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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Alpha HPA Limited has reportedly purchased a 9.2 hectares site Gladstone, Queensland, to develop a $300 million high purity alumina industrial plant. Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk said the main objective behind building this plant is to create more jobs in varied industries and support economic recovery. “Supporting projects like this means more opportunities for secure, high-skilled jobs across Queensland,” the Premier said. Glenn Butcher, Minister of Regional Development and Manufacturing, Minister of Water, and Member of Gladstone, said the extensive infrastructure and port facilities in the Gladstone region and also skilled workforce have attracted Alpha HPA to the region. “Gladstone is a world-best location for existing industries with a proven track record of growing...
The average alumina spot price in China has declined for the fourth day in a row to stand below RMB 4,000 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. On Friday, November 5, the price has sharply decreased by RMB 88 per tonne to come in at RMB 3,926 per tonne. In Shandong and Guizhou, alumina price has plunged by RMB 105 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,925 per tonne and RMB 3,800 per tonne, respectively, while the price in Henan and Shanxi has shrunk by RMB 90 per tonne and RMB 85 per tonne to close at RMB 3,950 per tonne on November 5, learned SMM. China’s A00 aluminium ingot price has also recorded a steep fall of RMB 1,300 per tonne on November 5 to settle at RMB 18,650 per tonne, attributable to the hike in primary aluminium inventories. According to SMM, the average prices are expected...
The average alumina spot price in China has slipped for the third day in a row by RMB 9 per tonne to stand at RMB 4,014 per tonne on Thursday, November 4, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi, the price has decreased by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 4,030 per tonne, RMB 4,040 per tonne, and RMB 4,035 per tonne, respectively. Alumina price in Guizhou and Guangxi has dropped by RMB 5 per tonne to come in at RMB 3,905 per tonne and RMB 3,845 per tonne. Meanwhile, A00 aluminium ingot price has increased by RMB 140 per tonne on November 4, to come in at RMB 19,950 per tonne. The average prices are likely to range between RMB 19,930 per tonne and RMB 19,970 per tonne, with spot contract estimated to be traded at a premium price of RMB 130-90 per tonne. In Foshan and...
The average alumina spot price in China has continued to decline to stand at RMB 4,023 per tonne on Wednesday, November 3. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the price has decreased by RMB 87 per tonne compared to the drop of RMB 9 per tonne on the previous day. In Shanxi and Henan, the alumina price has shrunk by RMB 95 per tonne and RMB 90 per tonne to come in at RMB 4,045 per tonne and RMB 4,050 per tonne, respectively, while the price in Guizhou and Shandong has decreased by RMB 85 per tonne to close at RMB 3,910 per tonne and RMB 4,040 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has dropped by US$15 per tonne to settle at US$435 per tonne on November 3. A00 aluminium ingot price has decreased for the second day in a row by RMB 300 per tonne to stand at RMB 19,810 per tonne on...
New Day Aluminum Holdings LLC, the parent company of Noranda Alumina and Noranda Bauxite, has officially announced the rebranding of its business to the Atlantic Alumina Company (ATALCO). The company will rebrand all its metallurgical and non-metallurgical bauxite and alumina operations in a staged rollout over the next few months. While Noranda Bauxite will become Discovery Bauxite, covering both metallurgical and non-metallurgical bauxite in partnership with the Government of Jamaica, Noranda Alumina and NICHE Chemical will become Atlantic Alumina, with the business covering both metallurgical and non-metallurgical alumina products. Besides this, New Day Aluminum has also announced that its Gramercy alumina refinery has returned to normal production levels in October after surviving...
The average alumina spot price in China has slipped by RMB 9 per tonne on November 2 after over a week-long restraint from October 22 to November 1. According to the Shanghai Metals Market data, the average alumina spot price has come in at RMB 4,110 per tonne as of November 2. In Henan and Shanxi, the alumina price has dropped by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 4,140 per tonne, while the price in Shandong has settled at RMB 4,125 per tonne by also losing RMB 10 per tonne on November 2. In Guizhou and Guangxi, alumina price has inched down by RMB 5 per tonne to close at RMB 3,995 per tonne and RMB 3,895 per tonne, respectively. Among other primary aluminium input costs, caustic soda (32% concentration) price in Shandong has decreased by RMB 85 per tonne to come in at RMB 1,285 per tonne,...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in South America in September 2021 stood at 874,000 tonnes, reflecting a downfall of 6.72 per cent or 63,000 tonnes month-on-month. In August, alumina output in South America came in at 937,000 tonnes after being decreased by 25.22 per cent from 1.253 million tonnes in July. On a year-on-year calculation, South America’s alumina production in September 2021 edged 17.63 per cent or 131,000 tonnes higher than 743,000 tonnes. In the third quarter of 2021, alumina production in South America totalled 2.830 million tonnes, down by 11.31 per cent from 3.191 million tonnes in the second quarter. Compared to the September quarter of 2020, the production of the ore stood 5.48 per cent higher than 2.683 million tonnes. From...
The Australian listed resources company focused on developing an innovative and vertically integrated high quality, high-purity alumina for use in various high growth tech applications, FYI Resources Ltd has been licensed trade on the US-based OTCQX market. On 29 th October 2021, the HPA producing firm started-off trading on the OTCQX under the symbol FYIRF. The OTCQX is the highest quality tier of OTC markets and offers trading in companies that are not listed on traditional exchanges. Following the satisfaction with criteria of its balance sheet requirements, having high financial standards, patronising best practice corporate governance and demonstrating compliance with applicable securities laws, FYI was permitted to trade on OTCQX FYI Resources is spotting itself to be a crucial...
In September 2021, alumina production in Europe (including Russia) stood at 838,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month decline of 8.32 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In August 2021, the output came in at 914,000 tonnes, up by 2.12 per cent from 895,000 tonnes a month ago. On a year-on-year calculation, alumina production in Europe during September 2021 increased by 4.88 per cent from 799,000 tonnes. Total alumina production in the third quarter of 2021 amounted to 2.647 million tonnes, 2.64 per cent higher than 2.579 million tonnes in Q2 2021 and 4.17 per cent more than 2.541 million tonnes in Q3 2020. From January to September, alumina production in Europe (including Russia) totalled 7.802 million tonnes, up by 2.59 per cent from 7.605 million tonnes during the...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, world alumina production in September 2021 stood at 11.170 million tonnes (including both metallurgical and chemical), which was down by 4.33 per cent from 11.675 million tonnes in August. In July, the output was 11.669 million tonnes, meaning alumina production across the world in August remained essentially unchanged month-on-month. On a year-on-year calculation, world alumina production in September stood 3.30 per cent higher than 10.813 million tonnes. In Q3 2021, world alumina production came in at 34.514 million tonnes, down by 2.64 per cent from 35.450 million tonnes in Q2 2021 but up by 3.30 per cent from 33.412 million tonnes in Q3 2020. From January to September 2021, world alumina production totalled 103.907 million tonnes, up...
The average alumina spot price in China has continued to rise by RMB 14 per tonne to reach RMB 4,105 per tonne on Thursday, October 21, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Except in Guangxi, the alumina price in Henan and Shanxi has increased by RMB 15 per tonne to stand at RMB 4,135 per tonne. The price in Shandong has also gained RMB 15 per tonne but to settle at RMB 4,110 per tonne on October 21. In Guangxi, the domestic alumina price has remained restrained at RMB 3,890 per tonne. Also, the Australian alumina FOB price has remained muted at US$480 per tonne. Aluminium fluoride price has jumped by RMB 500 per tonne to come in at RMB 10,500 per tonne on October 21. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 10,000 per tonne and RMB 11,000 per tonne. China’s imported bauxite...
As a member nation of the European Union, Slovenia has a mixed economic system in which the country is considerably involved in centralized planning, but there is private sector freedom. Slovenia with an advanced high-income economy is considered a developed state and ranks very high in the Human Development Index. The central European nation, Slovenia with GDP highly supported by industries like ferrous metallurgy and aluminium products, lead and zinc smelting, etc. The country exported 359,390 tonnes of alumina during 2018-20 and the earnings incurred from the export accounted for $187.16 million. In 2018, Slovenia registered 68,780 tonnes of alumina and the earnings counted to $36.18 million, whereas, in 2019 the export revealed a notable growth by 120.13%, as the export demand surged...
Alcoa and FYI Resources, the Australian listed resources company that aims at developing an innovative and vertically integrated high quality, high-purity alumina will commence the HPA trials at FYI’s pilot plant facility in Welshpool, Western Australia in October 2021. The trials are part of the initial phase for the two companies that conducted joint development projects. On 19th October, the pilot plant production is slated to commence and will pursue for 24 hours per day across the preceding two weeks. A further two weeks of continuous operations will happen at the pilot plant, after a short break to analyse the initial production data. The pilot plant’s trial position is to denote processing efficiencies through the production of HPA with the product to be utilized for further...
King River Resources Limited, an exploration mining company, has appointed a new CEO for its newly formed High Purity Metals Division as the company looks to lay the groundwork for building a processing plant for high purity alumina in Kwinana. Doug Flanagan, the newly appointed CEO, comes with an immense experience in delivering base and precious metal projects, rare earths and oil, and gas projects in Australia, Zambia, Malaysia, and Central and North America. The appointment of the new CEO underpins King River’s focus on in-demand critical metals such as high purity alumina that is used in LED lights, Iphone facias, and lithium batteries. King River Chairman, Tony Barton, said: “The directors of King River Resources believe Doug’s considerable experience and broad technical and...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s alumina production stood at 6.20 million tonnes in September 2021 (30 days), including 5.99 million tonnes of metallurgical grade alumina. On a month-on-month calculation, the production was down by 2.97 per cent from 6.39 million tonnes. But on a year-on-year basis, the output stood 4.91 per cent higher than 5.91 million tonnes. The daily average output of metallurgical grade alumina was 199,500 tonnes, up 5.55 per cent year-on-year from 189,000 tonnes. From January to September 2021, China’s total production of metallurgical grade alumina amounted to 53.65 million tonnes, 7.75 per cent more than 49.79 million tonnes during the same period last year. The net imports of alumina are estimated to be around 350,000 tonnes, while surplus at...
The average alumina spot price in China has hiked by RMB 91 per tonne on Tuesday, October 12, following restraint at RMB 3,884 per tonne from October 8 to October 11. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the increase has brought the alumina spot price to RMB 3,975 per tonne. In Henan and Shanxi, alumina price has surged by RMB 100 per tonne to stand at RMB 4,000 per tonne, while the price in Shandong and Guangxi has climbed by RMB 75 per tonne to RMB 3,950 per tonne and RMB 3,775 per tonne, respectively. In Guizhou, alumina price has gained RMB 50 per tonne to peg at RMB 3,900 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price, on the other hand, has remained unchanged at US$480 per tonne as of October 12, learned SMM. Among other primary aluminium input costs, caustic soda (32% concentration)...
According to Shanghai Metal Market (SMM), the open-pit bauxite mines in the Jinzhong area of Shanxi were closed due to heavy rains. For alumina plants which use domestic bauxite were less than ten days. Due to the heavy rain roads were blocked, as a result of which the transportation efficiency of few raw materials declined. In September the production capacity of some alumina plants decreased from 4,000 tonnes per day to 2,000 tonnes per day. Xinfa Chemical in Xiaoyi area had to suspend their alumina production line with 1.2 million tonnes per year Due to the heavy rainfall, the alumina production in Xinfa Chemical in Xiaoyi area got suspended as the rainwater flooded the factory due to low terrain. The water inside the plant can be discharged within 3 days once the rainfall is reduced...
On Thursday, October 7, a public hearing was held at Dharada village located under Koraput’s Lakshmipur tehsil. The public hearing was organised by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OPSCB) for the establishment of Hindalco’s 3 million tonne capacity alumina refinery and 150 MW capacity power plant in Kansariguda. Hindalco Industries Limited is the world’s largest aluminium rolling company and is also a leading primary aluminium producer in Asia. In the hearing the villagers demanded for better compensation package, employment and healthcare. One of the members of the legislative assembly who was present at the event stated that the locals must be given the top priority in employment opportunities. Not only this, they should also ensure improved healthcare facility for the locals,...
