AlCircle News Edited By "Pratyusha Chatterjee"
A writer with 5+ years of experience in the communication industry, Pratyusha Chatterjee has indulged in content from the business, lifestyle, travel industries and more. Apart from news and content, Pratyusha is immensely fond of participating in cultural events and managing them.
Bauxite, alumina, and Gallium: Metlen’s €295.5M vision for Europe’s autonomous economic future
Metlen Energy & Metals, an Athens-listed group, has asserted a substantial investment of 295.5 million euros aimed at the development of an incorporated bauxite, alumina and gallium production line. Image Source: https://www.metlengroup.com/ The investment was approved on January 16, 2025, during the joint session with the enterprise’s Capital Allocation Committee (CAC) and is going to be for the historic Aluminium of Greece plant in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia. Evangelos Mytilineos, Metlen President and CEO stated: “Metlen’s decision to proceed with the implementation of a new, emblematic industrial investment for the production of bauxite, alumina and gallium strengthens Europe’s self-sufficiency in critical raw materials, as well as Greece’s strategic position on the world map. It also...
Australia powers up: PM announces $2 billion boost to green aluminium revolution
On Monday, January 20, 2025, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese declared an AU$ 2 billion (US$1.24 billion) investment strategy to foster the Australian aluminium production journey towards a greener future. Aluminium smelters transitioning to renewable power, with every tonne of the metal produced using renewable electricity over a 10-year period to 2036, is deemed to fall under the payment scheme of the funding. Image Source: https://gmk.center/ Albanes has shared that investing in the local aluminium industry is a ‘massive opportunity’ to create jobs and set Australia up for the future, adding, “We’ve got the resources, the workers, and the know-how -- the only thing we don’t have is time to waste.” The prime minister optimistically conveyed, “We are building Australia’s...
Here’s why India needs aluminium as its cornerstone to achieve her ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision
The non-ferrous green metal has changed the nation’s economic sustainability for countries like USA and UAE. Yes, we are talking about aluminium’s indispensability in domestic as well as commercial sectors across the globe. However, India is yet to utilise the full potential of one of the most promising base metals. With timely interventions, India can depend upon aluminium as the cornerstone of its Viksit Bharat vision, nurturing a bright economic future for the republic. Recent global incidents have endowed India with a hoard of opportunities and challenges, wherein bullish trade dynamics in aluminium are resurging off the back of its versatile applications. China’s decision to put a stop to its export tax rebate policy is a significant development that is likely to increase the price...
Norsk Hydro ASA issues EUR 500 million in Senior Unsecured Green Bonds
Norsk Hydro ASA has successfully issued €500 million of senior unsecured green bonds under its Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) Programme. The new bond has a tenure of seven years and a fixed annual coupon of 3.625 per cent (3.649 per cent reoffer yield). Image Source: Hydro “We are very satisfied to have completed such a successful placement and issued our inaugural green bond. The strong interest confirms that Hydro is an attractive investment for bond investors. We are pleased to have achieved highly competitive terms,” said CFO Trond Olaf Christophersen. A green Eurobond is a type of bond issued to fund environmentally friendly projects within the European Union (EU). The proceeds from green Eurobonds are used to finance projects contributing to a low-carbon economy. The funds raised from...
World Economic Forum honours Morocco’s CITIC Dicastal as a manufacturing pioneer
CITIC Dicastal’s Morocco plant has been recognised as Africa’s first ‘Lighthouse Factory’ by the World Economic Forum, marking a significant milestone in the continent’s embrace of intelligent manufacturing, particularly among nations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. Experts have said that this recognition also supports Africa’s industrialisation and sustainable development. A ‘Lighthouse Factory’ represents the pinnacle of intelligent manufacturing and digitalisation, serving as a model for the best practices in applying ‘Industry 4.0’ technologies. The latest cohort of Lighthouse Factories offers a blueprint for the accelerated deployment of artificial intelligence solutions that enhance productivity, improve problem-solving capabilities, and foster innovation, according...
Technical challenges hinder PNG adoption by refractory manufacturers in India
Despite persistent efforts by government authorities to promote piped natural gas (PNG) for industrial operations, refractory manufacturers in Punjab have raised significant concerns, citing technical challenges. They argue that PNG is unsuitable for high-temperature manufacturing processes and are urging the authorities to permit the use of pet coke under stringent pollution control measures. Image generated with AI tool The issue is currently being examined by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which is hearing a complaint regarding air quality violations by coal-fired furnaces in Mandi Gobindgarh. These furnaces are associated with industries such as recycled steel production, ceramics/refractories, cupola furnaces, and rolling mills. In response to pollution concerns, the NGT...
Guyana 2024: Bauxite mining outmatches 225% as compared to 2023
The Guyana Government has revealed that the bauxite mining business is back with a bang as 2024 witnessed a new high of production inflation amounting to 225 per cent as compared to 2023, with 1.7 million tonnes produced from the two overseas companies that mine in the nation. “Bauxite has been a success story over the last few years. In 2023, the production of bauxite was at 523,732 tonnes,” Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said during his ministry’s annual review press conference. Image Source: https://www.kayak.co.in/Guyana.103.dc.guide Earlier in January, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali , President of Guyana, proudly commented during his official statement on the substantial improvement of bauxite production in the country during his tenure. In his statement, he mentioned the...
18 headstrong years: Kaiser Aluminum maintains dividend tradition with 4.3% yield
Kaiser Aluminum (NASDAQ: KALU), a leading producer of speciality aluminium products, announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.77 per share. This dividend, representing a 4.3 per cent yield, is scheduled to be paid on February 14, 2025 to shareholders on record as of January 24 2025. According to InvestingPro, the company has maintained its dividend payments for 18 consecutive years, with a consistent commitment to shareholder returns. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, Kaiser Aluminum has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, engineered solutions across various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and general engineering. Established in 1946, the company is a significant player in the aluminium sector, specialising in...
Is Germany playing a responsible part in Guinean bauxite mining?
While bauxite plays a crucial role in the global economic and trade landscape, the mining of the substance should not ideally pose a threat to humanity. Guinean bauxite mining, especially when coming to German firms, has long seen a different reality. Image Source: https://www.energymonitor.ai/ For quite some time, Germany’s lion’s share of its bauxite import has been from the African state of Guinea. In 2016, the German commercial bank ING DiBa provided the largest single credit of a consortium (including the World Bank Group) loan of over €248 million for the expansion of a bauxite mine through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, also known as BMWK, through ‘guarantees for untied financial loans’, reserving 15 per cent of the mine’s annual output. According to...
Rio Tinto X ALCORE equals nationwide relief from aluminium fluoride imports
ABx Group (ASX:ABX) has set a sustainable example as the company agreed upon a lease with Rio Tinto for a waste-to-product industrial facility next to the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in northern Tasmania. Image Source: https://abxgroup.com.au/alcore The company has an 83 per cent shareholding of its refining technology subsidiary ALCORE, which is accountable for the construction of a pilot plant at the facility, enticing a 500-square-kilometre building on an industrial site. It proffers permits to local engineering services and suppliers in the Bell Bay region of Australia. ABx, with its stock market value of US$9 million, has the intent of making nominal adjustments to serve the continuity of the plant through its subsidiary firm ALCORE, which will demonstrate its world-first proprietary...
Flying Flea: Royal Enfield’s high-tech electric motorbike collaboration with Qualcomm
Bike enthusiasts, prepare for a thrilling ride into the future! Flying Flea, Royal Enfield’s electrifying new EV brand, has teamed up with Qualcomm Technologies to revolutionise the two-wheeler experience. The collaboration brings Qualcomm’s Snapdragon QWM2290 system-on-chip (SoC) and Snapdragon Car-to-Cloud Platform to Flying Flea’s electric motorcycles, promising smooth connectivity, performance, and rider personalisation. Image Source: https://flyingflea.royalenfield.com/ Unveiled globally at the Milan Motorcycle Show in November 2024, Flying Flea motorcycles blend advanced technology with Royal Enfield’s timeless style. With Qualcomm’s innovation at its heart, these bikes aim to redefine how riders interact with their machines. Tech-powered riding redefined The Snapdragon QWM2290 SoC,...
EPA to excavate contaminated soil from abandoned aluminium plant after 8 years wait
Leftover degraded soil at a closed-off aluminium facility located North of Columbia Falls will be converged and capped as per a chalked-out plan published last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Image for representational purposes only The EPA has figured out the doable for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company site along the Flathead River after 15 years of the plant’s shutdown and even eight years after the site made it to the National Priorities List, popularly known as the Superfund list. The 432-page Record of Decision majorly reminisces a rough version that was denounced by quite a few univocal locals who demanded the EPA to force the site’s owner, mining giant Glencore, to altogether excavate the contaminated soil. In the press release published on January 10,...
Aluminium Y-o-Y trade hike noted after bauxite export-import inflation in Ukraine
In 2024, aluminium and aluminium product imports inflated by 21.7 per cent Y-o-Y to US$446.006 million (with US$36.943 million in December). Aluminium exports rose by 27.4 per cent to US$124.408 million, with US$8.426 million in December, published in the customs data released by the States Customs Service of Ukraine. Aluminium and aluminium product exports from Ukraine during the first six months of 2024 were valued at US$54.175 million, up by 12.8 per cent Year-on-Year. In June alone, the export value was US$10.383 million. Also, as stated in the statistical report released by the State Customs Service (SCS) earlier, bauxite import in monetary terms increased by 50.9 per cent (USD 2.681 million) from January to October, indicating a 46.8 per cent growth Y-o-Y. This year's imports can be...
Annual updates from 2024: Top 10 aluminium recycling initiatives
The aluminium recycling industry is stepping into a new era in 2025, driven by ambitious projects announced and commenced in 2024 that combine innovation, sustainability, and community impact. From high-tech facilities to grassroots initiatives, these efforts are reshaping the way we recycle this infinitely reusable metal. Here’s an in-depth look at the top 10 aluminium recycling initiatives making headlines the past year. 1. Governor Tim Walz unveils $71 million recycling plant expansion Minnesota’s industrial landscape has been transformed with the $71 million expansion of Spectro Alloys’ recycling facility in Rosemount. Launched under the leadership of Governor Tim Walz , the state-of-the-art facility integrates pioneering technology to deliver an astounding 90 per cent reduction in...
AL demand surges substantially in Q3 across the US and Canada — industry agility weighs in
The Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia, has disclosed initial estimations of the domestic as well as transnational demand for the aluminium industry in North America (US and Canada) increased by 4.6 per cent through the first three quarters of 2024. The association’s ‘Aluminum Situation’ report stated that the non-ferrous metal’s demand across the US and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled approximately 20,712 million pounds from January to September of 2024 when compared with 19,798 million pounds in the identical months of 2023. Sheet and plate products witnessed a considerable Y-o-Y growth at 6.9 per cent, while foil, extrusions and electrical products showed descents. Among the AL products, the semi-fabricated, or ‘mill’ variants market leapt 2.5 per...
Decline in aluminium can recycling linked to youth drinking less?
The aluminium industry must cut its emissions intensity by 30 per cent by 2030 and 9 per cent by 2050 compared to 2022 levels to align with the International Aluminum Institute’s (IAI) 1.5-degree benchmark. To achieve this, absolute carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for aluminium (both primary and secondary) need to be reduced to 810 million tonnes in 2030 and further to 53 million tonnes by 2050. Image Source: Can Manufacturers Institute The industry has reduced emission intensity by 13.6 per cent from 2019 to 2023 which is primarily driven by improvements in reduced reliance on coal, increased secondary production and energy efficiencies. The absolute emission for aluminium (primary and secondary combined) was 1.13 gigatonne of CO2 e in 2019, decreasing to 1.12 gigatonne of CO2 e in 2023....
Exploring Alaska’s critical mineral potential is a whopping $9.4 million federal-funded programme
Alaska boasts deposits of 49 of the 50 minerals deemed critical to the United States economy, national security, and clean energy ambitions. Yet, many of these vital resources do not reside within traditional ore deposits. Instead, they are often byproducts of conventionally mined metals such as copper, gold, silver, and zinc or are associated with vast coal and carbon ore reserves scattered across the state. Image Source: https://www.ey.com/ To unlock Alaska’s potential as a major domestic supplier of critical minerals, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $7.5 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). This funding will support regional-scale assessments of critical minerals across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, which includes the states of Oregon and...
ADSW 2025 to bring state heads and ministers together to spark innovation for a sustainable AL future
Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2025 is set to convene an extraordinary assembly of global leaders. From 13 heads of state to over 140 ministers, business magnates, and technology pioneers, the ADSW Summit will take place on 14–15 January, igniting discussions on supercharging socioeconomic and technological advancements. This year, the event spotlights a potential US$10 trillion economic transformation, a theme that resonates with forward-thinking industries like aluminium. Pioneering progress at the ADSW summit The ADSW Summit, the centrepiece of the week, promises 34 dedicated sessions with over 70 renowned speakers, all focused on actionable strategies for sustainable growth....
