
Bell Bay Aluminium (BBA), Australia's oldest aluminium smelter, is reviewing its workforce and offering redundancies for a small number of positions, just over a month after receiving an AUD 200 million (USD 137.52 million) government support package aimed at securing the facility's future until at least 2031. Up to 10 roles are understood to have been affected by the review, although the smelter is expected to retain its existing workforce of approximately 550 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Some redeployment opportunities will also be available, while the positions identified are not understood to involve frontline services. The changes reportedly include some former participants in Bell Bay Aluminium's graduate programme. Rio Tinto, which operates the smelter near George Town in...
Atlas Metals Group plc has terminated its proposed acquisition of Universal Pozzolanic Silica Alumina Ltd (UPSA), ending a transaction first announced in June 2025, as the company shifts its acquisition focus towards lithium and graphite assets in Africa and South America. The natural resources and energy company said the decision followed recent due diligence difficulties and actions by UPSA representatives that it believes materially changed the merits and viability of the transaction. Atlas Metals is also seeking to recover material amounts owed to it by UPSA. The proposed acquisition was initially announced on June 17, 2025, with the signing of a conditional share purchase agreement (SPA) disclosed on September 10, 2025. However, the company has now decided to terminate the agreement,...
Grow with
AL Circle

On 19 th April 2022, the Odisha state government stated that it will endeavour a discussion with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), one of the major coal-producing companies in India to solve the dry fuel crisis. Prafulla Kumar Mallik, the state’s minister for Steel and Mines said, “I will hold discussions with the authorities of Nalco and also the MCL and ensure that the aluminium major's production is not affected due to shortage of coal." The Indian state-owned integrated aluminium company, Nalco, whose authorities are close-mouthed over the crisis as both the mines and coal ministries are governed by one Indian Union Minister. However, several workers' unions of Nalco have awakened the trouble over the coal dearth at the Angul aluminium smelter. Concurrently, the worker's unions...

The aluminium packaging recycling organisation Alupro has made public the appointment of Martin Hyde as sustainability and public affairs manager. Hyde has remarkable experience in sustainability, legislation and environmental policy as he is joining the company from the producer compliance scheme Comply Direct Ltd. However, during his six-year tenure at Comply Direct, he was very much responsible for delivering consultancy on the packaging, waste electricals, recycling, batteries, carbon, ESG and net-zero to a diverse member portfolio. Hyde, an expert in the circular economy has an intricate understanding of policy changes such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) and the UK Plastic Tax. In his new capacity, Hyde will work closely with Tom Giddings, the...

Founded in 1981, Real Alloy is the global market leader in third-party aluminium recycling and specification alloy making. It converts aluminum scrap and by-products into reusable aluminum. Real Alloy has two plants, both in Coldwater, one on Garfield Road and another situated at Fillmore Road. Tuesday, this week, the Fillmore plant constructed in the south celebrated yet another year of zero safety incidents while the Garfield Road plant has a few more months in hand before it can rejoice for the same. The company has about 190 employees in these two firms adjoined. In spite of a spine chilling wind outside, to encourage the workers, Jim Bopp, Director of Operations and Doug Bryant, Plant Manager began grilling steaks inside a patio heated tent surrounded by all the gleeful employees...

In Cassopolis, Michigan, Hydro has begun building of a state-of-the-art aluminium recycling factory. Production will begin in 2023 with a workforce of about 70 people. The mill will produce 120,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium extrusion ingot per year once it is fully operational. A total of USD 150 million is scheduled to be invested. The Cassopolis recycling plant in Michigan will improve Hydro's capacity to deliver recycled aluminium to automakers and other businesses in the United States. Cassopolis will be the first large-scale manufacturing facility in North America for low-carbon Hydro CIRCAL extrusion ingot. “Hydro has been in business for as long as Michigan has been making cars, and this is where our infinitely recyclable aluminum really comes to life. With manufacturers...

Altech Chemicals has arranged for a particular feasibility study for its battery materials coating plant urging the company to allot US$507 million for their proposed plant in Germany. The company describes the study to be ‘outstanding’ and ‘highly positive’. Covered by Altech’s exclusive license, the plant when active will produce silicon-grade anode materials called Silumina Anodes. The company declared that this specific study has revealed that a capital investment of US$95 million would be needed to develop a 10,000 tonne per annum capacity silicon-graphite alumina coating plant in Saxony. Europe’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Market has taken shape in the past few years and with the ever-evolving market, the demand for Silumina Anodes is skyrocketing. Altech’s plan is very much dependent on...

On Thursday, April 21, Novelis, the global leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, has announced its investment plan of more than $30 million for building a new continuous annealing line at its Plettenberg-Ohle facility in Germany. As per the report, the addition of new line will increase the plant’s capacity by two-fold for aluminium used in the production of coffee capsules, enabling to meet the increased demand for sustainable packaging solutions. The choice for aluminium coffee capsules over plastic by most coffee brands is for long life and retention of fresh flavour. Thanks to aluminium’s distinctive properties, the metal offers barrier and protects the freshness and aromas of capsulated coffee from moisture. In addition, aluminium is a perfect metal for circular economy and...

The economy of Iceland rose at a steady pace but onwards 2017 decelerated its speed through 2019, crashed in 2020, and again recovered in 2021, which resulted in a five-year average annual growth rate of 2.20%. The Nordic island country has maintained strong levels of economic freedom for the past half-decade. According to OECD, the economy of Iceland is projected to grow by 5.2% in 2022 and 4% in 2023, navigated by rebounding foreign tourism and resilient exportation of goods. However, it has been notified that business investment will slow down as financial conditions are tightening and restrained projects are being terminated. A nation with impressive poverty rates, Iceland imported 6355 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles during 2019-21. Machine and equipment parts are...

According to a recent report, Emirates Global Aluminium has agreed on supplying CelestiAL solar aluminium to Mercedes-Benz parts maker Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI). The news came after the former, the world’s biggest premium aluminium producer, entered into a formal agreement with Hammerer. Rob van Gils, Chief Executive Officer of Hammerer Aluminium Industries, said: “This partnership with EGA enables us to contribute to a better future and shows that aluminium has a key role to play in achieving the European Union’s Green Deal ambitions to decarbonise manufacturing. I am personally excited that many parts of the premium SUVs which are so popular in the UAE will be produced by HAI using EGA’s UAE-made CelestiAL solar aluminium. I look forward to driving these vehicles on the UAE’s...

Sales at Alcoa Corp. fell as a result of protracted supply chain interruptions, sparking concerns that the tie-ups will diminish consumer demand for aluminium. In the first quarter, the Pittsburgh-based aluminium maker reported sales of $3.29 billion, which fell short of the $3.44 billion. Due to a dearth of available railway cars and vessels, notably in North America, the corporation reported greater levels of inventory. Rising inflation, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and China's recent recession may be causing uncertainty in the worldwide market for aluminium, which is used in everything from autos to construction to appliances. On a conference call with analysts on Wednesday, Chief Executive Roy Harvey said Russia's invasion of Ukraine has compounded the supply chain situation, making...

In March 2022, world primary aluminium production grew month-on-month by 11.23 per cent to rebound to 5.693 million tonnes, bringing the total output in the first quarter ended March 31, 2022, to 16.459 million tonnes. In February, the production stood at 5.118 million tonnes, seeing a decline of 9.38 per cent from 5.648 million tonnes in January. But despite the M-o-M hike in March 2022, world primary aluminium production in Q1 registered a quarter-on-quarter downfall of 1.07 per cent from 16.637 million tonnes to 16.459. Also, on a year-on-year calculation, the output in 1Q2022 saw a downfall of 1.95 per cent from 16.786 million tonnes. In China, the world’s leading primary aluminium producer, the output in March 2022 came in at 3.293 million tonnes, up by 11.63 per cent from 2.950...

LME aluminium opened at US$3,263 per tonne on Wednesday and closed at US$3,263 per tonne, an increase of US$11 per tonne or 0.34 per cent. On 20 th April, LME aluminium cash bid price stood at US$3,239 per tonne and LME aluminium official settlement price halted at US$3,240. The former recorded a fall of 2.14 per cent or US$71 per tonne and the latter decreased by US$72 per tonne or 2.17 per cent. 3-month bid price stood at US$3,248 facing a downswing of 2.31 per cent or US$77 and 3-month offer price came in at US$3,250 per tonne falling by US$76 per tonne or 2.28 per cent. On the same day, December 23 bid price settled at US$3,095 per tonne and December 23 offer price at US$3,100. The bid price witnessed a decline of 2.46 per cent or US$78 per tonne, the official price too had the same...

Air One, the world’s first “fully operational ‘pop up’ urban airport” designed by aviation and aerospace manufacturing company Urban-Air Port is ready to stage flights in Coventry, UK. The 17,000 square feet airport consists of a runway for electric flying cars and large drones along with charging portals installed for future electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) aircraft. Located in the centre of Coventry in the West Midlands, Air One was constructed from aluminium and steel wrapped in a tensile translucent fabric. The airport will be inaugurated this month on 25 th April by launching the first cargo drone into the atmosphere while flying cars with passengers can’t take off until 2025. Founder and chief executive officer of Urban-Air Port, Ricky Sandhu told Denzeen Magazine: "We...

Over the preceding three weeks, the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) has collected a total of US$125,508 in donated bottles and aluminium cans with the help of residents around the state to aid Ukrainians in need via Oregon's Bottle Bill. The event took place from March 21 through April 10. Residents donated US$75,508 worth of Oregon bottles and aluminium cans at a 10-cent redemption rate, with the balance matched by the OBRC. The OBRC, which runs the Bottle Drop network, urged Oregonians to donate the value of their 10-cent redeemable bottles and cans to Mercy Corps' Ukraine Fund. Mercy Corp., a relief organisation located in Portland, Oregon, will receive the cash for its aid activities in Ukraine, Poland, and Romania. The funds will go toward assisting refugees in obtaining...

The Australian exploration and mining company, Metro Mining, which is based in Brisbane, Queensland functionalizing its flagship project, the Bauxite Hills Mine has re-established and drawn down a short term bridge loan with Greenstone Resources, a private equity fund specialising in the mining and metals sector and Lambhill. A bridge loan is a financial arrangement where the borrower can get access to Short Term Loan (STL) to meet short-term liquidity requirements. Metro’s $5 million loans are based on the same terms as it was catered to in January 2022. The loan was drawn up but not taken up at the time. However, Greenstone Resources and Lambhill are the related parties. The unsecured loan has a term of 6 months at a rate of interest of 14%. Metro Mining stated, “We have decided to...

Anheuser-Busch, a St. Louis-based brewer and beverage maker, has created a "multi-sports league partnership aimed at reducing waste on game day" with Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) teams. According to the beverage corporation, the National Recycling League will use the size and reach of the brewer's professional sports teams and league affiliations to enhance how the beverage industry promotes recycling. “At Anheuser-Busch, we approach everything we do – including sustainability – with an innovation mindset so that we can create an outsized impact. Through the National Recycling League, we are thrilled to bring together our team partners and sports fans to work towards a shared dream of a future with less game day waste and more cheers,” said Brendan...

Vedanta Limited has hiked its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices on Tuesday, April 20, in response to the LME aluminium price growth. Vedanta has raised its aluminium ingot price by INR 6,500 per tonne or 2.30 per cent to INR 288,750-336,250 per tonne as against the increase of INR 1,250 per tonne to INR 282,250- 329,750 per tonne on April 15. Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price has also been grown by INR 6,500 per tonne on April 20 from INR 289750- 297250 per tonne to INR 296,250-303,750 per tonne. Aluminium billet price has experienced no exception but a hike of the same amount to INR 296,750 per tonne. On April 15, Vedanta’s aluminium billet price came in at INR 290,250 per tonne, up by INR 1,250 per tonne from the previous day. Vedanta Limited links its aluminium products...

The urge to use sustainable products is systemically increasing in the consumers and according to a 2017 survey initiated by Harris Poll, 69% of women between the age group 35 to 53 opted for green beauty products when asked to choose. From production to packaging of ingredients, companies are looking for ways to achieve the consumer demand and when it comes to packaging, the future of sustainability depends on two main practices: innovative use of mono-materials and the creation of a closed-loop applying recyclable packaging solutions. A material similar in characteristics to everything stated above is aluminium which has the widest recycling chain today. Though aluminium is extremely durable, it can be infinitely recycled keeping the inherent properties intact. The recycling of this...

Mostly known for their vanadium and gold, an Australian mining company King River Resources is attempting to divert avenues towards high purity alumina or ‘HPA’ space, exploring their addition to the Department of Science, Energy and Resources’ Critical Minerals list. The ASX registered high purity alumina plant by King River Resources will have to submit a comprehensive feasibility assessment for the proposed 2,000 tonnes per annum HPA production plant in May 2022 whereas global HPA demand is estimated to rise by 30% annually till 2028 serving the needs of LED lighting, semiconductor and electronics, optical and battery industries. The requirement for HPA will heighten steered by its essential role in the manufacture of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Lithium-ion batteries. The global...