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.
Exeter City Council and Exeter City Football Club secures national recycling award
Exeter City Council and Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) in England have won a national recycling award for their innovative scheme, Cans 4 City. This has encouraged the Exeter football fans to recycle used drink aluminium cans while also raising money for charity. The team behind Cans 4 City were presented with a Green Can Award by not-for-profit Every Can Counts in recognition of their outstanding recycling efforts. The award ceremony took place during half-time on 29 th January 2022 (Saturday) match against Hartlepool United, witnessed by over 5000 fans as attendance. The initiative has collected nearly seven tonnes of aluminium packaging since 2020, to raise more than £6,000 for projects and initiatives run both by the club and its partner charity, Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT)....
Chinese solar power product maker Mibet develops unique Agri-PV mounting system
The Chinese high-tech enterprise, specializing in research and development, manufacturing, selling solar energy products, Mibet Energy has developed a mounting structure for agrivoltaic projects that can be applied to different crops. The structure is asserted to certify different light transmittance levels and empower several PV system layouts to meet developers’ requirements for different crop growth and to create the appropriate environment for different crops in a flexible way. A spokesperson from Mibet Energy said, “The main body of the Mibet Agri-PV system adopts aluminium alloy and large-span structure, so it won’t impede the daily operation of the agricultural machinery,” “The columns can be adapted to different projects, multiple square tubes can be switched seamlessly, and it...
World’s top ten bauxite producing mines of 2020
Bauxite is known as a rock made up of laterite soil and it is the primary raw material used in the production of alumina and aluminium metal. Generally, it is found in tropical regions, where intense decomposition aids in its generation. Bauxite is found in a thin layer, commonly 2–5 meters close to the surface. According to the USGS, as of January 2015, the global bauxite reserves were 28.1 billion tonnes (Bnt). The West African nation Guinea has the largest reserves of bauxite with 7.4Bnt or we can around 26% of global reserves, followed by Australia with 6.5Bnt. The bauxite deposits at Weipa in Queensland and Gove in the Northern Territory of Australia are amongst the world's highest-grade deposits. Brazil with reserves at 2.6Bnt ranked third with key deposits in Trombetas while...
Swisstek Aluminium earned the credential as a ‘Great Place to Work’ in Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan exporter of quality aluminium extrusion products to the global market, Swisstek Aluminium Ltd has received the certification as a “Great Place to Work” by the independent analysts at Great Place to Work in Sri Lanka. The USA headquartered Great Place to Work® is the global authority on building, sustaining and recognizing High-Trust, High-Performance CultureTM at workplaces. The Lanka based Swisstek Aluminium, which commenced its journey in 2009, obtained this credential based on the ample ratings delivered by its employees in anonymous surveys conducted by Great Place to Work Sri Lanka. A great workplace is one where employees, no matter at what designation and their job profile towards the organization, have a consistently positive experience of trusting their leaders,...
Downstream products weekly recap: Jindal Aluminium plans to invest INR 150 crore; European Energy signs PPA with lightweight aluminium components maker 595 Solutions
The downstream sector of the global aluminium industry has been witnessing some amount of investment for expansion this week. Jindal aluminium stated that it will boost up capacities by around 50% primarily across the extrusions vertical. The German wind portfolio of European Energy will supply the production facilities of 595 Solutions in Germany under - the agreement which amounts to 80 gigawatt-hours annually and will span over five years. According to a recent report, Hydro Extrusion Argentina S.A. in Pilar will be certified by Aluminium Stewardship Initiative against the Performance Standard Certification. The plant will be the first aluminium extrusion facility in the country to be certified against the ASI Performance Standard. To know more:...
Yeast for bakery, AlF3 in aluminium smelter stands equal: Ian Levy, ABx Group
The aluminium smelters entail a raw material that enables the perfect chemical balance through the complicated procedure of converting alumina to aluminium metal. The booming aluminium sector of Australia primarily relies on China to keep the smelters running. The nation is the largest aluminium-producing region without a domestic AIF3 production capacity. Ian Levy, the Executive Director of ABx Group stated, “The federal government appreciated the importance of AIF3 post-war when it created Comalco, now owned by Rio Tinto.” “Currently some smelters are experiencing significant challenges because of container shipping delays for chemicals and other specialist raw materials,” says Levy. “Imagine a bakery without the smallest thing: yeast. Without it, you can’t make the bread. It’s the same...
Nigeria: Chinese business investors to set up world-class aluminium profile facility in Lagos
A team of Chinese business investors are in Nigeria to build a world-class aluminium profiles facility in Lagos to support the restriction towards the high rate of fake aluminium products. As per our report, the promoters of the new firm following the establishment of the aluminium factory will deliver jobs to around 100 young local Nigerians for a good career beginning. The newly employed Nigerians will be trained for six months on the latest upgraded technologies in aluminium designs by Chinese expatriates, who are scheduled to arrive in the nation shortly. However, it has been stated that the state of the art machines have been already ordered for installation while operations have been billed to start in August 2022. The investors said, “Similar factories were established in Abuja and...
G.A. Röders secures research funding for commitment towards climate protection
The foundry in the German town of Soltau, G.A. Röders has announced that it is pleased to be working with other climate-conscious companies to develop the first hydrogen-powered crucible melting furnace for aluminium. Now, this aspiring project, costing a total of more than €3 million, is being supported by the Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection with funding of €1.5 million, while G.A. Röders will receive €140,000 of the amount. Gerd and Andreas Röders, the two Managing Directors reported, “In addition, we as a foundry will ourselves invest around €150,000 to be able to operate even more energy- efficiently. With the hydrogen-powered furnace, we as G.A. Röders want to become pioneers in our industry for climate protection." It has been also confirmed that within the scope of...
Golkonda Aluminium Extrusion reports 84% plunge in net profit for December 2021 quarter
Golkonda Aluminium Extrusions, which was formerly known as Alumeco India Extrusion Ltd has reported its standalone financial results for December 2021 quarter with an 83.87% downfall in net profit to INR 0.10 crore as against INR 0.62 crore during the existing quarter ended December 2020. The company has reported a total income of INR 0.218 crores during the period ended December 31, 2021, as compared to INR 0.412 crores during the period ended September 30, 2021. The company has posted a loss of INR 0.103 crores for the period ended December 31, 2021, against a net loss of INR 0.244 crores for the period ended September 30, 2021. On 22nd August 1988, Golkonda Aluminium Extrusions was originally incorporated under the name of Progressive Aluminium Limited, with an annual capacity to...
Canyon Resources appoints Nfon Ekoko Mukete as Non-Executive Director to Camalco Cameroon
The developer of the world-class Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon, Canyon Resources Limited has appointed Nfon (Traditional Chief) Ekoko Mukete as a Non-Executive Director of Canyon’s wholly-owned subsidiary company Camalco Cameroon S.A. Nfon Ekoko Mukete is the ‘Paramount Ruler’ of the Bafaw tribe in the southwest region of Cameroon. Furthermore to Nfon Mukete’s tribal position, he is also an experienced and successful businessman in Cameroon with exposure across various industries and sectors. The Nfon has a B. A (Hons), Development Economics (University of East Anglia, Norwich U.K). The family of Ekoko Mukete has also made valuable private investments in Cameroon, including interests in MTN Cameroon, the nation’s largest mobile phone network provider. Mukete, as a former Group...
Delivering additional efforts is the mechanism for 100% recycling rate of aluminium beverage cans: European industry associations
The recycling rate of aluminium beverage cans needs to be amplified across Europe to attain the set targets for the year 2030. European Aluminium and Metal Packaging Europe (MPE), the two of the European industry associations are emphasizing this in light of the figures revealed for 2019. The recycling rate for aluminium beverage cans in the European Union, Switzerland, and Norway are at 75.8%, while Iceland demonstrated a marginal drop from the existing year by remaining at 76.10%. The industry associations in March 2021 presented a collaborated roadmap focused on increasing the recycling rate of beverage cans to 100% all around Europe by 2030. However, MPE and European Aluminium count that recycling rates for beverage cans need to be augmented further with some additional effort. This...
India: SRF to invest INR 425 crores for setting up aluminium foil plant
On 25 th January 2022, the ‘Board of Directors’ of SRF Limited during the meeting has approved setting up an aluminium foil manufacturing plant for an investment of INR 425 crores. SRF Limited is a multi-business chemicals conglomerate engaged in the manufacturing of industrial and speciality intermediates. However, the company’s business portfolio engulfs fluorochemicals, speciality chemicals, packaging films, technical textiles, coated and laminated fabrics. Now setting foot in the new project, SRF stated the proposed capacity addition of 21000 MTPA will be added by 30 th September 2023 for INR 425 crores. The funds will be raised through a mix of debt and internal accruals. SRF has revealed that CAPEX will be capitalised on business synergies by expanding in the area of business...
Robot made from aluminium sheets can be an alternative to human firefighters, Mumbai fire brigade conducts R&D
The fire brigade serving the city of Mumbai, India, Mumbai fire brigade is piloting research and development on the efficiency of its firefighting robot that is considered as an alternative to human firefighters. The body of the robot is made from aluminium sheets which can combat the temperature of up to 700 centigrade so that this robot can be used in situations that may prove too perilous for humans to confront. Now, based on results, the practical use of the robot will be determined by the fire squad and decide, if they further want to order more robots in the future. However, the price of one robot is 88 lakhs and has been used to extinguish the fire in several locations in the city including Bandra and Borivali East. Hemant Parab, the Chief Fire Officer, said, “We do not take the...
Demand for aluminium anticipated to escalate in the solar industry, disquiet on emissions to rise: UNSW
Aluminium is one of the vital commodities utilized in the solar power industry due to its valuable features of low weight, high conductivity and excellent corrosion resistance. In the solar industry, it is extensively used for making cells module frames, mountings and inverters. Aluminium ore is abundantly available and economic in price, whereas, the production of primary aluminium emerges with a high value in regards to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which is indeed taken into consideration for rapid minimization of emissions to ‘net zero’ and restrict global warming to A team of researchers at the 2 nd ranked in Australia, University of New South Wales (UNSW) have alerted about the climate pressure aluminium production could create if the world relies solely on...
India’s largest aluminium extruder Jindal plans to invest INR 150 crore
The largest aluminium extrusion company of India, Jindal Aluminium is considering investing INR 150 crore-odd over two years, as it counts to initiate on-stream new capacities across its two verticals i.e. extrusions and rolled products. The aluminium downstream company stated that it will boost up capacities by around 50% primarily across the extrusions vertical. Jindal aluminium’s existing capacity in the extrusions segment is 125,000 tonnes per annum, whereas for the rolled products category the production capacity stands at 50,000 tonnes per year. Pragun Jindal Khaitan, the Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Jindal Aluminium Ltd, stated, “Investments towards incremental capacity addition would be funded through internal accruals.” However, it was also highlighted that of INR 100...
European Energy signs PPA with lightweight aluminium components maker 595 Solutions
The developer, financer, constructor and operator of wind and solar farms as well as large-scale PtX plants European Energy has inked a power purchase agreement (PPA) with light metals components producer 595 Solutions for power from its German wind portfolio. 595 Solutions is a European supplier of lightweight aluminium and magnesium components for the automotive, aerospace and industrial sectors. The German wind portfolio of European Energy will supply the production facilities of 595 Solutions in Germany under - the agreement which amounts to 80 gigawatt-hours annually and will span over five years. However, the accorded quantity permits 595 to cover 100% of its German electricity consumption. European Energy commented, “The deal shows the financial viability of its portfolio of wind...
Bauxite production capacity increased in 2020 but the revenues evaporated: Prime Minister of Guinea
The Prime Minister of Guinea, Mohamed Béavogui revealed the shocking information on the mining sector of the nation by saying, “If we trust the figures of the International Monetary Fund on Guinea, the last moments of Alpha Condé's management were catastrophic in the mining sector.” “During the year 2020, the production capacity of bauxite had increased considerably, only the revenues evaporated”, the Prime Minister added. “In 2020, Guinea released the equivalent of more than 3 billion 800 million dollars of bauxite which was sold. What went into the state coffers? Barely $200 million and believe me of that $200 million, 100% didn't go into the treasury coffers.” Mohamed Béavogui, the Prime Minister of the bauxite Kingdom claims to have found "totally empty boxes". “The money went out of...
Cameroon sorting out to recapitalize Alucam with the aid of three European financial institutions
The aluminium company in Cameroon is presently sorting out with a group of three European financial institutions to recapitalize Cameroon Aluminium Company (Alucam), the only primary aluminium producer in the CEMAC zone. As per our report from the Technical Commission for the Rehabilitation of Public and Para-Public Sector Enterprises (CTR), the in support European financial institutions are the International Tropical Conservation Fund (ITCF), the Franco-German Financial Group BHF and Investment Bank BPI. Provisionally, there are no details of the funding mechanism selected by the state of Cameroon, the exclusive stakeholder of Alucam, nor on what is anticipated from each financial institution. The CTR explains, “In 2020, Alucam’s financial performance plunged the company in bankruptcy,...
