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 Australian Aluminium Council, which represents Australia’s bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting and downstream processing industries declared the joining of the world’s most sustainable high purity aluminium producer Alpha HPA Limited as a new member, diversifying the Council’s representation to incorporate high purity alumina (HPA) for the first time. Marghanita Johnson, Executive Director of the Council, said: “We welcome Alpha HPA to the Council. We are excited at the prospect of representing a new product which is set to be made in Australia and distributed to the world as part of the ever-growing range of products we will need to meet technology challenges – today and into the future”. Australia has been producing Aluminium oxide (Al2O3), commonly known as alumina...
The average alumina spot price has continued to surge in China, fuelled by domestic production cut due to refineries shut down and raw materials supply disruption due to ongoing political unrest in Guinea. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, alumina price has jumped by RMB 154 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,607 per tonne on Thursday, September 16. In Shandong, the average alumina price has soared by RMB 175 per tonne to come in at RMB 3,625 per tonne, followed by a hike of RMB 150 per tonne in Guizhou and Guangxi to RMB 3,400 per tonne. In Henan and Shanxi, alumina price has climbed by RMB 145 per tonne to close at RMB 3,645 per tonne. Among other input costs, bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) price in Shanxi has grown by RMB 15 per tonne to settle at RMB 475 per tonne, while the price in Henan...
The average alumina spot price in China has increased by RMB 85 per tonne on Wednesday, September 15, following a restraint on the previous day. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the hike has brought the alumina price at RMB 3,453 per tonne, marking a week-on-week jump of RMB 292 per tonne. In Henan and Shanxi, alumina spot price has surged by RMB 100 per tonne to close at RMB 3,500 per tonne, while the price in Shandong has settled at RMB 3,450 per tonne by also gaining RMB 100 per tonne. In Guizhou and Guangxi, alumina price has grown by RMB 50 per tonne to peg at RMB 3,250 per tonne on September 15, found SMM. The alumina price surge across China could be attributed to lower production, as three refineries in Guangxi have begun to reduce output from September 9 after the...
Queensland Alumina (QAL) is reportedly obtaining five medium-voltage variable speed drives or VSDs from Siemens for continuing to improve its alumina refining process. The order consists of three GH180 Perfect Harmony variable speed drives (VSDs), which will be used in place of the existing drive helping QAL to cut down the energy usage as well as other emissions. Along with this, two more variable speed drives will be connected with the boiler house ash pumps. The initiative is a part of Queensland Alumina’s $400 million five-year environmental strategy program, also known as the 5-YES program. The program will help in reducing environmental risk and emission due to capital improvements. The five-year environmental strategy program sees QAL intention to invest in 60 capital modification...
The coup in Guinea the previous week stormed the international aluminium markets and propelled the prices for the metal surging to a 13-year high on the London Stock Exchange. The dethroning of President Alpha Condé can lead to a major fuss for Russian aluminium giant Rusal, the global leader of low-carbon aluminium producer, who owns Friguia alumina refinery, the largest in Guinea. Now, if the refinery is pressurized to cease operations, it would be big financial distress to Rusal, forcing the global aluminium prices to tower at a much higher level. The world largest exporter of bauxite Guinea countered a political turmoil last week, as Col. Mamady Doumbouya led a team of Special Forces suspended the constitution, seized power, dissolved the parliament and closed the borders. The Col....
According to a recent report, Hydro has entered into a 15-year contract with New Fortress Energy (NFE) for the supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to the Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil, as part of the fuel-switch initiative to replace the refinery’s energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Hydo aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. The agreement says the NFE will supply 29.5 TBtu of natural gas annually to Hydro’s Alunorte refinery from its Barcarena LNG receiving and regasification terminal located in the state of Pará, Brazil. Alunorte will implement the calcination process and part of steam generation at the refinery to switch from fuel oil to natural gas as the energy source. This change is slated to be completed by the first quarter of 2023 and...
In August 2021, the alumina production in China came in at 6.39 million tonnes after increasing by 1.58 per cent month-on-month from 6.29 million tonnes, founded the Shanghai Metals Market. According to the SMM data, the output for August was 6.16 million tonnes of metallurgical grade alumina compared to 6.08 million tonnes in July. The average daily output of metallurgical grade alumina in August was 197,000 tonnes, up by 1.24 per cent from July and 6.97 per cent from August 2020. According to SMM, the total production of metallurgical grade alumina during January to August amounted to 47.66 million tonnes, an increase of 8.09% from the same period last year. The price of alumina increased rapidly in August, which in turn increased the production of alumina refineries in some areas of...
The interrupted supply of aluminium raw material due to military Coup in Guinea has further pushed the Chinese alumina spot price to RMB 3,161 per tonne on Wednesday, September 8. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the price has climbed by RMB 42 per tonne from RMB 3,119 per tonne on September 7. In Shandong, alumina price has increased by RMB 50 per tonne to come in at RMB 3,175 per tonne, while the price in Henan and Shanxi has closed at RMB 3,200 per tonne by also gaining RMB 50 per tonne. In Guizhou and Guangxi, alumina price has grown by RMB 25 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,975 per tonne. Among other primary aluminium input costs, aluminium powder price has inched up by RMB 0.10 per kg to settle at RMB 25.35 per kg. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 25.3-25.4...
The average alumina spot price in China has extended its growth by RMB 45 per tonne to come in at INR 3,119 per tonne on September 6, 2021, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Shandong, alumina price has climbed by RMB 50 per tonne to stand at RMB 3,125 per tonne, while the price in Henan and Shanxi has settled at RMB 3,150 per tonne gaining RMB 50 per tonne as well. In Guizhou and Guangxi, alumina price has grown by RMB 25 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,950 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has inched up by RMB 2 per tonne to stand at RMB 322 per tonne on September 6, learned SMM. A00 aluminium ingot price has surged by RMB 310 per tonne on September 6 to come in at RMB 21,640 per tonne, backed on the continuous rise in alumina price and limited production of primary aluminium....
On 2 nd September 2021, Concord Resources, the major shareholder of New Day Aluminium stated that the only left alumina refinery in the USA has resumed its production facility in Gramercy, Louisiana, as the operations were ceased due to Hurricane Ida. Mark Hansen, CEO of Concord Resources, said: “Alumina production at Gramercy went into a planned curtailment on Sunday morning as part of preparations to safely manage our site through the storm.” “After extensive safety checks, there was no serious damage to the alumina refinery or its infrastructure”, Hansen added. “We will resume bauxite refining operations and alumina production this week, thanks to the hard work of the refinery management and staff.” The CEO further added: “The rate of production will depend on several factors,...
The global alumina industry saw a few updates this week that included China’s domestic alumina price surge and Europe’s one of the largest alumina refineries Eurallumina to resume operations in a while. The average alumina spot price in China rose throughout the week starting at RMB2,802 per tonne on Monday, August 30. On Tuesday, August 31, the price jumped by RMB96 per tonne to stand at RMB2,898 per tonne, which further increased on Wednesday, September 1, by RMB76 per tonne to come in at RMB2,974 per tonne. On September 2 and 3, China’s domestic alumina price continued to grow to RMB3,029 per tonne and RMB3,074 per tonne, respectively. To know more:...
On 2 nd September 2021, as the prices for the raw material of the metal aluminium towered at two years high, an advisor to China Hongqiao Group stated that the Group’s alumina refinery in Indonesia to commence its 2 nd phase up by the end of 2021. In 2016, the first 1 million tonnes per year phase of the Well Harvest Winning alumina refinery on the island of Borneo initiated production. The aluminium giant then targeted to execute the 2 nd phase by 2020 but fresh disclosures only said it was "progressing smoothly." Ron Knapp, International Adviser of Hongqiao, said: "A second phase of the Indonesian project - another 1 million tonnes - should come online later this year.” The former secretary-general of the International Aluminium Institute, Ron Knapp added: “Hongqiao currently has around...
The average alumina spot price in China has continued to grow for the fifth day in a row to reach at RMB3,074 per tonne as of Friday, September 3. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the price has increased by RMB45 per tonne today from RMB3,029 per tonne on September 2. In Shandong, alumina price has surged by RMB75 per tonne to stand at RMB3,075 per tonne, while the price in Henan and Shanxi has climbed RMB50 per tonne to come in at RMB3,100 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price has, however, continued to remain restrained at US$320 per tonne as of September 3. Among other primary aluminium input costs, aluminium powder price has inched up by RMB0.10 per kg to stand at RMB24.85 per kg. The average prices are expected to range between RMB24.8-24.9 per kg. A00 aluminium ingot price...
On 31 st August 2021, the affected inhabitants restarted their protest against the construction of the second red mud pond by the state-owned aluminium producer NALCO near Denga Jani Guda under the Dasmantpur block. The protesters staged a dissent in front of the Koraput Collector’s office demanding complete displacement and immediate compensation as per the latest Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy. Several distressed villagers including the women of Denga Jani Guda said: “We will not allow construction of the second red mud pond and related works in the area if proper rehabilitation package is not provided to them soon.” The demands of the protestors comprised shifting of affected families to a safe place and requisite compensation. However, they also demanded jobs for family...
In the second quarter of 2021, the United States imported 383,000 tonnes of alumina, a decrease of 33,000 tonnes or 7.93 per cent from 416,000 tonnes in the first quarter, found the US Census Bureau. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the United States alumina imports in Q2 2021 stood 6.09 per cent higher than 361,000 tonnes. In the six-month period, the United States total alumina imports amounted to 799,000 tonnes, up 11.28 per cent from 718,000 tonnes during the same period last year. Brazil continued to be the leading exporter of alumina to the United States, supplying 252,000 tonnes in Q2 2021. That was up by 32,000 tonnes or 14.55 per cent from 220,000 tonnes in Q1 2021. On a year-on-year basis, the export from Brazil to the US stood 27.92 per cent higher than 197,000 tonnes....
The average alumina spot price in China has continued to increase for the third day in a row by RMB76 per tonne to RMB2,974 per tonne on Wednesday, September 1, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Guangxi and Guizhou, alumina price has surged by RMB125 per tonne to stand at RMB2,850 per tonne, and by RMB75 per tonne in Henan to RMB3,000 per tonne. In Shandong and Shanxi, alumina price has climbed RMB60 per tonne to settle at RMB2,925 per tonne and RMB3,000 per tonne, respectively. Australian alumina FOB price has remained muted at US$320 per tonne. SMM data shows prebaked anode price in the East has increased after remaining restrained since early August. The price has soared by RMB355 per tonne to stand at RMB5,230 per tonne, with average prices likely to range between RMB4,660-5,800...
The average alumina spot price in China has seen a spike today, on August 31, marking a steady rise since the end of July 2021, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Data shows alumina price has come in at RMB 2,898 per tonne as of August 31, surging by RMB 96 per tonne. In Shanxi and Henan, alumina price has jumped by RMB 115 per tonne and RMB 110 per tonne to close at RMB 2,940 per tonne and RMB 2,925 per tonne, respectively, followed by the growth of RMB 75 per tonne in Guizhou to peg at RMB 2,675 per tonne. In Shandong and Guangxi, alumina spot price has increased by RMB 55 per tonne and RMB 50 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,865 per tonne and RMB 2,725 per tonne, respectively, as of August 31. Australian alumina FOB price has, however, remained restrained at US$ 320 per tonne after an...
Eurallumina, one of Europe’s largest alumina refineries located in the industrial area of Portovesme, South West coast of Sardinia, Italy with access to the Mediterranean Sea and two dedicated berths has its operation frozen. However, the refinery needs to overcome two hurdles in ninety days to safeguard the € 300 million investment. The alumina refinery’s first hurdle, to get overcome by September, concerning the signing (expected for the first days of August) on the Sardinia Dpcm that is the provision relating to the arrival of methane on the island and in particular in Portovesme, while the second, to be overcome by November, concerning the conclusion of the authorization procedure that signals the green light towards the restructuring and modernization of the refinery. These are the...
