Chevron Australia has entered a new natural gas supply agreement with South32’s Worsley Alumina business, reinforcing the importance of reliable energy supplies to Australia’s alumina refining industry. The deal will support operations at the Western Australian facility, where energy availability remains central to mineral processing and industrial activity. Under the contract, Chevron will supply natural gas to South32 Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd from 1 January 2028. The arrangement continues a longstanding commercial relationship between the companies, with the fuel allocated to the alumina producer’s processing requirements. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
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...
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Shanghai Metals Market found China’s alumina production stood at 5.91 million tonnes in July 2020, including 5.7 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade alumina. The output increased by 3.50 per cent from 5.71 million tonnes in June 2020. China’s total alumina output in the first seven months of the year amounted to 38.34 million tonnes, down by 6.54 per cent from the year earlier, showed SMM data. China’s daily alumina production was 183,000 tonnes in July, registering a hike of 0.29 per cent month-on-month and 0.04 per cent over the year. The month-on-month increase in production could be attributed to Luoyang Wanji, SPIC Aluminium & Power Investment, and Chongqing Bosai as they restored some capacities. As of early August, the operating capacity of metallurgical-grade alumina stood at...
The average alumina spot price in China has extended its decline on Wednesday, August 5, however, slower than the previous day. Today, the price has decreased by RMB 8 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,347 per tonne versus the fall of RMB 32 per tonne last day, according to the Shanghai Metals Market. In the east and central, the alumina price has dwindled by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,340 per tonne and RMB 2,345 per tonne, respectively, while that in the north has inched down by RMB 5 per tonne to RMB 2,340 per tonne. In the south, however, the alumina price has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has declined by US$ 1 per tonne to US$ 272 per tonne, while the imported alumina price has remained unchanged at RMB 2,365 per tonne. Among other input costs,...
Following restraints in the past two days at RMB 2,387 per tonne, the average alumina spot price has declined today, on August 4, by RMB 32 per tonne to RMB 2,355 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In the central, the alumina price has decreased by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 2,355 per tonne and that in the North has plunged by RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,345 per tonne. In the east, the price has inched down by RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 2,350 per tonne, while that in the south has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has decreased by RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 2,365 per tonne. However, the Australian alumina FOB price has remained unchanged at US$273 per tonne. As far as other input costs are concerned, the price of aluminium powder has slipped by...
Australia’s industrial carbon emissions released by the alumina refineries counted to be around 27%, where fossils fuels are burned to heat the procedure. However, concentrated solar thermal (CST) could deliver up to half of the heat required. Australian researchers have for the first time demonstrated a novel solar reactor for calcined alumina, a process which typically occurs at approximately 950°C. The researchers have shown at lab scale that good conversion – up to 96% – can be achieved in this high-temperature solar calciner for 3 seconds – without preheating. This shows that with preheating, a good conversion may be technically feasible at large scale. Besides, the use of solar in itself has the potential to improve the quality of the alumina by avoiding contamination from...
FYI Resources Limited said that it completed stage two production trial of high purity alumina from its pilot plant facility in Welshpool, Western Australia, following several positive feedback and multiple requests from various potential offtake groups for additional HPA product, which will specially assist in the qualification process for the LED lighting and lithium-ion battery (LiB) markets. FYI Resources’ pilot plant in Welshpool operated in line with expectations and design parameters, including recoveries, providing validation of the previous excellent operational performance during stage one operations. FYI managing director Roland Hill said, “We are incredibly pleased with the outcome of the stage two pilot plant trial production run. This is another significant step up in terms...
A cargo ship bringing alumina feedstock to Tomago Aluminium has been seized on the dock at Newcastle over alleged underpayment and other breaches of seafarers' minimum conditions by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Dean Summers, the head of the ITF in Australia, said: “The ship, the Unison Jasper, had been recently seized in Brisbane over underpayment but had been allowed to leave again after $93,000 in wages was paid to 11 Burmese crew.” Mr Summers said: “More paperwork had come to light showing another $60,000 at least was still owed, and so the vessel had been detained at Kooragang Island, where it just had unloaded its cargo of alumina.” "It won't be going anywhere until this is sorted.” Matt Howell, CEO, Tomago Aluminium, said: “The company did not own or operate...
In June 2020, the alumina production (including metallurgical-grade alumina) in North America stood at 223,000 tonnes, up by 6.19 per cent month-on-month from 210,000 tonnes, according to the data released by the International Aluminium Institute. However, on a year-on-year basis, the production in June stood down by 6.30 per cent from 238,000 tonnes. As per the IAI data, the alumina production in North America in Q2 2020 declined quarter-on-quarter by 3.72 per cent from 672,000 tonnes to 647,000 tonnes, and over the year by 9.76 per cent from 717,000 tonnes. In the first half of the year, the accumulative production of alumina in North America totalled 1.32 million tonnes compared to 1.42 million tonnes during the same period last year. So, the total output in H1 2020 edged lower by 7.04...
Altech Chemicals Limited has released its quarterly reports ended June 2020 mentioning the recommencement of its high purity alumina site in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on June 3, 2020, following the lifting of the Malaysian government COVID-19 pandemic Movement Control Order (MCO). The quarterly reports have also made a note of the completion of remaining Stage-2 construction work, which included the finishing work of electrical substation consisted of internal fit-out, drainage, sewage, and landscaping, at Altech’s high purity alumina (HPA) plant site in Johor. This marks the completion of all works included in the Stage 2 construction scope by the appointed EPC contractor Metix. A formal handover inspection of the substation was conducted towards the end of June 2020 and the small number of...
The global alumina production in June 2020 decreased on a monthly basis by 2.83 per cent to stand at 10.98 million tonnes versus 11.3 million tonnes in May, found the International Aluminium Institute. On a year-on-year comparison, the production in June stood flat as the world alumina output during the same period last year was 10.95 million tonnes. The total production in the first half of 2020 came in at 66.05 million tonnes, up by 1 per cent from 65.59 million tonnes in H1 2019. In the second quarter of 2020, the global alumina production stood higher by 1 per cent quarter-on-quarter from 32.86 million tonnes to 33.19 million tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, the output in Q2 was up by 1.37 per cent from 32.74 million tonnes. China, being the world's largest producer of alumina,...
The average spot alumina price in China has dropped by RMB 27 per tonne on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 to stand at RMB 2416 per tonne. Alumina prices declined across all major markets in China, except South. The prices of alumina in East, Central, and North China markets have declined by RMB 25 per tonne, RMB 30 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 2400 per tonne, RMB 2410 per tonne, and RMB 2410 per tonne. Alumina-South remains unchanged at RMB 2520 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price on Wednesday, 29 July 2020 has extended rise by RMB 110 per tonne to stand at RMB 14780 per tonne. This marks the third consecutive increase in aluminium ingot prices. The price is expected to move within a range of RMB 14760 per tonne-14800 per tonne. Aluminium prices in Foshan, Wuxi, and Hangzhou...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price has declined for the second consecutive day by RMB 24 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,443 per tonne, as of Tuesday, July 28. The price in the east China market has dropped the highest by RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 2,425 per tonne, while that in the central and north has dwindled by RMB 25 per tonne to RMB 2,440 per tonne. In the south, however, the alumina spot price has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has also declined by RMB 25 per tonne to clock at RMB 2,425 per tonne. The Australian alumina spot price has remained unchanged, on the other hand, at US$ 281 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price in China, on the other hand, has recorded an increase of RMB 90 per tonne to come in at...
The average spot alumina price in China is down by RMB 24 per tonne on Monday, 27 July 2020. Alumina price stands at RMB 2467 per tonne, after declining by RMB 4 per tonne on Friday. Alumina prices have decreased in Central and North markets in China. The prices of alumina in Central, and North China markets have reduced by RMB 35 per tonne and RMB 25 to stand at RMB 2465 per tonne each. Alumina price in East and South remains unchanged at RMB 2465 per tonne and RMB 2520 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price has risen by RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 14580 per tonne on Monday, 27 July 2020, from its previous price of RMB 14540 per tonne. The price is expected to move within a range of RMB 14560-14600 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in Foshan, Wuxi and Hangzhou stand at RMB 14530 per tonne, RMB...
The Shanghai Metals Market data shows that the average spot price of alumina has dropped by RMB 4 per tonne after remaining restrained for the last ten days. On Friday, July 24, the alumina price has come in at RMB 2,491 per tonne compared to RMB 2,495 per tonne during July 13-23, found SMM. In the east and north, the average alumina price has declined by RMB 10 per tonne to stand respectively at RMB 2,465 per tonne and RMB 2,490 per tonne, while that in the central and south has continued to hover at RMB 2,500 per tonne and RMB 2,520 per tonne, respectively. The prices of imported alumina and Australian alumina FOB have also not recorded any changes today from RMB 2,450 per tonne and US$ 281 per tonne, according to SMM. The A00 aluminium ingot price has also recorded a downfall of RMB 10...
Hydro announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Golar Power for the use of environmentally friendly natural gas at the Hydro Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. The company aims to replace a major part of its current fuel oil consumption at the refinery with natural gas. “Hydro is committed to drive sustainability and industry best practices. The LNG project will help make our operation more sustainable and will enable access to natural gas for other industries and consumers in the state of Pará,” said John Thuestad, Executive Vice President for Hydro’s Bauxite & Alumina business area. The supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to be available in Barcarena during 2022. Hydro aims to adapt the calcination process and part of the steam generation at...
Despite the robust second-quarter earnings, Norsk Hydro analysed that it might face higher production costs going ahead in the third quarter of 2020. The overall production costs of alumina fell to a four-year low of $192 per tonne in Q2 2020, but in the third quarter, rising costs would likely add $15-20 a tonne, said Norsk Hydro executives on a call with analysts. “If we look into third-quarter we expect to see an increase in the main raw materials ... costs are expected between 20-30% for the two materials (fuel oil and caustic soda),” chief financial officer Paal Kildemo said. Hydro’s Chief Executive Hilde Merete Aasheim even signalled that higher production costs might mean lower profit in the third quarter of 2020. In the second quarter results, Hydro reported an increase in its...
The Industrial Residue activation for continual cement production, project 'ReActiv' will create an ultra-modern and feasible value chain, clamping bauxite residue, the offshoot of the alumina production with the cement industry. The only calcined alumina producer of Romania, ALUM takes part as a stakeholder in ReActiv project. The alumina company will deliver appropriate samples of bauxite residue to be processed in the project and business plan development, mainly in regards to prospective technology deployment at cement plants. ALUM is member of a 21-company consortium which will implement the ReActiv project, under the coordination of LafargeHolcim, through its Research and Development Centre. Gheorghe Dobra, CEO of ALUM said: 'Through ReActiv project, altogether with several industry...
The Noble Group has formed a treaty with the Jamaican Government to reorganise the assets and operations of alumina refinery Jamalco into a holding company that will raise equity capital on the stock market. The unnamed company is expected to list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, JSE. Noble Group said in its newly released financial results: “After the year-end, Noble and the Government of Jamaica agreed to put their respective interests in Jamalco into a newly incorporated Jamaican company which will own and operate the assets and business going forward,” Jamalco is owned 55% by Hong Kong-based Noble Group and 45% by Jamaica through Clarendon Alumina Production, CAP. The nation’s economic reform programme with the IMF, Jamaica had committed to divest its holdings in CAP and was said to...
According to the International Aluminium Institute data, the world alumina production in May 2020 stood at 11.1 million tonnes, up by 1.74 per cent from 10.91 million tonnes in April 2020. When compared to a year earlier, the output was found almost flat. In May 2019, global alumina production was 11.03 million tonnes. The total global production of alumina in the first five months of 2020 came in at 54.87 million tonnes, almost flat compared to 54.63 million tonnes of production during the corresponding period last year. China, being the leading alumina producer, churned out 5.66 million tonnes in May 2020, up by 1.62 per cent from 5.57 million tonnes in the previous month. However, on a year-on-year comparison, China’s alumina production in May 2020 stood down by 5 per cent from 5.96...
