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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In Africa & Asia (ex-China), alumina production in December 2021 stood at 1.166 million tonnes, reflecting an increase of 4.67 per cent month-on-month. In November, alumina output in Africa & Asia (ex-China) came in at 1.114 million tonnes, up by 2.20 per cent from 1.090 million tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, Africa & Asia’s alumina output in December 2021 stood 6.29 per cent higher than 1.097 million tonnes. From October to December 2021 (Q4), alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) totalled 3.37 million tonnes, an increase of 0.60 per cent from 3.35 million tonnes in Q3 2021 and 6.98 per cent higher than 3.150 million tonnes in Q4 2020. In the entire year of 2021, alumina production in Africa & Asia amounted to 13.174 million tonnes, up by 6.28 per cent from 12.395...
On Thursday, January 28, the average alumina spot price in China has remained unchanged to close at RMB 3,143 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In provinces like Shandong and Guizhou, the price has remained restrained to close at RMB 3,145 per tonne and RMB 3,020 per tonne. For the same day in Henan and Shanxi, the price has been recorded at RMB 3,170 per tonne and RMB 3,155 per tonne. In Guangxi and Lianyungang the price stood at RMB 3,060 per tonne and RMB 3,000 per tonne. In Bayuquan, the price has been registered at RMB 3,050 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price has moved up by RMB 210 per tonne to score at RMB 21,650 per tonne. The average price for the same has closed at RMB 21,630 per tonne and RMB 21,670 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price...
The high purity alumina project by King River Resources, which is listed on the ASX, is on track to submit a comprehensive feasibility assessment for the proposed 2,000 tonnes per annum HPA production plant in May 2022. Global HPA demand is predicted to expand at a 30% annual rate until at least 2028, according to the business, with significant demand in the LED lighting, semiconductor and electronics, optical, and battery industries. The planned plant will create 5N and 4N quality aluminium products, with 5N including at least 99.999% pure HPA precursor chemicals and 4N containing at least 99.99% pure HPA precursor compounds. To make the 5N aluminium precursors and 4N HPA, King River created its own unique ARC method. The ARC method gets its name from the fact that it uses an industrial...
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has reportedly put an alert that the threat of sanctions on Russia’s President Vladimir Putin could take a toll on Rusal’s Aughinish Alumina refinery, Europe’s largest bauxite refinery, in County Limerick. Aughinish Alumina refinery employs nearly 900 people at its plant near Askeaton, and is owned by Russian aluminium giant Rusal, which was earlier targeted by the US for sanctions in 2018. While addressing the cabinet on January 25, Minister Simon Coveney said Europe could be facing its first land war in many decades, and Ireland could a victim of the crisis if sanctions were to follow. Minister said that sanctions as counterattack for any military action could be having an impact on companies like Aughinish and affect deliveries of Russian coal to...
The world alumina production in December 2021 stood at 11.629 million tonnes, which reflected a month-on-month growth of 3.86 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In November, the output came in at 11.197 million tonnes, down by 1.37 per cent from 11.353 million tonnes in October. On a year-on-year calculation, the world alumina production in December 2021 stood 0.56 per cent higher than 11.694 million tonnes. During October-December (Q4 2021), the world alumina production amounted to 34.179 million tonnes, down by 1.07 per cent from 34.550 million tonnes in Q3 2021 but up by 0.98 per cent from 34.513 million tonnes in Q4 2020. In the entire year of 2021, the world alumina production totalled 138.122 million tonnes, 3.79 per cent more than 133.078 million tonnes a year...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, average alumina spot price in China has grown by RMB 14 per tonne to close at RMB 3,143 per tonne. In Shandong and Guizhou, the price has moved up by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,145 per tonne and RMB 3,020 per tonne. On the other hand in Henan and Shanxi, the price has shown a growth by RMB 15 per tonne to clock at RMB 3,170 per tonne and RMB 3,155 per tonne, for the same day respectively. In Guangxi also the price has grown by RMB 10 per tonne to peg at RMB 3,060 per tonne. Only in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, the price has remained the same to settle at RMB 3,000 per tonne and RMB 3,050 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price in China has also escalated by RMB 420 per tonne to score at RMB 21,590 per tonne. The average prices are expected to...
On Tuesday, January 25, average alumina spot price in China climbed up by RMB 14 per tonne to clock at RMB 3,129 per tonne, finds the Shanghai Metals Market. In Shandong and Guangxi, the average alumina spot price has moved up by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,135 per tonne and RMB 3,050 per tonne. For the same day in Shanxi and Guizhou the price has hiked by RMB 10 per tonne to peg at RMB 3,140 per tonne and RMB 3,010 per tonne. In Henan, the price has stepped up by RMB 15 per tonne to register at RMB 3,155 per tonne. On the other hand in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, the average alumina spot price has remained unchanged to total at RMB 3,000 per tonne and RMB 3,050 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price has also increased by RMB 40 per tonne to close at RMB 21,170 per tonne. The...
On 24 th January 2022, the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo visited the Riau Islands to conduct a review of the bauxite to the alumina processing facility at PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia in Galang Batang-Bintan, Riau Islands province. The Presidential attendant from Jakarta arrives at Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport (RHF) Tanjungpinang and was welcomed by the provincial governor of Riau Islands Ansar Ahmad together with Forkominda. Furthermore, the President visited directly to PT BAI in Galang Batang to inspect the alumina refinery. The construction of the alumina refinery with a production capacity of 1 million tonnes per year in the Galang Batang Special Economic Zone has been accomplished, which was confirmed by President Director of PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia (BAI), Santoni....
The average alumina spot price in China has grown by RMB 10 per tonne over the weekend ending January 24 to come in at RMB 3,115 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Guizhou, alumina price has jumped by RMB 25 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,000 per tonne, followed by the increase of RMB 15 per tonne in Henan and Shandong to RMB 3,140 per tonne and RMB 3,115 per tonne, respectively. In Guangxi and Shanxi, the average alumina spot price has inched up by RMB 10 per tonne and RMB 5 per tonne to peg at RMB 3,030 per tonne and RMB 3,130 per tonne on January 24. The Australian alumina FOB price has also opened the week on Monday, January 24, with a hike to stand at US$360 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price has continued to decrease by RMB 230 per tonne on Monday, January 24, to stand...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has surged by RMB 45 per tonne to come in at RMB 3,105 per tonne. The average alumina spot price in Shandong has also grown by RMB 35 per tonne to settle at RMB 3,110 per tonne. On the other hand, in Henan and Shanxi the price has also shot up by RMB 40 per tonne and RMB 50 per tonne to close at RMB 3,125 per tonne, for the same day. The average alumina price in Guizhou and Guangxi has also increased by RMB 25 per tonne and RMB 60 per tonne to peg at RMB 2,975 per tonne and RMB 3,020 per tonne. Only in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, the price has remained restrained to register at RMB 3,000 per tonne and RMB 3,050 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has ascended by US$7 per tonne to close at US$355 per...
The major alumina asset of Rusal and one of the world’s leading energy-efficient refineries, Aughinish alumina stated that numerous developments are essential at their facility near Askeaton, Limerick County to pursue production until at least 2039. However, lacking these developments, the company stated in its planning application that the refinery might discontinue production in 2030 based on current production levels of 1.9 million tonnes of alumina a year. Since 1983, the Aughinish alumina refinery has been functioning with current staff strength of 482 and a further 385 people in maintenance and contract jobs. The company said in its planning application, “The closure of the facility at Aughinish would result in a significant loss in highly-skilled employment opportunities in the...
The average alumina spot price in China has hiked for the ninth day in a row by RMB 53 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,060 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Henan and Guizhou, alumina spot price has surged by RMB 60 per tonne to close at RMB 3,085 per tonne and RMB 2,950 per tonne, while the price in Shanxi and Shandong has increased by RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 45 per tonne to settle at RMB 3,075 per tonne. However, the Australian alumina FOB price has remained restrained at US$348 per tonne, following the last two day of growth. Among the other primary aluminium input costs, caustic soda (32% concentration) price in Henan has moved up by RMB 50 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,650 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 2,400-2,900 per tonne. But despite...
Work on Alcoa Brasil's Filtro Prensa project began in August 2021 at the company's Poços de Caldas alumina refinery, which is fed by a captive adjacent bauxite mine. It is R$310 million (US$55 million) investment that will fully transform the waste disposal system at the Minas Gerais facility. The construction was projected to take 15 months and employ roughly 500 people at its peak, with an opening date set for November 2022. The project took approximately seven years to complete. A new bauxite residue filtering plant will change how the refinery manages bauxite residue, which is mostly made up of red mud and coarse sand and is a byproduct of the alumina refining process. The coarse sand fraction (red sand) makes up about 40% of the residual, whereas the fine silt fraction makes up about...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has moved up by RMB 35 per tonne to close at RMB 3,007 per tonne, as of Wednesday, January 19. In Henan and Shanxi, the average alumina spot price has ascended by RMB 30 per tonne to clock at RMB 3,025 per tonne. On the other hand, in Lianyungang and Bayuquan the price has stepped up by RMB 25 per tonne to register at RMB 3,000 per tonne and RMB 3,050 per tonne. The average alumina spot price in Shandong has increased by RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,030 per tonne. In Guizhou and Giangxi, the price has hiked by RMB 40 per tonne and RMB 85 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,890 per tonne and RMB 2,925 per tonne. On Wednesday, January 19, the Australian alumina FOB price has inched up by RMB 1 per tonne to...
Alcoa of Australia Ltd, which operates one of the world's largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining has extended its supply contract of lime to AdBri subsidiary Cockburn Cement until January 2023. The calcium-containing inorganic mineral lime is extensively used as an additive in alumina production by the Bayer process, as it provides higher alumina recovery and lowers caustic soda consumption, controlling impurities and reducing the inhibiting effect of sodium titanates, promoting settling and filtering properties of the red mud. As per our sources, it has been reported that the value of the extension is US$18m – $25.3 million. Alcoa of Australia diverted towards using imported lime at its Kwinana, Pinjarra and Wagerup alumina refineries in Western Australia from June 2020....
The average alumina spot price in China has surged for the second day in a row by RMB 73 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,972 per tonne as of Tuesday, January 18. In Henan and Shanxi, the price has soared by RMB 85 per tonne to settle at RMB 2,995 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 2,940-3,050 per tonne. In Shandong and Guizhou, on the other hand, alumina price has increased by RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne, respectively, to close at RMB 3,000 per tonne and RMB 2,850 per tonne, as of January 18. The Australian alumina FOB price has inched up by US$1 per tonne to stand at US$347 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Among the other primary aluminium input costs, caustic soda price has gained RMB 50 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,600 per tonne, with...
On Monday, January 17, the average alumina spot price in China has opened the week on Monday with an increase of RMB 37 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,899 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. The average alumina spot price in Guizhou and Guangxi has moved up by RMB 70 per tonne to peg at RMB 2,820 per tonne, for the same day. In Shandong, the price has surged by RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,950 per tonne. In Henan and Shanxi, the price has hiked by RMB 35 per tonne and RMB 25 per tonne to register at RMB 2,910 per tonne. On the other hand, in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, the price has remained unchanged to close at RMB 2,965 per tonne and RMB 3,020 per tonne. China’s A00 aluminium ingot price on the other hand has decreased by RMB 90 per tonne to close at RMB 20,900 per tonne. The...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has increased for the fifth day in a row by RMB 13 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,862 per tonne as of Friday, January 14. In Guangxi, alumina price has hiked by RMB 30 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,750 per tonne, while the price in Shandong and Henan has grown by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,910 per tonne and RMB 2875 per tonne, respectively. In Shanxi and Guizhou, alumina spot price has also seen a rise of RMB 10 per tonne to close the week at RMB 2,885 per tonne and RMB 2,750 per tonne. However, the Australian alumina FOB price has remained restrained, following a rise of US$1 per tonne on the previous day to US$346 per tonne, found SMM. China’s A00 aluminium ingot price, on the other hand, has decreased by RMB...
