AlCircle News Edited By "Prerana Pradhan"
Prerana Pradhan is a budding digital marketer with a strong interest in writing and creative strategy. While pursuing her MBA in Digital Marketing, she is uncovering new ways to connect aluminium with compelling content.
China and India cut Indonesian coal Imports in favour of higher-grade alternatives
Top thermal coal importers China and India are significantly reducing their purchases from Indonesia, the world’s largest coal exporter, in favour of higher-energy coal from alternative sources. This strategic shift comes as a global decline in prices has made more energy-dense coal grades economically attractive. Image Credit: britannica.com Industry officials say that while high-calorific value (CV) coal is more expensive, it produces more energy per dollar spent. “Higher CV coal is more expensive, but produces more energy for every dollar spent at current prices. One million tons of higher CV coal can replace 1.2-1.3 million tonnes or even 1.5 million tonnes from Indonesia,” said Vasudev Pamnani, director at India-based coal trader I-Energy Natural Resources. In China, Indonesian...
China Airlines delays retirement of older aircraft amid Boeing 787 delivery setbacks, possibly due to tariffs on aluminium and steel
China Airlines, Taiwan’s oldest carrier, founded in 1959, has postponed plans to retire several older aircraft due to ongoing delays in receiving its Boeing 787-9 jets. The setback may trigger compensation clauses outlined in the purchase contract, according to newly appointed Chairman George Kao. Image credit: en.wikipedia.org The airline is undergoing a significant fleet modernisation effort. In a major deal last year, it split a nearly USD 12 billion long-haul aircraft order between US-based Boeing and European manufacturer Airbus. As part of its strategy, China Airlines placed orders for 24 Boeing 787s, comprising 18 787-9s and six 787-10s, intended for regional and select long-haul operations. However, Kao confirmed that the timeline for phasing out ageing Airbus A330S and Boeing...
Over 25,000 aluminium cans collected at Download Festival by Every Can Counts
Every Can Counts, a not-for-profit recycling initiative, announced that it collected more than 25,000 aluminium drink cans during the Download Festival held at Donington Park from June 10-14. Image credit: everycancounts.eu Festivalgoers were actively encouraged throughout the weekend to recycle their packaging responsibly and avoid single-use plastics. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the importance of proper recycling and sustainability practices. In a celebratory Facebook post, Every Can Counts shared highlights from their successful campaign at the Download Festival, expressing appreciation to festivalgoers for their enthusiastic participation. “Download Festival, you absolutely smashed it,” the post began, as the organisation recapped an action-packed weekend dedicated to...
CCL to ramp up capacity with two new coal mines in FY25
Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, is set to bring two new coal mines into production during the ongoing financial year, which is expected to boost its capacity by 10-12 million tonnes annually, according to a top official. Image credit: clarke-energy.com This expansion effort aligns with CCL’s production targets of surpassing 110 million tonnes this fiscal and reaching 150 million tonnes by 2030. “We have planned to open two new mines this year,” said Nilendu Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of CCL, speaking to reporters. Production at the Kotre Basantpur block, a coking coal mine with a peak rated capacity of 5 million tonnes, is scheduled to commence by October 2025. Meanwhile, the Chandragupta open-cast project, a non-coking coal mine with a...
Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Aluminium Association explore collaboration at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum
Daniyar Amangeldiev, First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, met with Irina Kazovskaya, Chairwoman of the Russian Aluminium Association, to explore avenues for cooperation during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to Trend, citing the Kyrgyz Cabinet. Image credit: eaeunion.org The meeting also included top officials from RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers. Discussions centred on innovative aluminium projects currently underway in Russia and abroad. These initiatives involve cutting-edge aluminium applications used extensively in infrastructure development, including bridges, roads and metal structures. Alongside the presentation of these projects, both sides exchanged views on the broader prospects for the aluminium...
Vedanta Aluminium expands BALCO’s wire rod capacity to power India’s digital and industrial future
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has announced the expansion of wire rod production capacity at its subsidiary, Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), as part of its broader growth strategy to scale overall aluminium production to 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). This move comes amid surging domestic demand driven by the rapid development of India’s digital infrastructure and industrial growth. With India accelerating its 5G rollout, rural broadband expansion, smart city projects, and cloud infrastructure, aluminium is gaining prominence as the material of choice. Its high conductivity, corrosion resistance, lightweight and strength make it ideal for modern infrastructure needs. BALCO’s BIS-certified aluminium wire rods are playing a pivotal role in supporting this...
Collapse at Rusal-owned Russian bauxite mine triggers safety probe
According to the regional prosecutor's office, two workers were injured and hospitalised following a wall collapse at a bauxite mine operated by a subsidiary of Russian metals producer Rusal (RUAL.MM) in the Urals. The incident took place at a depth of 1,172 metres (3,845 feet) within the Cheremukhovskaya-Glubokaya mine, owned by Rusal’s subsidiary SUBR. The mine is recognised as the second deepest in Russia and ranks among the deepest globally. Authorities have initiated a safety compliance inspection at the facility in response to the incident. SUBR confirmed that the collapse occurred when the wall of one of the mine workings gave way and added that the miners were promptly brought to the surface. “The scene of the incident is being examined. Work at other mine levels is proceeding as...
Solar stocks tumble as Senate tax bill targets renewable energy incentives
Solar energy stocks dropped sharply on Tuesday following the release of the US Senate’s version of President Donald Trump’s tax bill, which proposes a full phase-out of solar and wind energy tax incentives by 2028. Meanwhile, tax credits for nuclear, hydropower and geothermal energy remain intact for a longer period. Image credit: en.wikipedia.org The market reaction was swift. Shares of Enphase Energy fell over 17 per cent in premarket trading, First Solar declined around 12 per cent, Sunrun dropped more than 27 per cent and SolarEdge Technologies slid by 22 per cent. The proposed cuts are a major blow to the renewable energy sector, especially as these incentives had been central to former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, the Senate bill is seen as a slight...
VBX makes strong ASX debut as Wuudagu Bauxite project gains momentum
Shares in VBX, a new entrant in Australia’s bauxite sector, traded higher on its ASX debut following a successful USD 10 million IPO, owing to the strong investor confidence in the company’s promising Wuudagu project in Western Australia. Image credit: rawmin.com Listed under the ticker VBX, the stock opened trading and quickly climbed 15 per cent to reach USD 0.69 by June 17, 11:11 am. The IPO attracted several institutional investors, including Deutsche Balaton, Lowell Resources Fund and Terra Capital, reflecting market enthusiasm for the company’s strategy and asset base. VBX is the sole developer of the Wuudagu bauxite project, located in the remote Kimberley region of northern WA, around 15 km west of Kalamburu. The project hosts a 59 Mt reserve, boasting a high-grade specification...
Neoen powers up 350 MW Culcairn solar farm in New South Wales
Neoen Australia has officially announced the commissioning phase of its 350 MW Culcairn Solar Farm, one of the country’s largest solar initiatives. Located in the Riverina Murray region of southern New South Wales, the project marks a significant step in Australia’s renewable energy journey. Image source: solarreviews.com The solar farm, comprising nearly 760,000 panels and 100,000 piles across 1,000 hectares, is expected to be fully operational by 2026. Once complete, it will deliver an estimated 822,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power 160,000 homes. The project is also designed with the potential to integrate a battery energy storage system of up to 800 MWh. “It is time to start supplying our first electrons from this asset into NSW’s electricity network,” Neoen...
ITAC recommends maintaining 15% duty on aluminium rolled products to support the local industry
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) has recommended that the existing 15 per cent ad valorem customs duties on aluminium rolled products should remain in place. The decision aims to continue protecting domestic manufacturing and preserving employment opportunities. ITAC initiated a review of these duties in February 2023, covering aluminium plates, coils, sheets, can stock, strips and foil, key inputs across various sectors including automotive, marine, construction, electronics, solar energy, packaging and white goods. The commission assessed the impact of tariff support and ensured that the existing duty structure was not causing unintended consequences. Their findings highlighted continued challenges in domestic manufacturing, such as high...
Norsk Hydro successfully issues €500 million inaugural European Green Bond
Norsk Hydro ASA has announced the successful placement of its inaugural European Green Bond (EuGB), issuing EUR 500 million (USD 571 million) in senior unsecured bonds under its Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) Programme. To be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange (Euronext Dublin), the bond carries a tenure of eight years and a fixed annual coupon rate of 3.75 per cent, with a reoffer yield of 3.779 per cent. Image credit: hydro “We are delighted to have completed such a successful placement and issued our inaugural EuGB. The strong interest confirms that Hydro is considered an attractive investment for bond investors, supporting our strategy of pioneering the green aluminium transition, powered by renewable energy. We are pleased to have achieved highly competitive terms,” said Trond Olaf...
Qcells launches EcoRecycle facility in Georgia to pioneer solar panel recycling in the US
Qcells, a South Korean solar manufacturer with production facilities in the US and Malaysia, has officially launched EcoRecycle by Qcells, its first dedicated solar panel recycling operation. The initial facility is set to be established in Cartersville, Georgia, where Qcells is also ramping up solar module manufacturing with a planned production capacity of 3.3 GW. Image credit: redington.solar Once fully operational, the EcoRecycle plant will be capable of recycling approximately 250 MW of solar panels annually, translating to around 500,000 panels per year. With this initiative, Qcells becomes the first crystalline silicon (C-Si) solar panel producer to integrate both manufacturing and recycling operations in the US. “With this new business, Qcells will emerge as the first-ever...
MIT unveils a cost-effective green hydrogen production tech from recycled aluminium and seawater
Researchers at MIT have developed a novel method to produce sustainable green hydrogen using recycled aluminium and seawater, a breakthrough that promises dramatically lower emissions and cost compared to traditional methods. Conventional hydrogen production relies heavily on steam methane reforming, which emits 9-12 kg of CO₂ per kg of hydrogen, far from climate-friendly. Even “green” hydrogen via solar or wind-powered electrolysis remains resource-intensive and expensive. MIT’s innovative method harnesses the aluminium-water reaction (AWR), when aluminium reacts with water, it generates hydrogen, heat and aluminium oxyhydroxide. Aluminium’s abundance and high energy density (twice that of diesel by volume) make it an appealing feedstock. “We were explaining the science of this process...
RUSAL rolls out low-carbon aluminium foundry alloys for the auto industry
RUSAL has officially launched commercial production of its new Primary Equivalent Foundry Alloys (PEFA), tailored for the automotive industry. These innovative alloys incorporate up to 40 per cent post-consumer aluminium scrap, marking a significant step towards sustainable manufacturing in the sector. The production is being carried out at the Irkutsk Aluminium Smelter, where RUSAL has also expanded the use of recycled metals. The PEFA production builds upon the company’s earlier initiative launched in early 2023, which began with trial runs incorporating 20 per cent end-of-life aluminium scrap. The process integrates post-consumer scrap into molten low-carbon ALLOW aluminium, RUSAL’s proprietary brand made using renewable energy sources. This production method results in a carbon...
India-Oman FTA talks progressing; 'Good News Soon', says Minister Piyush Goyal
Negotiations between India and Oman for the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), officially referred to as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), are progressing well, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal indicating that positive developments are expected shortly. Image credit: facebook.com “I think you will see some good news very soon on the Oman FTA,” Goyal told reporters when asked whether the deal could be finalised this year. The talks for the CEPA began formally in November 2023 and gained significant momentum following Goyal’s visit to Muscat in January 2025. The minister is currently in France for official engagements, which include discussions with French leaders and businesses to bolster trade and investment ties, as well as participation in a...
Packaging firms warn that doubling tariffs on steel and aluminium may escalate food costs
The proposed doubling of tariffs on imported steel and aluminium to 50 per cent is sparking concerns across the packaging sector, with warnings that the move could increase food costs and disrupt supply chains. The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Aluminium Association have voiced strong opposition to the policy, citing widespread repercussions for businesses and consumers. Image credit: crowncork The tariff increase, announced by President Donald Trump during a visit to a Pittsburgh steel plant, is intended to protect the domestic steel industry. The announcement coincided with his recognition of Japan-based Nippon Steel’s planned acquisition of US Steel. Despite a recent court ruling blocking many levies, these specific tariffs remain unaffected. Also read: Coca-Cola looking to...
Turning rejects into resources: GBC’s proposed Awaso refinery to process low-grade bauxite
The Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) has reportedly clarified that its sole purpose for building a state-of-the-art alumina refinery is to process low-grade bauxite that has been rejected by international markets. Image credit: ghanabauxite General Manager of GBC, Alexander Gyedu, said: “Some of the areas we are mining, the quality is a bit low, but if we have the refinery, the 48 per cent alumina content and below will be refined. Currently, such ore is dumped in the tailing dam, which is now full but contains deposits averaging 47 per cent alumina, suitable for refining.” GBC’s report on processing low-grade bauxite followed the announcement of its plan to accelerate the construction of the refinery, as part of its strategic moves towards enhancing domestic bauxite processing...
