Rio Tinto and Rondo Energy have commenced front-end engineering and design for a 30 MW/360 MWh thermal energy storage project at the Yarwun alumina refinery near Gladstone, Queensland, marking a potential milestone in the use of heat batteries to reduce emissions from alumina refining. The Rondo Heat Battery will store energy as high-temperature heat in refractory bricks and supply continuous process heat to support Rio Tinto’s alumina refining operations. If progressed, the project would be one of the first large-scale demonstrations of thermal energy storage for industrial process heat globally and a world-first for the alumina industry. Heat batteries target round-the-clock industrial demand Australia regularly experiences four to six hours of surplus solar-generated renewable...
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin are testing a new type of concrete made using red mud, a residue from alumina refining. The project, supported by Enterprise Ireland and carried out with Gannon Eco and McGrath Quarries, has progressed from laboratory research to trials using industrial batching equipment. The university reported on 22 October that the geopolymer concrete formulations reduced the carbon footprint by 67.8–79.8 per cent against a CEM II-A/L cement reference. The comparison included raw material supply, transport and manufacturing. To know the futuristic market and value proposition of red mud, explore the report " A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource Recovery and Strategic Recommendations " Laboratory tests also found that the...
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The Government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison has prohibited sale to Russia for alumina, bauxite and other commodities used as raw materials in the production of aluminium in retaliation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On 20 th March 2022, Morrison also declared that Australia would donate coal and further military amenities to Ukraine incorporating a new aid package that also comprises $30 million in emergency humanitarian assistance. The Prime Minister stressed himself by quoting, “Russia must pay a very high price for its brutality. It must pay that price economically. It must pay the price in diplomatic terms as well.” The alumina and aluminium ore export ban targets to impact aluminium production in Russia, which generally depends on Australia for 20% of alumina....
The government of Australia has sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska with business interests in Australia, following initially getting them off of Australia's official sanctions list. Oleg Deripaska was the President and controlling shareholder of En+ Group and the Russian aluminium giant Rusal, which holds a 20% stake in the Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) refinery in Gladstone, one of the largest alumina refineries in the world by production capacity. The Russian billionaire and industrialist, Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, a Ukrainian born, Russian oligarch and billionaire businessman’s name have been added to Australia's official sanctions list along with 20 Russian businesses, as part of the federal government's counter-response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However,...
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has awarded up to $579,786 in funding to Rio Tinto on behalf of the Australian government to conduct a feasibility study looking at the possibility of partially decarbonizing its alumina refining processes using renewable hydrogen. Natural gas is used in traditional alumina refining to generate the high temperatures required in the calcination process. Rio Tinto's Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland, will look into the technical implications of replacing natural gas with renewable hydrogen. The outcome of the study will be used to determine the viability of a possible demonstration project to validate the findings. The $1.2 million research will be shared into two work packages, each sponsored equally by ARENA and Rio Tinto: At...
The week had been a quite eventful one, owing to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. As a knock-on effect from the war, a lot of changes had been taking place in the alumina industry. To begin with, Irish government has been petitioned to prohibit all Russia ships from entering the Irish territorial waters. Apart from this, Rio Tinto, the world's second-largest metals and mining firm, has begun a critical evaluation of its partnership agreement with Rusal, the Russian aluminium behemoth, for a Queensland venture, as it seeks to break any economic ties with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Also, the alumina output in China for February 2022 stood at 5.47 million tonnes, reflecting a downfall of 15.85% month-on-month. The Ireland government has been petitioned to disallow all...
The Russian billionaire industrialist and oligarch Oleg Deripaska, the founder of Russian aluminium giant Rusal and his company, which owns the largest alumina refinery of Europe, Auginish Alumina in Limerick has been sanctioned by the UK government. The sanctions undertake an asset freeze, a travel ban and a prohibition on British firms and individuals from dealing with Deripaska’s businesses. The most technologically advanced and energy-efficient facility in the world of an alumina refinery, Auginish Alumina located near Foynes on the Shannon Estuary, employs 450 people at the refinery including a port. It was claimed that Deripaska has close ties to the British establishment as reported to €2.4 billion and a large property portfolio in London.
As part of the commitment to become carbon neutral by 2050, Hydro has reportedly brought in a change in the use of energy by inaugurating the operation of a new electric boiler, equipped with more modern technology and greater capacity, at its Alunorte alumina refinery. The boiler will be able to cut carbon emissions by 100,000 tonnes per year, with steam generation capacity of about 95 tonnes per hour, consuming 60 megawatts. The installation of a new electric boiler has costed Hydro BRL 42 million and taken about 20 month time. Initially, the boiler will operate with energy purchased from the market. Hydro is also studying the addition of two more electric boilers, expected to start operating in 2024. Carlos Neves, Hydro’s director of operations for Bauxite & Alumina in Brazil, said:...
The United States alumina imports in the fourth quarter of 2021 recorded a Q-o-Q rise of 22.32 per cent to 411,000 tonnes, unlike bauxite imports which fell during the said period by 11 per cent, found the USGS data. In Q3 2021, the United States imported 336,000 tonnes of alumina, which was, however, down by 12.27 per cent from 383,000 tonnes in Q2. On a year-on-year calculation, the United States alumina imports in Q4 2021 stood 30.89 per cent higher than 314,000 tonnes. But the United States alumina imports in the second half of the year edged 6.51 per cent downfall from 799,000 tonnes in H1 to 747,000 tonnes. But compared to H2 2020, the imports during the same period this year registered an increase of 19.33 per cent from 626,000 tonnes. In full-year 2021, the United States alumina...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, alumina production in China during February 2022 (28 calendar days) stood at 5.47 million tonnes versus 6.5 million tonnes in January (31 calendar days). That reflected a downfall of 15.85 per cent month-on-month. The output of metallurgical-grade alumina stood at 5.27 million tonnes in February compared to 6.28 million tonnes a month ago. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average daily output of metallurgical-grade alumina in February 2022 stood at 188,000 tonnes. Impact on the roasting capacity of alumina refineries in Shandong due to heating season policy and strict environmental protection was one of the primary reasons for the decline in alumina output during February. In Shanxi, alumina output decreased by 21 per cent...
The world's second-largest metals and mining company, Rio Tinto, has initiated a crucial review of its partnership agreement with Rusal, the Russian aluminium giant for Queensland venture as it looks to cut off all business cords with Russia due to its invasion in Ukraine. On 10 th March 2022, Rio Tinto stated in the present day high-profile corporate withdrawal from Russia, “We are in the process of terminating all commercial relationships that we have with any Russian business.” This announcement has intensified the concerns in regards to the future of Rio Tinto’s majority-owned Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) in Gladstone, one of the biggest alumina refineries operational in Australia, where Rusal holds a 20% stake. As per industry source, the partnership agreement between Rio Tinto...
In South America, alumina production in January 2022 stood at 995,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month downfall of 9,000 tonnes or 0.90 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute data. In December 2021, alumina output stood in South America came in at 1,004,000 tonnes, up by 6.24 per cent from 945,000 tonnes in November. In the fourth quarter of 2021, alumina production in South America amounted to 2.934 million tonnes, 3.67 per cent higher than 2.830 million tonnes in Q3 but 2.52 per cent less than 3.010 million tonnes in Q4 2020. On a year-on-year basis, South America’s alumina production in January 2022 recorded a decrease of 6.92 per cent from 1.069 million tonnes. In full-year 2021, alumina output in South America totalled 12.111 million tonnes, up by 2.81 per cent from...
On Tuesday, March 8, Altech Chemicals Limited, a speciality aluminium technology and production company stated that they have started working on its proposed US$144 million listed green bond offering. For this, they have joined hands with UK-based structuring agent Bedford Row Capital Plc and Australian business Bluemount Capital. The main aim of this collaboration is to support the development of its much anticipated high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant in Malaysia. Careful examination of the financial, legal, environmental, social and governance (ESG) components of the project has been finished. Also, legal counsel from numerous nations has concluded their reviews of the content. After an initial bond offering "reach out" phase to potential subscribers, more than 80 businesses...
On Monday, March 7, Glencore, a multinational commodity trading and mining company has decided to supply alumina to Aluminium Dunkerque, in return for which the former will be selling a portion of its aluminium output to the latter. This decision has been taken in regards to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has resulted in shipment disruption of alumina. Seated in the northern French port of Dunkirk, Aluminium Dunkerque, one of the largest primary aluminium smelters in Europe produces 286,000 tonnes of aluminium per year, with an annual turnover of US$800 million. It also employs over 600 workers. Aluminium Dunkerque (AD) has also agreed to a multi-year arrangement with London-listed Glencore GLEN.L to sell "a share" of its aluminium in a multi-year agreement compatible with the...
The Ireland government has been petitioned to disallow all Russian ships to enter Irish territorial waters following a Russian cargo ship rejected its strive to collect a bulk load of alumina produced at the Rusal owned Aughinish Alumina refinery near Askeaton on 2 nd February 2022. According to the marine traffic tracker website, a 2018 built general cargo ship, Pola Feodosia, currently sailing under the Russian flag and whose home port is St Petersburg took a one-eighty degree turn in the Shannon Estuary and was navigating for Denmark. The Russian aluminium giant, Rusal operated Aughinish Alumina refinery is the largest alumina producer in Europe and employs more than 450 staff. Dr Cathal Berry, an Independent TD for the constituency of Kildare South, who has spent 23 years in the Irish...
The increased number of sanctions due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has sent shockwaves across the metal industry, including the alumina industry. As a result of which, Russian aluminium producer Rusal ceased alumina export from its Nikoleav refinery in Ukraine, resulting in increased supply disruptions across the alumina market. Also, Ireland's Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney, is claimed to be eager to engage with the management of the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Askeaton to lessen the impact of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Apart from this, there was significant slump of alumina output in Europe (including Russia) fell by 3,000 tonnes or 0.34% month-on-month in January 2022, to 885,000 tonnes. On 25th February 2022, the Mumbai, India headquartered Hindalco...
In January 2022, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) recorded a downfall of 3,000 tonnes or 0.34 per cent month-on-month to stand at 885,000 tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute. In December 2021, alumina output in Europe amounted to 888,000 tonnes, up by 50,000 tonnes from 838,000 tonnes in November. On a year-on-year calculation as well, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) in January 2022 stood lower by 4,000 tonnes or 0.45 per cent from 889,000 tonnes. In the last quarter of 2021, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) totalled 2.598 million tonnes, down by 1.85 per cent from 2.647 million tonnes in the previous quarter. World alumina production in January 2022 stood at 11.569 million tonnes, 0.13 per cent lower than 11.584 million tonnes in December...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has continued to decline by RMB 39 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,981 per tonne on Friday, March 4. This marks the eighth consecutive day of fall since February 22. In Henan, alumina spot price has slipped by RMB 45 per tonne to come in at RMB 3,000 per tonne on March 4, followed by the decrease of RMB 40 per tonne in Guizhou to RMB 2,980 per tonne. In Guangxi and Shanxi, alumina price has shrunk by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 2,965 per tonne, while the price in Shandong has dropped by RMB 25 per tonne to close at RMB 2,975 per tonne. However, the Australian alumina FOB price has increased by US$8 per tonne, marking the third day of rise in a row, to settle at US$460 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price has also...
In January 2022, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) stood at 1.149 million tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month downfall of 1.46 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In December 2021, the output was at 1.166 million tonnes in Africa & Asia (ex-China), up by 4.68 per cent from 1.114 million tonnes in November. On a year-on-year calculation, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina production in January 2022 stood 9.95 per cent higher than 1.045 million tonnes. In the last quarter of 2021, alumina output in Africa & Asia (ex-China) came in at 3.370 million tonnes, up by 0.60 per cent from 3.350 million tonnes in the September quarter. In full-year 2021, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina production totalled 13.174 million tonnes, 6.28 per cent more than 12.395 million...
Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs in Ireland, has reportedly said that he is willing to work with management of the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Askeaton to mitigate the impact of sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Mr Coveney has asked the European Commission to consider a package of supports for EU countries, which are likely to be affected by sanctions and counter sanctions by Russia. He said there was “an overwhelming view now that we shouldn’t be holding back, even though this will have knock-on implications and some unintended consequences”. The Foreign Affairs minister said all this after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar met management at the refinery last week and told them the Government would render its support to help continuing the operations. Meanwhile, Russian...
