The US aluminum trihydrate market strengthened in September 2026 as downstream procurement, rising overseas production costs, and shipping bottlenecks supported prices. In contrast, Bosnia’s market faced a quarterly correction as European buyers drew on accumulated inventories and lower caustic soda costs eased manufacturing pressures, highlighting diverging regional price trends. US aluminum trihydrate market gains on demand and supply constraints US aluminum trihydrate prices increased 2.38% month over month in September, supported by purchases from wire and cable manufacturers, electrical infrastructure compounders, and electric vehicle (EV) component producers. Demand remained particularly resilient for applications involving low-smoke cable compounds and flame-retardant materials....
China-based China Aluminum International Engineering Co., Ltd. (CHALIECO) has won a bid for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract valued at approximately USD 833 million for a proposed alumina project in Vietnam, adding to investment activity in the country’s mineral processing sector. The project, being developed by Binh Phuoc Ore Mining and Beneficiation Joint Stock Company, is designed to process 2.4 million tonnes of alumina annually. The proposed contract is valued at around CNY 5.595 billion (USD 839.04 million), with completion expected within 27 months of the contract’s effective date. CHALIECO to oversee turnkey refinery development Under the proposed turnkey arrangement, CHALIECO’s responsibilities will cover the full project delivery process, from...
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Alcoa welcomes the Environment Minister's announcement today to amend the Wagerup refinery's environmental licence to increase the refinery's annual production limit from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes a year. This is not an expansion of the refinery. An increase in the production limit by 50,000 tonnes a year will result in very little change to the plant and to the local area. The refinery's daily production limit of 8400 tonnes per day, which the business is yet to produce, will not change. Alcoa's General Manager WA Operations Simon Butterworth said the licence change recognises improvements in production efficiency at Wagerup and Alcoa's ongoing efforts to further reduce emissions from what is already one of the cleanest alumina refineries in the world. "As we run the plant more...
The opposition has raised concerns about recent developments in Government's efforts to dispose of over US$400 million ($30 billion) in debt triggered by the 2004/05 alumina forward-sale agreement with global metals and energy trader Glencore International. Opposition spokesman on finance, planning, growth, and economic development, Audley Shaw told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that his party is concerned about a number of issues emanating from recent reports on Government's efforts to tidy up the deal, including a one-to-one debt exchange of principal being offered to Clarendon Alumina Partners (CAP) noteholders by the Government; a reported contract with Hong Kong-based Noble Resources for the sale of CAP's alumina; and Glencore filing a claim against CAP in London for trading with...
China imported 230,000 mt of alumina in July, surging 156% MoM, but down 50% YoY. YTD imports through July totaled 1.88 million mt, a drop of 36% YoY, according to China Customs. Imported alumina lost its price appeal over domestic materials and supply of domestic alumina increased, leading Chinese aluminum producers to scale back imports. FOB prices of Australian alumina have been falling since May, with the average monthly price down to USD 318.4/mt in July. The price, though higher than USD 309/mt in the same period last year, was the lowest level since September 2012. SMM’s survey has found that some Chinese alumina traders have decided to step up alumina imports later this year since there will be limited room for domestic alumina prices to fall any further and current Australian...
In Q2 2013, Vale's bauxite extraction was 2.8% higher than in Q2 2012 and 6.0% higher than in Q1 2013 as a result of increased alumina production. Alumina production increased 8.5% against Q2 2012 which experienced processing issues and slightly decreased against Q1 2013. Internal consumption of alumina amounted to 121 kilo tonne (an increase of 0.8% on Q2 2012 and 1.7% on Q1 2013) representing 29.7% of total alumina production and consistent with the aluminium smelter running at its full 250 kilo tonne per annum capacity. Primary aluminium production in Q2 2013 was 63 kilo tonne an increase of 1.6% on Q2 2012 and 3.3% on Q1 2013. Electricity generation in Q2 2013 increased 4.3% on Q2 2012 and decreased 17.6% on Q1 2013 reflecting seasonal demand. Supply of electricity to other Group...
State-owned diversified miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) is seeking partners for the development of a processing plant to convert bauxite into smelter grade alumina (SGA). Antam president director Tato Miraza said the company sought a maximum of two partners for the project, which will be located in Mempawah, West Kalimantan. “We seek partners to hold around 30 to 35 percent ownership in the project,” Tato said. According to Tato, Antam is currently assessing a number of bidders or investors from various countries, such as China, Russia, Japan, the United States and some others from the Middle East. The SGA plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million metric tons of alumina. Antam has finalized feasibility studies for the project and is expecting to kick off plant...
The future of the Gove alumina refinery is again in doubt following the announcement by mining giant Rio Tinto that it is reintegrating its subsidiary Pacific Aluminium in the parent company because it could not sell it for a good price. The Northern Territory Government says it believes the move will not have an impact on continuing negotiations for a new gas supply deal to keep the refinery operating but Rio Tinto has not commented on the future of the talks. Pacific Aluminium is made up of several assets, including the Gove alumina refinery and bauxite mine near Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land. It was first set up as a separate company by Rio Tinto in October 2011 with the intention it would be sold. At the time, Rio Tinto said it wanted to sell 13 aluminium units worldwide, including...
Glencore is suing a Jamaican state-owned company after it awarded a lucrative contract to one of the trader’s rivals. Clarendon Alumina Production, which is owned by the Jamaican government, in June awarded a 12-year alumina supply deal to Hong Kong-based Noble Group, unseating Glencore from a trading relationship it had held for decades. The London-listed trading house responded last month by commencing legal action in Jamaican and English courts seeking to restrict CAP’s deliveries to Noble, according to a filing last week at the US Securities and Exchange Commission by the Jamaican government. Glencore alleges that the deal with Noble will prevent CAP from delivering alumina it still owes to Glencore, according to the filing. Jamaica has the world’s fifth-largest reserves of bauxite,...
Former Northern Territory Chief Minister Terry Mills says his successor is risking the Territory's future energy supply by reneging on the gas to Gove deal. Chief Minister Adam Giles last month halved the previous offer of gas to Rio Tinto subsidiary Pacific Aluminium, which operates the Gove alumina refinery. He said the original posed a $3.2 billion risk to Territory finances. Mr Mills says that view is short-sighted because the original deal was designed to encourage the discovery of other gas sources that would be needed beyond 2032. "When we start putting out ideas and scaring people with the worst possible scenario, and basing that as fact and then working from there, we end up dividing the Territory," he said. "Gove is seen as a threat to all of us, when what our real threat is...
Orbite Aluminae Inc. today announced two changes to its senior management team. Effective today, the Company has abolished the position of Vice President Corporate Development, which was held by Marc Johnson and the position of Vice President Sustainability, which was held by Guy-Louis Boucher. "I'd like to thank Marc and Guy-Louis for their hard work and dedication," said Glenn Kelly, Orbite's Chief Operating Officer. "We have undertaken these changes as part of our mandate to build a new Orbite that is more capital efficient and focused on achieving its short term goals, notably the finalization of our HPA facility."
Residents who have campaigned against a south-west Western Australian alumina refinery say a decision to allow the facility to increase production is "another nail in the coffin" for the town of Yarloop. Environment Minister Albert Jacob has dismissed appeals against Alcoa's application to increase production at its Wagerup refinery by 50,000 tonnes a year. Mr Jacob's decision will require Alcoa to publish results of its odour and air monitoring. However, Vince Poccia from the Community Alliance for Positive Solutions says the decision is deeply concerning because of potential health effects. "Well the health impacts will increase as everything else will," he said. "As I said, the more production there is, the more pollution there is." Matt Granger from the Bunbury-Wellington Economic...
Alcoa has been given the go ahead for a planned production increase at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, despite the health fears of local residents. Nine appeals were lodged against the upgrade of the plant, with residents in the nearby towns of Yarloop and Waroona saying odour and dust emissions from the refinery were a major health worry. But WA environment minister Albert Jacob has dismissed the appeals saying the company had put in place "significant measures'' to emissions would not increase. "Alcoa will also be required to publish the results of its odour and air monitoring on its website to give the community access to the information,'' Mr Jacob said. Mr Jacob said he had also dismissed appeals against the reissuing of a licence for Alcoa's cogeneration power...
Pacific Aluminium knew early last month about the new gas supply offer - and didn't tell its workers. The company acted as though surprised and disappointed by Chief Minister Adam Giles' announcement of a dual fuel plan on Friday. It did not mention any uncertainty over gas in its community engagement meeting on July 16. But the NT News has seen a letter from Federal Resources Minister Gary Gray's office - dated July 9 - that states discussions had been taking place with both Pacific Aluminium and Eni on the dual fuel approach. Mr Giles said Pacific Aluminium had taken part in the decision-making process on the dual fuel option. NT Minerals Council executive director Drew Wagner said the revised offer of gas to Gove had damaged trust in the Territory Government and may affect future...
Jamaica this week exported its first alumina shipment under a new agreement between Clarendon Alumina Production Limited (CAP) and international supply chain manager, Noble Resources Limited. The shipment left from Rocky Point in Clarendon on Wednesday. Noble Resources Limited is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and is Asia’s largest diversified commodities trading company. In a statement today, the energy minister Phillip Paulwell said the agreement negotiated with Noble provides for more beneficial alumina offtake and financing contracts. He also said the deal provides the opportunity to finalise new investor relations including an energy solution for the JAMALCO plant. Before signing the agreement with Noble, the Government was exploring ways to help the recovery of the alumina...
Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) has begun moves to get a dedicated power plant, energy Minister Emmanuel Buah has revealed. The Tema-based alumina smelter, now wholly owned by the Government of Ghana, largely relies on power from the Akosombo Dam for its operations. Its humongous power needs has been a source of rift between the company and state power producer Volta River Authority. A recent World Bank report suggested VALCO be shut down because it is draining the country’s energy sector. VALCO has been shut down a couple of times in the past due to energy supply difficulties. It was closed down completely in May 2003 due to problems in negotiating electricity supply with the VRA. It reopened in early 2006. Again, it was shut down between 2007 and 2011 over similar concerns. The 200,000...
The project monitoring group of the Cabinet secretariat will scrutinize the progress of 22 large projects in Odisha across sectors like coal, mining, steel, petrochemicals, Railways and power on Friday. A 10-member team led by Anil Swaroop, additional secretary, Cabinet secretariat, will negotiate with the Odisha chief secretary and other concerned officials on problems impeding the progress of these projects. The meet is aimed at fast tracking approvals and clearances in respect of these projects. The projects to be reviewed include the refinery proposed by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), steel projects of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and Monnet Ispat & Energy, the alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) and an aluminium smelter of Aditya Aluminium Ltd to name a few. “The Cabinet...
The Government of Jamaica announced today that it has commenced an offer to exchange with Eligible Holders of the 8.50% amortizing notes due 2021 issued by Clarendon Alumina Production Limited and guaranteed by Jamaica. Jamaica is offering to exchange any and all CAP Notes held by such Eligible Holders for 8.50% amortizing notes due 2021 to be issued by Jamaica . In conjunction with the Exchange Offer, CAP announced today that it has commenced a solicitation of consents to amend certain provisions of the fiscal agency agreement under which the CAP Notes were issued, which will have the effect of eliminating certain covenants, change of control restrictions and events of default contained in the CAP Fiscal Agency Agreement that afford protection to the holders of the CAP Notes. The...
Global Alumina Corporation, announced today that it has settled all of its debts and provided for all of its obligations and has forwarded US$31,021,884.60 of the remaining proceeds relating to the sale of the Guinean refinery project to Computershare Trust Company of Canada, its transfer agent, for distribution to shareholders. The Proceeds represent approximately US$0.169 per share, based upon 183,331,495 shares issued and outstanding, and is at the upper end of the range discussed in the management information circular of the Company dated May 31, 2013. The Proceeds will be distributed by Computershare as a return of capital to registered shareholders of record as of July 12, 2013. Non-registered shareholders holding shares beneficially through a broker or dealer should contact their...
For at least five years now, a tribe in India’s eastern state of Odisha has being steadfastly opposing the mining of bauxite by Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), a unit of the multinational Vedanta Resources run by billionaire Anil Agarwal. The opposition has been so fervent that the 1-million-ton-per-year plant had to shut down and remain closed for seven months at a stretch after it ran out of bauxite. A few days ago, the plant came back online, but the tribe, the Dongria Kondhs, whose welfare rights are protected by the Indian Constitution, remains resolute. It seems to be in no mood to relent or accede to the need of VAL to mine bauxite from their land situated in Kalahandi, a district that once became infamous throughout India for its extreme poverty levels and starvation deaths. At...
