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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The average alumina spot prices in China have continued to rally upon the market boost on Chalco’s announcement of alumina production cut, found Shanghai Metals Market. On Tuesday, July 7, the average alumina spot price has expanded by RMB 35 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,370 per tonne. In the central and north, the average alumina price has also recorded a hike of RMB 35 per tonne to hover at RMB 2,380 per tonne, while that in the east has grown by RMB 50 per tonne to come in at RMB 2,350 per tonne, according to SMM data. In the south, however, the price has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has jumped by RMB 25 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,300 per tonne, but the Australian alumina FOB price has remained muted at US$ 264 per tonne. However, despite the...
The average spot alumina price in China is up by RMB 2 per tonne on Monday, 06 July 2020 to stand at RMB 2335 per tonne. Alumina prices remain unchanged across all major markets in China, except East. The average spot alumina price in East China is up by RMB 10 per tonne. Alumina price stands at RMB 2300 per tonne, after raising it by RMB30 per tonne on Friday. Australian alumina FOB price stands USD 2 per tonne higher on Monday, 06 July 2020. The price now stands at USD 264 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price has increased by RMB 20 per tonne from its earlier price of RMB 14420 per tonne. The price now stands at RMB 14440 per tonne. The price is expected to move within a range of RMB 14420-14460 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in Foshan, Wuxi and Hangzhou stand at RMB 14470 per tonne,...
The alumina prices in China increased last week after Chalco announced it would cut alumina production. Alumina prices rose RMB 46 per tonne from thursday to RMB2,333 per tonne in the week ended July 3, according to SMM assessments. Alumina price trended higher over the week. Profit recovery at downstream is spreading to the alumina industry, which is one of the major drivers of the recent rally in alumina prices, Shanghai Metals Market believes. Chalco said it would implement “flexible production” at three alumina production lines in accordance with market conditions. Flexible production is a phrase used to refer to output cuts. The three refineries, at subsidiaries Shanxi Huaxing and Shanxi New Material in northern China’s Shanxi province, represent about 10% of the company total...
Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh joined hands with Kalahandi District Police Administration in a grand blood donation event organized at Vedanta Hospital on 3 rd July’20, under the Odisha Government’s ‘My Government’ initiative. 95 units of blood were collected during the voluntary blood donation event with the support of police personnel, employees and associate partners of Vedanta along with members from the nearby community. Mr Rakesh Mohan, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh unit while recognizing the volunteers for their donation, said: “We are glad to be a part of this blood donation drive initiated by the District Police, Kalahandi. We have received proactive support and cooperation from our employees and associate partners in donating their blood for this...
The alumina price in China performed higher over the week, except Monday. The price on Tuesday increased by RMB 15 per tonne to stand at RMB 2276 per tonne, after remaining flat on Monday. The price stood at RMB 2333 per tonne on Friday July 3, up RMB 46 per tonne from RMB 2287 per tonne on Thursday. Other raw materials like Bauxite(4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5)Shanxi stood at RMB 380 per tonne on Thursday, 02 July 2020, an increase of RMB 10 per tonne, after remaining flat at RMB 370 per tonne since June 24. The average price is expected to move within a range of RMB 360-RMB 400 per tonne. Alumina (Imported), Australian Alumina FOB Price, Prebaked Anode Central, and Al Fluoride are hovering at RMB 2275 per tonne, USD 262 per tonne, RMB 2810 per tonne and RMB 7550 per tonne as of Friday, July 3 2020....
Since the time Alcoa declared its decision to not renew a long-standing lime supply contract with Adbri-owned Cockburn Cement, Adbri started seeing a plunge in its shares. According to the report, the company’s share price closed 25 per cent lower on Friday at $2.35. Alcoa’s decision is believed to have stripped $515 million from the value of the company, formerly known as Adelaide Brighton. Lime is a strategic material needed for alumina refining, and Alcoa had almost 50-year uninterrupted supply relationship with Adbri for sourcing lime. Also, Alcoa’s decision to terminate the contract is estimated to risk up to 50 jobs, including contractors at Adbri. The contract used to contribute $70 million to Adbri's annual revenue. The company said it would not possible to quantify the full...
Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh observed the National Electrical Safety week recently to strengthen the importance of adhering to safety norms while handling the electrical equipment and machinery. The alumina refinery is commended for upholding the highest standards of safety and with the monsoons arriving; the plant has hastened its electrical safety preparedness. Outspreading awareness of electrical safety among its employees and associate partners is one such vital initiative in this direction. From 26 th June’20, the week-long observation commenced. It incorporated multiple activities like electrical safety training for the employees, safety quiz for employees and associate partners, electrical safety model presentation and field electrical safety campaign. As a step towards...
Reuters reported Chalco would implement “flexible production” at three alumina production lines in accordance with market conditions. Flexible production is a phrase used to refer to output cuts. The three refineries, at subsidiaries Shanxi Huaxing and Shanxi New Material in northern China’s Shanxi province, represent about 10% of the company total capacity. The plants have total capacity of 1.8 million tonnes per year, state-run Chalco said in a Shanghai Stock Exchange filing. Chalco, which has an annual capacity of 18.86 million tonnes, produced 13.8 million tonnes in 2019. In April, the company said it would plan to reduce alumina production if prices remained low. Average alumina prices in China have increased over 10% from a four-year low in April to RMB2,287 per tonne but are down...
The average alumina spot price in China has recorded a significant hike for the fourth day in a row, higher from the earlier three days, found Shanghai Metals Market. SMM data shows the price has climbed by RMB 46 per tonne or 2.01 per cent to stand at RMB 2,333 per tonne, as of Friday, July 3, marking the second-highest growth this year since April 20 when the alumina spot price had increased by RMB 51 per tonne from RMB 2,064 per tonne to RMB 2,115 per tonne. In the east, the average alumina spot price has increased by RMB 30 per tonne to clock at RMB 2,290 per tonne, while that in the central and north has surged by RMB 55 per tonne to RMB 2,345 per tonne. In the south, however, the alumina price has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has registered...
Alcoa of Australia Limited (Alcoa) decided to terminate its current lime supply contract with Adbri Limited. Adbri Limited announced that its subsidiary, Cockburn Cement Limited, has been informed by Alcoa that it would not renew its agreement. Lime is a strategic material needed for alumina refining. Adbri CEO Nick Miller said: “We are disappointed with Alcoa’s decision to displace locally manufactured product with imports from multiple sources, particularly considering our almost 50-year uninterrupted supply relationship. We will work quickly to mitigate the impact on local jobs supporting our lime business and we remain committed to supplying our WA resources sector customers.” The contract constitutes approximately $70 million in annual revenue for the Group. The company said its...
Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL) has mounted a holistic CSR strategy. Its main attempt is to be substantive to the lives of the underprivileged. Through its development initiatives, it has helped in enhancing the socio-economic conditions of people in these areas. The development initiatives by UAIL are focussed on providing better health, education, livelihood and other facilities to the villagers. Launched in September’19, UAIL’s Project Sambhab, focus at building an alternative source of livelihood through orchard development. A total of 19 farmers of Ratachuan, Hatikhaman, Jogiparitunda and Narignjodi are receiving assistance for the banana, guava, papaya and drumstick plantations, along with fertiliser and pesticides. This apart, the farmers also get on-farm agro-advisory...
The average spot alumina price in China is up by RMB 5 per tonne on Wednesday, 01 July 2020. Alumina price stands at RMB 2281 per tonne, after rising by RMB 15 per tonne on June 30. Alumina prices have increased across all major markets in China, except South. The prices of alumina in East, Central, and North China markets have climbed by RMB 5 per tonne each to stand at RMB 2255 per tonne, RMB 2285 per tonne, and RMB 2285 per tonne. Alumina-South remains unchanged at RMB 2520 per tonne. Alumina (Imported) price stands at RMB 2250 per tonne on Wednesday, 01 July 2020, after remaining flat at RMB 2225 per tonne since June 12. The average price is up by RMB25 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price stands USD 2 per tonne higher. The price stands at USD 262 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot...
Huaxing alumina refinery, located in Shanxi province of northern China, has temporarily closed one of its production lines following an equipment accident, reported several sources on Monday, June 29. According to market estimates, the alumina production line could take 20 to 30 days to return to full operation. Until then, it may remove around 50,000 to 80,000 tonnes of alumina supply from the Chinese domestic market. Huaxing alumina refinery was co-founded by Aluminum Corp of China (Chalco) and China Resources (Holdings) Co in 2010. It has a full alumina production capacity of 2.2 million tonnes per year. But until the beginning of June when the refinery resumed its idled 1.2 million tonnes per year to bring to full capacity, it was operating at 1 million tonnes per year. However, the...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, average spot alumina price in China has increased to RMB 2276 per tonne on June 30, after remaining flat at RMB 2261 since June 18. This marks an increase of RMB 15 per tonne. The prices of alumina in East, Central, and North China markets have risen by RMB 25 per tonne, RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne to stand at RMB 2250 per tonne, RMB 2280 per tonne, and RMB 2280 per tonne. Alumina-South remains unchanged at RMB 2520 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price on Tuesday, 30 June 2020 has extended rise by RMB 80 per tonne to stand at RMB 14170 per tonne. This marks the second consecutive increase in aluminium ingot prices. The price is expected to move within a range of RMB 14150 per tonne-14190 per tonne. Aluminium prices in Foshan, Wuxi, and...
According to a recent report, Alcoa has come up with its 2021 recruitment campaign for apprentices despite the COVID-19 crisis and weak economy. The company says that it plans to recruit 24 apprentices, who will join 101 other apprentices in Western Australia alumina refineries in January 2021. The apprenticeship programme is for four years, and upon completion the participants will earn a nationally recognised trade certificate in mechanical fitting, heavy duty plant mechanics, fabrication and welding or industrial electrical instrumentation. Alcoa also says that it is offering industry competitive remuneration and benefits to the apprentices so that they are able to live close to operations located in the Peel region and Perth. Alcoa human resources and employee relations director...
The Indian refractory companies are making arrangements to source vital raw materials like alumina from new destinations to lower dependency from China, as pressure builds on the industry to secure untroubled supplies. The pivotal refractory companies have already held conversations with leading metal and steel makers like Tata Steel, JSW Steel and Steel Authority to lessen the dependence on China. Sameer Nagpal, Group CEO, Dalmia OCL said: “India-China trade tensions have been there for the past three years, and now is the high time we need to kind of de-risk that. We as a company have tried to source raw material outside China to balance out the ecosystem.” “More than 40% of the raw materials for refractory companies in India are sourced from China.” Pramod Sagar, Chairman, Indian...
On Tuesday, June 23, Chinese alumina market participants reported that they are keeping a close eye to Hydro’s recent power outage in Brazil to determine if the incident would cause a long-term alumina supply disruption. “Although it might impact only around 100,000 tonnes of alumina supply to the world, we are still uncertain as to whether [the Paragomias bauxite mine] will be back on time, especially when the Covid-19 outbreak is so serious in Brazil now,” said an alumina trader in Beijing. Hydro announced on Monday, June 22, that its production at Paragominas bauxite mine in the state of Pará in northern Brazil is at a temporary halt due to power outage as three power transmission towers overturned on Saturday, June 20. Since the Paragominas mine supplies bauxite to Alunorte alumina...
RUSAL opened a new multifunctional medical center for the treatment of infectious diseases in Guinea. The center, built within the Friguia bauxite-alumina complex, has an isolated infectious diseases department, a sanitary checkpoint for medical staff, an observatory, and an intensive care unit. Yakov Itskov, Director of RUSAL's alumina business, said: "RUSAL strives not only to meet the highest standards in bauxite mining and alumina production in the country, but also to follow best practices to protect our employees, their families and residents of the region from epidemics and pandemics. In 2015, the Company did everything possible to help Guinea fight Ebola and the opening of the new Center is an important part of our contribution to strengthening the country's health system." To...
