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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South America’s alumina production stood at 1.064 million tonnes in April 2021, 5.24% higher than the same period last year, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI).The output was 1.011 million tonnes in April 2020. On a month-on-month basis, the alumina production declined by 5.17% from March’s production of 1.122 million tonnes. In January-April 2021, alumina production was 4.220 million tonnes as against as 4.087 million tonnes in January-April 2020.That was up by 3.25% year-on-year. North America’s alumina production dropped 2.34% year-on-year and 5.43% month-on-month in April 2021. The output stood at 209,000 tonnes in April.In the first four months of 2021, alumina output totalled 840,000 tonnes, from 886,000 tonnes in the first four months...
In April 2021, world alumina production stood at 11.598 million tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month downfall of 2.63 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute's data. In March, the output amounted to 11.911 million tonnes, climbing 2.59 per cent from 10.610 million tonnes in February 2021. In January, the output came in at 11.737 million tonnes. In the first four months of the year, alumina production across the world totalled 45.856 million tonnes – 5.12 per cent higher than 43.623 million tonnes during the same period last year. On a year-on-year calculation, world alumina production in April 2021 stood 6.90 per cent higher than 10.849 million tonnes. In Africa & Asia (ex-China), alumina production in April totalled 1.112 million tonnes, up 3.54 per cent month-on-month from...
The alumina price in China has increased by RMB 13 per tonne on Thursday, 27 May 2021, after remaining flat for the two days in a row. The price stands at RMB 2462 per tonne, from 2449 per tonne, as updated by Shanghai Metals Market. Alumina price in Shandong has climbed by RMB 15 per tonne to stand at RMB 2450 per tonne. The prices of alumina in Henan and Shanxi China markets have increased to stand at RMB 2475 per tonne each on Thursday, 27 May 2021, up by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne. SMM aluminium ingot price stands lower at RMB 18370 per tonne on Thursday, 27 May 2021. This marks a drop of RMB 20 per tonne after two days of rise. The price is expected to range at RMB 18350-18390 per tonne. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, the price has inched up by RMB 10 per tonne each to stand at RMB...
According to the latest data shown by the US Geological Survey, the United States imported 416,000 tonnes of alumina in the first quarter of 2021. This represented a quarter-on-quarter hike of 102,000 tonnes or 32.48 per cent from 314,000 tonnes of bauxite imported in Q4 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, alumina imports by the US in Q1 2021 stood 59,000 tonnes or 16.53 per cent higher than 357,000 tonnes. Brazil remained the leading exporter of alumina to the US, supplying 220,000 tonnes in Q1 2021. The export volume from Brazil to the US in Q1 decreased quarter-on-quarter by 19,000 tonnes or 7.95 per cent from 239,000 tonnes and year-on-year by 13,000 tonnes or 5.58 per cent from 233,000 tonnes. Jamaica was the second-largest exporter delivering 77,500 tonnes, up 101.82 per cent...
The publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange, Alumina Limited’s forecast toward demand for alumina soon to surplus supply is creating possibilities to bring back the agenda of the expansion of two alumina refineries in Western Australia. The growth signals came when the company stated that it was examining ways to release more franking credits to shareholders. Alumina Limited labelled proposal two years to invest hundreds of millions of dollars for the expansion of its Wagerup and Pinjarra alumina refineries south of Perth, but in early 2020 it holds back the feasibility studies due to the deadly Covid-19 pandemic attack. The supply of alumina surpassed demand, meantime with the benchmark price for the commodity fetching $US276 per tonne on 25th May 2021, which is...
Hydro has signed a BRL 2.2 million agreement with the University of São Paulo to explore uses for bauxite residue in civil construction. The waste will be used in the production of cement floors that prove to be advantageous from the environmental point of view and throughout their life cycle. The research will also focus on other uses in the construction sector. The two year deal will focus on using bauxite residue from Hydro’s mining operations in the State of Pará in the construction industry, more specifically in the cement components sector. The research will be conducted by the Laboratory of Microstructure and Eco-efficiency of the Department of Civil Construction Engineering of the Polytechnic School of University of São Paulo (USP). "We have invested heavily in the search for...
The average alumina spot price in China has recorded a rise for the second day in a row, albeit lower than the previous day, by RMB 18 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. So, as of Monday, May 24, the price is standing at RMB 2,449 per tonne. In Shanxi, alumina price has increased by RMB 25 per tonne to RMB 2,465 per tonne, while the price in Henan has grown by RMB 20 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,455 per tonne. In Shandong and Bayuquan, alumina spot price has inched up by RMB 5 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,435 per tonne and RMB 2,480 per tonne, respectively. Australian alumina FOB price, on the other hand, has continued to hover at US$ 276 per tonne, according to the Shanghai Metals Market. A00 aluminium ingot price, however, has extended the downfall for the fourth consecutive...
The average alumina spot price in China recorded total growth of RMB 33 per tonne this week on Tuesday, May 18, and Friday, May 21, while on the other days remained muted, according to the Shanghai Metals Market data. Other major activities in the global alumina sector included Alcoa Corporation received $8.8 million (A$11.3 million) grant from The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to test the potential use of renewable energy and Nhan Co alumina refinery achieved remarkable results after five years of commercial operation. Let us here recapitulate some of those news in a brief detail. As updates by the Shanghai Metals Market on May 18, the average alumina spot price in China inched up by RMB 9 per tonne to settle at RMB 2,407 per tonne. In Henan, the price increased by RMB 15...
Alcoa Corporation has received $8.8 million (A$11.3 million) grant from The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to test the potential use of renewable energy in a process known as Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR). Alcoa of Australia intends to install a three megawatt MVR module with renewable energy at the Wagerup refinery to test the technology at scale by the end of 2023. The MVR technology could reduce an alumina refinery’s carbon footprint by 70 percent. “Alcoa of Australia is currently conducting technical and commercial studies to adapt MVR technology to refining. Electricity sourced from renewable energy would power compressors to turn waste vapor into steam, which would then be used to provide refinery process heat,” Alcoa said. “Already, Alcoa is the world’s lowest...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot alumina price in China has increased by RMB 24 per tonne on Friday, 21 May 2021 after remaining flat for the two days in a row. The price has come in at RMB 2431 per tonne, from 2407 per tonne. Alumina price in Shandong has risen by RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 2430 per tonne. The prices of alumina in Henan, Shanxi, Guizhou and Guangxi China markets have increased to stand at RMB 2435 per tonne, RMB 2440 per tonne, RMB 2395 per tonne and RMB 2395 per tonne on Friday, 21 May 2021. Lianyungang and Bayuquan prices stand at RMB 2450 per tonne and RMB 2475 per tonne, up by RMB 10 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne. SMM aluminium ingot price stands lower at RMB 18450 per tonne on Friday, 21 May 2021. This marks a drop for the three days in a...
Presently, Bosnia Herzegovina is considered an upper-middle-income country, achieving great results since 1995. The economy still deficient competitiveness and the government introduced a structural reforms program for 2019-2021 to encourage private investments and exports. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 hit hard the economy, reporting a negative growth balance of 5.5%, compared to 2.8% in 2019. As per the IMF's April 2021 forecast, growth is expected to resume in 2021, estimated at 3.5% of GDP, and stabilise in 2022 at 3.3%. The South-eastern European nation has recorded 356,962 tonnes export of alumina during 2018-19 and the revenue generated from the export was $123.45 million. The export for 2020 stood at 132,024 tonnes and the earnings remained at $39 million. However, when the export...
The Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta Aluminium, Ajay Kapur stated: “Vedanta Aluminium has set a capital expenditure target of $300 million for the current fiscal.” Kapur added: “Our most significant expansion will be at our Lanjigarh alumina refinery, subject to government approvals, the majority of our projects should be completed over the next 2-3 years.” India’s largest aluminium producer, Vedanta delivered 1.96 million tonnes in 2020-21, while the organisation targets to boost its annual aluminium production capacity to 3 million tonnes, as commented by Ajay Kapur. The production of aluminium demands double the amount of alumina as its raw materials. On the ground to increase the production of aluminium, Vedanta is raising the annual capacity of the Lanjigarh refinery to 5 million...
Nhan Co alumina refinery owned by Dak Nong Aluminum Company holds one of the two pilot projects in the new industry development – the mining and processing industry of bauxite ore to produce alumina towards the production of aluminium has reported that after 5 years of commercial operation from 2017-2021, with the unremitting efforts and striving of the Dak Nong Aluminium staff, the project has achieved remarkable initial results and gradually contributing to a breakthrough towards the economy in particular to the Central Highlands region. Dak Nong Aluminum Company was established with the direct task of managing and operating Nhan Co Alumina refinery with the goal of profit, effectively using capital and resources assigned by the Coal-Mineral Industry Group (TKV), contributing more and...
The average alumina spot price in China has inched up by RMB 9 per tonne to settle at RMB 2,407 per tonne as of Tuesday, May 18, according to the Shanghai Metals Market. In Henan, the price has increased by RMB 15 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,410 per tonne, while the price in Shandong and Guizhou has gained RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,400 per tonne and RMB 2,380 per tonne. In Shanxi and Guangxi, alumina price has climbed by RMB 5 per tonne to peg at RMB 2,415 per tonne and RMB 2,380 per tonne, respectively. Australian alumina FOB price, on the other hand, has remained restrained at US$ 276 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price has surged by RMB 160 per tonne to stand at RMB 19,860 per tonne on May 18, marking the second consecutive day of growth, found SMM. The average prices are...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot alumina price in China has increased by RMB 10 per tonne on Thursday, 13 May 2021 after remaining flat on May 12. The price has come in at RMB 2398 per tonne today, from Tuesday’s price of 2388 per tonne. The prices of alumina in Henan, Shanxi, Guizhou and Guangxi China markets have risen to stand at RMB 2395 per tonne, RMB 2410 per tonne, RMB 2370 per tonne and RMB 2375 per tonne on Thursday, 13 May 2021. Alumina price in Shandong has remained unchanged at RMB 2390 per tonne. SMM aluminium ingot price has declined by RMB 160 per tonne to stand at RMB 19820 per tonne on Thursday, 13 May 2021, from RMB 19980 per tonne on Wednesday. The price is expected to range at RMB 19800-19840 per tonne. The Aluminium alloy (A356)) have inched down by...
The integrated gas-to-power company, New Fortress Energy (NFE) has confirmed the plan to sell out its recently constructed power plant at the Jamalco alumina refinery complex in Clarendon, Jamaica, and also admitted the sale will be materialized within months. However, the company as of now has not delivered any indication of the prospective buyer of the 150 MW plant, which was reportedly developed at an approx. cost of US$190 million and accomplished in early 2020. The Jamalco power plant is among assets, which New Fortress wants to divest, as it needs cash to finance its expansion. On 7 th May 2021, Wes Edens, the CEO said, on an investor call following the release of the company’s financial results: “We expect to close our first asset sale here this quarter.” The global leader in the...
The federal government of Australia is considering a bold proposal which reflects to see a portion of an alumina refinery in the northern territory be reprocessed into a strategic fuel storage facility, as reported by industry sources. The intents are to see the tanks at the Rio Tinto refinery transforms with a storage capacity of up to 160 megalitres of fuel as the government strives to shore up domestic supply chains in the northern parts of the country. Rio Tinto’s Gove bauxite mine at Nhulunbuy is all set to close within 2030, while the company is preparing to commence pulling down the refinery next year. Darwin’s airport development group and the Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation, the team which is working with Rio Tinto on the refinery’s demolition have brought the proposal on board....
Mining Industry Indonesia (MIND ID) has assigned a capital expenditure (capex) of Rp 29 trillion (US$2.05 billion) for the year 2021, with a focus on developing an alumina refinery. MIND ID president director Orias Petrus Moedak said last week that of the total allotted fund, Rp 2 trillion would be used for working capital while the remaining amount toward strategic projects in the pipeline, including metal smelters and a coal gasification facility. However, a maximum chunk of the project capex is reserved for an alumina refinery worth between 700 million and $800 million. The refinery is planned to be having a capacity of grading 1 million tonnes of alumina per annum, and its operation is estimated to begin in 2023. “That funding is around 70 percent of the [alumina] project’s total...
