AlCircle News Edited By "Rupankar Majumder"
A professional with a technical background, specialising in producing insightful content centred around metals, particularly aluminium, passionately engaged in the intricacies of the recycling sector.
Cameroon’s National Mining Company Sonamines inks MoU with CREC5 to develop the bauxite deposits in Ngaoundal and Makan
On 18 th February 2022, the national mining company of Cameroon, Sonamines through its Director-General Serge Boyogueno, signed a memorandum of understanding with China Railways No. 5 Engineering Group Co. (CREC 5), a subsidiary of China Railways Group Ltd., to support Sonamines in the development of bauxite deposits in Ngaoundal and Makan, Adamaoua. Serge Hervé Boyogueno exemplifies, “Cameroon has three world-class bauxite deposits in Adamaoua (Minim-Martap, Ngaoundal, and Makan). Currently, their combined resources are estimated at one billion tonnes.” In July 2018, Cameroon awarded three exploration permits covering those deposits to a mining operator, the Australian firm Canyon Resources for a 3-year, non-renewable period. The three permits expired on July 11, 2021, and the operator...
Novelis to invest $50 million towards establishing a recycling center at Ulsan Aluminum joint venture in South Korea
On 21 st February 2022, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, Novelis Inc. publicized that it will invest approximately $50 million towards establishing a recycling center at its Ulsan Aluminum joint venture in South Korea. The project is fully financially backed up by Novelis, the Ulsan Recycling Center will have an annual casting capacity of 100 kilotonnes of low-carbon sheet ingot. Once functionalized, it is anticipated that the recycling center will lessen the company's carbon emissions by more than 420,000 tonnes each year. Pierre Labat, the Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Novelis Inc. said, “This latest capital investment in recycling is another example of our company purpose of 'Shaping a Sustainable World Together' in action.” "I...
Jamalco’s effort to safeguard 1000 jobs due to fire impact lauded by Mining Minister
The Minister for Transport and Mining of Jamaica, Audley Shaw stated his gratification that despite the negative impacts of the previous year’s fire at Jamalco, the refinery has been able to safeguard the jobs of around 1,000 employees. Audley Shaw while speaking to a local media said, “I am glad that, despite the fire, which has closed down the operations, we have still kept 1,000 workers on the job, doing maintenance, upgrading, and other types of work, which keeps them occupied. So I commended them for that and, of course, they are to reopen sometime in the summer.” “Jamalco plant currently falls under the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, under whose portfolio is the Government-owned Clarendon Alumina Production (CAP) Limited, which shares a 45% to 55% ownership of the...
Speira signs agreement to acquire aluminium recycler Real Alloy Europe
On 21 st February 2022, the leading aluminium rolling and recycling firm, Speira declared that it has signed a definitive agreement towards the acquisition of the European business of Real Alloy ("Real Alloy Europe"). However, the finalization of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. The European leader in the recycling of aluminium and magnesium scrap and related by-products, Real Alloy Europe functionalizes with seven facilities and around 600 employees across Germany, Norway, France and the United Kingdom. The acquisition will upgrade Speira's expertise to utilize recycled metal in its production and supply high-quality, low carbon rolled aluminium products to its customers. Einar Glomnes, the CEO of Speira stated, "The integration of Real Alloy...
Despite challenging conditions ‘Salzburger Aluminium Group’ reports excellent turnover for 2021
The year 2021 instituted an immensely optimistic result for the Salzburger Aluminium Group, an Austrian family business with 1100 employees worldwide. The market leader for aluminium tanks for trucks, despite challenging situations spawned by the Covid pandemic, supply chain problems, the semiconductor crisis and the resulting production stoppages at OEMs, reported an outstanding hop in turnover achievement in 2021. The global supplier to all well-known OEMs, SAG’s sales emerged by more than 35% to EUR 207 million, the EBIT margin to7%. This is in regards to the demand for SAG fuel tanks for trucks being unbroken and more and more OEMs –particularly in the field of e-mobility - are relying on customised aluminium castings made by SAG, which are manufactured in Lend using the perfected...
Rio Tinto, Tasmania Govt. inks a new working partnership at Bell Bay Aluminium to ensure sustainable future of the region
On 21 st February 2022, the global mineral and metal giant Rio Tinto signed a new partnership agreement with Tasmanian State Government at the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter towards working together to ensure a strong and sustainable future economy for George Town, the Tamar Valley region and Tasmania. The new partnership will endeavour to propel the economic growth and employment outcomes in the State and support the Tasmanian Government’s target of doubling renewable electricity generation by 2040. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) states that the Tasmanian Government and Rio Tinto will jointly investigate in regards to the smelter’s manufacturing capability and electricity demand that can support the development of new industries and more renewable energy supply in the region. Rio...
Downstream products weekly recap: Fehrmann Tech Group on-boards 3D printing intellects to support expansion; AMAG reports new high in its earnings for FY2021 backed on aluminium shipments above the pre-crisis level
The global aluminium industry’s downstream segment is regaining its earlier form gradually, as the week observed Fehrmann Tech Group on-boarded 3D printing intellects to support its further expansion, The Austrian metal company AMAG revealed high in its earnings for FY2021 shouldering on aluminium shipments above the pre-crisis level. Wheels India Group is eying to raise its export contribution to one-third of sales especially targeting aluminium wheels. The aluminium billet inventories in China decreased by 2,900 tonnes or 1.08% week-on-week across five major consumption areas. As a result, the inventories closed at 264,000 tonnes, as of Thursday, February 17. To know more:...
India: Decades-old political party appeals Prime Minister to repeal the decision of NALCO’s privatisation
The oldest communist party of the country, Communist Party of India’s (CPI) general secretary D Raja has delivered a written statement to Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi appealing him to repeal the Govt. of India’s decision towards privatisation of state-owned integrated aluminium company NALCO. D Raja’s letter quoted, “There is widespread resentment among the workers to the move. We request you to roll back your government's move to privatise the National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO). We vehemently oppose the disastrous plan of your government to implement 100% strategic disinvestment in the National Aluminium Company Ltd by way of privatisation.” “NALCO, established in 1981, is a Navaratna company under the Ministry of Mines and has been the topmost Central Public Sector...
Hydro reports blackout at Albras aluminium smelter
The global aluminium giant, Norsk Hydro has reported that one of the four production lines at its part-owned aluminium smelter in Brazil, Albras was shut down on the morning of 19 th February 2022 due to an internal power distribution failure. The power distribution failure appeared within one potline at Albras, which accordingly lead to a shutdown of the affected potline. The potline impacted by the power disruption produces 110,000 tonnes of liquid aluminium annually. However, the other three potlines at Albras were not affected and are functioning normally. Albras Alumínio Brasileiro S.A., the second-largest aluminium producer in Brazil further stated, “It remains too early to assess financial implications from the incident, as well as timing for restart. Albras will investigate the...
Primary aluminium weekly recap: South32 vows for further investment in low carbon aluminium as profit mounts; Aluminium growing prices anticipate securing potential gains of VALCO
The primary aluminium segment of the global aluminium industry has remained quite eventful this week. LME aluminium cash bid price spiked by US$12 per tonne or 0.36% to close at US$3,292 per tonne on 17 th February 2022. India’s NALCO aluminium ingot price has seen a surge of INR 5,400 per tonne to range between INR 280,450-283,950 per tonne. The diversified mining company, South32 booked pretax profit for the six months to December 21, from pursuing operations of $1.46 billion, soaring from just $155 million from the previous year. The CEO of Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) stated there has been a significant rise in demand and price of aluminium on the world market. According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s aluminium production in January (31 days)...
Wheels India targets to boost export contribution to one-third of sales, distinctly aims at aluminium wheels
The TVS Group promoted, Wheels India Limited, India’s largest auto component manufacturer of wheels for commercial vehicles in an astute strategy that compels the company to view more externally, the company is aiming towards strengthening its export contribution to one-third of its sales. Wheels India’s exports were just only 16% of its entire sales five years ago, while presently it is at 23% of sales. According to our sources, it has been revealed, “The export focus is a strategy to ‘de-risk the India business’ and Wheels India is focussing on three segments in particular — aluminium wheels, windmill parts and off-highway category. There is also some potential in commercial vehicles, but that is more long-term.” The Group during this fiscal has invested heavily in the capacity to reach...
Hydro continues to deliver seamless aluminium tubing applied in the frame for all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning
Hydro Extrusion, part of Norway headquartered Norsk Hydro Group is supplying flawless aluminium tubing which is applied in the frame of the cab in the all-electric F-150 Lightning. The world-leading aluminium extrusion business, Hydro began supplying aluminium components with the 2015 model year F-150 and that pursues with the up-next 2022 F-150 Lightning. Charlie Straface, the Senior Vice President of Hydro Extrusion North America business unit said, “As an industry leader, our ability to collaborate with manufacturers throughout the entire product lifecycle, from development to launch, truly sets us apart.” "We are proud of our longstanding relationship with Ford and the work we have done on the new and challenging components in this groundbreaking vehicle." Being a part of this...
Spun out of BHP Billiton ‘South32’ vows for further investment in low carbon aluminium as profit mounts
On 17 th February 2022, the mining and metals company, South32 with its headquartered in Perth, Western Australia reported a bumper first half with a 57% rise in revenue propelling profit surge, although the operational challenges remain. The diversified mining company booked pretax profit for the six months to December 21, from pursuing operations of $1.46 billion, soaring from just $155 million from the previous year. This exhibited a 57% jump in revenue to $3.65 billion from $2.32 billion. The Company stated, “South32's operating margin rose to 44% from 24% the year before, thanks to strong production and high operating leverage.” Graham Kerr, the CEO of South32 said, “Our business is in excellent financial health and we have continued to reshape our portfolio, with the planned...
Bauxite miner Metro Mining accomplishes loading of 2021 contracts
The Australian bauxite exploration and mining company Metro Mining (MMI) has accomplished loading the final vessels to settle its 2021 contractual commitments of 3.1 million wet metric tonnes (WMT). However, the Brisbane, Queensland headquartered company reported that tonnage loaded in January and February was about 300,000 WMT. Simon Wensley, the Managing Director and CEO of Metro Mining said, “The Company has learned a great deal about wet season operation in far north Queensland which it will factor into planning into the coming year.” “Metro made a deliberate decision to continue loading into the wet season to meet our customer commitments and expectations after earlier loading were impacted by weather, COVID-19 and supply chain issues,” said Wensley. “I want to pay tribute to the...
EPIQ MECFOR ties new partnership with Taylor Northeast (TNE), a step closer to American clients
The world leader in heavy equipment for the aluminium, pulp and paper and rail equipment industries, EPIQ Machinery announces that Taylor Northeast (TNE), a US-based material handling equipment supplier, is now the factory-authorized distributor of EPIQ MECFOR mobile equipment, products and parts for the entire US market. As of 1 st January 2022, all EPIQ MECFOR mobile equipment sales, rentals and aftermarket support in the US will be handled through TNE and their affiliate company, H&K Equipment. EPIQ MECFOR is a brand of EPIQ Machinery offering very unique mobile equipment expertise for harsh working environments. Yannick Beaulé, the Chief Revenue Officer at EPIQ Machinery said, “As EPIQ Machinery continues to grow, we are excited to have this opportunity to expand our equipment and...
AMAG Austria Metall AG extends the contracts of CEO Gerald Mayer, COO Helmut Kaufmann
On 16 th February 2022, at the supervisory board meeting of AMAG Austria Metall AG, a resolution has been passed to implement an early extension of the contracts of Chief Executive Officer Gerald Mayer and Chief Operating Officer Dr Helmut Kaufmann. The leading Austrian premium supplier of high-quality aluminium cast and flat-rolled products for highly varied industries. AMAG revealed that the term of Gerald Mayer’s contract was thereby extended until 31 st December 2025, while Dr Helmut Kaufmann’s contract runs until 30 th April 2026. Since March 2019, Gerald Mayer has been active as CEO of AMAG and his scope of responsibility also comprises the financial agendas for which he has already been responsible as Chief Financial Officer since 2007. Dr Helmut Kaufmann has been COO at AMAG since...
AAI seeks CIL’s sustainable coal supply assurance to the aluminium industry-owned captive power plants
The apex body representing the entire spectrum of the Indian Aluminium Industry, the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has solicited the mediation of the Indian state-owned coal mining and refining corporation, Coal India Limited in regards to the continuation of sustainable coal supplies and rakes for aluminium industry-owned captive power plants (CPPs) which are countering unsettlingly exhausted stockpiles of dry fuel of three to four days as compared to the stipulated level of 15 days. On 15 th February 2022, in a letter written to the Chairman of Coal India, AAI stated, “With untiring efforts of CIL and its subsidiaries, the situation of the power sector has now improved significantly with 9-10 days' stocks from as 3-4 days in August-September last year.” The dearth of coal stock...
Aluminium growing prices anticipate securing potential gains of VALCO
The present global aluminium market progress is predicted to navigate probable dividends of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), as the Ghana government pursues to materialize for reviving the operations of the one-time centrepiece of the nation’s economy. Michael Ansah, the CEO of Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) stated, “There has been a significant rise in demand and price of aluminium on the world market.” "The world market today is in deficit in terms of aluminium supply. China and other big markets are demanding aluminium, and that's what is accounting for the upward trend in pricing. With the deficit that is being forecast for the mid-2020s, it positions us to be in a strong place to drive this and because of this, the timing for the development of...
