that protected industrial action across Gove operations was now ‘imminent’. Gove Operations in Australia’s Northern Territory has been supplying the global aluminium...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,222 per tonne on Wednesday, with its high and low at US$2,343.5 per tonne and $2,217.5 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,330 per tonne, an increase of US$115 per tonne or 5.19 per cent. On Wednesday, October 26, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price soared up by US$95 per tonne or 4.37 per cent to settle at US$2,265 per tonne and US$2,265.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price surged by US$70 per tonne or 3.19 per cent to halt at US$2,260 per tonne and US$2,262 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price were hiked by US$60 per tonne or 2.64 per cent and 2.63 per cent to peg at US$2,332 per tonne and US$2,337 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock closed at 574075 tonnes....
As a result of a geopolitical crisis between Ukraine and Russia, Russia has been subjected to numerous EU restrictions since February 2022. Our source from Europe unveiled that during the nine months of the crisis, the government in the Hague issued 91 decisions exempting individual entities from sanctions. There is often a benefit to more than one company from every decision made. Dutch ministries carry out the lifting of sanctions. 34 Russian ships carrying aluminium, among other things, were allowed to dock at Dutch ports by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Resources. A total of 25 permits were issued by the Ministry of Economy and Climate to Dutch firms working with former Gazprom companies owned by the German company SEFE Energy. Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Trade...
On Thursday, October 20, aluminium billet inventories in China witnessed a downfall for two consecutive weeks. As per the data, the inventories plunged by 25,700 tonnes or 26.33 per cent to close at 71,900 tonnes. All five of the major regions witnessed a decline. Due to smelters in Yunnan reducing their output, shipping from Yunnan to Guangdong decreased. Arrivals were unreliable because of logistical problems brought on by the epidemic. The arrivals will rebound, and the inventory will expand once the epidemic is controlled. The figure below provides further information on the current state of aluminium billet inventories in China: As per the data, inventory in Foshan dropped by 16,300 tonnes W-o-W to reside at 51,200 tonnes. On the same day in Wuxi, a drop of 4,800 tonnes or 45.28 per...
The Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy giant Norsk Hydro reported an adjusted EBIDTA of NOK9,721 million in 3Q2022, a growth of 34.65 per cent from NOK7,219 million recorded for the same period last year, resulting in a 12-month rolling Adjusted RoaCE of 27 per cent. Earnings were positively affected by higher all-in metal and alumina prices, CO2 compensation, and favourable currency effects but were partially offset by advanced upstream fixed and raw material costs. However, on a Q-o-Q calculation, Hydro's adjusted EBIDTA recorded a decline of 16.15 per cent from NOK11,594 million in 2Q2022. "Hydro is delivering strong financial results, while continuing to make good progress on our strategic agenda. This, combined with our long-term stable access to raw materials and energy, forms...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, Africa’s primary aluminium production stood at 136,000 tonnes in September 2022, registering a downfall of 3.55 per cent or 5,000 tonnes from 141,000 tonnes in August. However, on a year-on-year basis, the output edged 4,000 tonnes or 3.03 per cent higher than 132,000 tonnes. During the third quarter of the year, the consolidated output of primary aluminium in Africa summed at 416,000 tonnes, up by 2.72 per cent from 405,000 tonnes in Q2 2022 and 3.23 per cent more than 403,000 tonnes in Q3 2021. In the entire nine months of 2022, Africa’s primary aluminium production totalled 1.218 million tonnes versus 1.184 million tonnes during the same period last year. That reflected a year-on-year increase of 2.87 per cent. Africa’s daily average...
A Dutch Enterprise, Savage Rivale, has recently revealed their Coastrunner EV, which has been modelled to reinstate the Mini Moke and Meyer Manx models in a brand new all-electric version. The Coastrunner EV flaunts an aluminium space-frame chassis, which supports the car’s structure. As sources claim, this open-air beach buggy has been constructed on an aluminium space-frame chassis with an auxiliary steel roll cage and protection bars. The car has no doors and has a four-person capacity. The top of the car has been created out of fabric and is flexible. An aluminium space frame is created out of extruded aluminium sections, aluminium sheets, and vacuum die-cast components of various thicknesses and lengths. Extremely upgraded technology is required to fabricate an aluminium body frame...
In the current fiscal year, the Jamaican Government estimates the value of mining and processing earnings from bauxite and alumina to be $507 million (JMD$77 billion), seven per cent more than the fiscal year 2020-2021. Jamalco is expected to reopen its operations in August 2022. The US and European sanctions linked to the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis are again eyeing UC Rusal. This Russian aluminium conglomerate owns a major share of local alumina production, Windalco. Jamaica's mining and quarrying industry contracted by 62.5 per cent last year due to the fire that closed the Jamaica Alumina Company (Jamalco) plant in August 2021. Russian aluminium imports were expected to rebound, but now the US is considering restrictions. Other companies, such as US producer Alcoa, lobby for...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has slightly cut its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices compared to the previous slash last week, October 19. This week, Nalco has reduced its aluminium ingot price by only INR 1,400 per tonne or 0.7 per cent to INR 210,450-213,950 per tonne as of October 26. NALCO’s aluminium wire rod price has also seen a cut of INR 1,400 per tonne to stand at INR 213,950- 218,300 per tonne on October 26 versus INR 215,350-219,700 per tonne on October 19. Aluminium billets price is currently ranging between INR 214,900- 217,550 per tonne, with effect from October 26, as against INR 216,300-218,950 per tonne last week. Like other Indian aluminium giants, NALCO links its aluminium prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal...
On Tuesday, October 25, state senators of Nebraska, Curt Friesen and Steve Halloran, updated the Hall County Board of Commissioners on the ongoing aluminium crisis. The scarcity of aluminium can be linked to the problems in the supply chains brought on by the pandemic, which is causing difficulties in producing new license plates. Nebraska is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States and, as per the reports, was expected to receive new license plates in the coming years. Senator Friesen discussed how they opted to deal with the shortages, which ultimately required that 13 counties not receive all their plates at once. He claims that a staged method would now be used to distribute each letter series, which is the best mitigating strategy they examined. "There is about 400,000...
Altech Chemicals Limited has chosen leading German company Leadec Automation & Engineering GmbH (Leadec) as the primary engineer to conduct the Definitive Feasibility Study for its CERENERGY(R) 100MWh Sodium Alumina Solid State Battery project enabling grid energy storage. The project is presently being hoisted in Saxony, Germany. Leadec is a German maestro that can provide specialised services for factories throughout their entire running phase, emphasising more on the unit's infrastructure. For the last six decades, this German service provider has been assisting its customers in the production sector by looking after a factory's work plan, installation and automation-related issues. Various OEMs, suppliers in the arena of battery production and people from the e-mobility sector depend...
On October 25, 2022, International Materials LLC (IMI), the dry commodity trading company sourcing and shipping raw materials globally, like bauxite, among others, announced the appointment of Michael R. Kirby as Chief Financial Officer, w.e.f. October 31, 2022. Kirby will succeed Dan O’Bryon, who stepped down from his position after seven years of service to IMI. Michael Kirby brings over 25 years of experience across the financial services, commodities, banking, and technology industries. He was in the U.S., London, and Hong Kong while holding Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer positions within Noble Group, James Alpha Liquid GSE, and RBS Sempra Commodities. However, he successfully led the divestment of four Noble Group businesses at Noble, three of which generated...
