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.
Boffa in Guinea witnesses tension over the communities impacted by Chalco’s bauxite exploitation
The localities of Tamita and Lisso in the prefecture of Boffa, Guinea has witnessed that the communities are impacted by the exploitation of bauxite by the Chinese company Chalco, as it blockaded access from the port to the conveyor remain camped in their position. The inhabitants did not aspire to change their minds until the company assures the claims raised. Colonel Mamadou Ciré Bah strived to bring both the parties close together. As per our information, during the negotiations, the representatives of the communities had promised to lift the blockades as of 10 am on 13 th January. However, the observation reveals the opposite on the spot. A member of these community representatives confided that at no time did they promise the prefect to lift the barricades. “We did not promise to...
Yantra India plans to set foot in the manufacturing of aluminium aircraft parts
The defence PSU Yantra India Limited (YIL) is also considering setting foot in the manufacturing of aircraft's parts, typically from producing cartridges and shells for the military previously as a foregoing ordnance factory. The Nagpur, Maharashtra headquartered PSU, YIL was formed after the corporatisation of the ordnance factories in October 2021. The former ‘Ordnance Factory Ambajhari’ comes under YIL aside from seven other facilities. However, as per our industry sources, the company has initiated discussions with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture parts for both fixed and rotary winged aircraft. It is very much well known that certain components of the aircraft are predominantly made from aluminium and the factories under YIL have the machinery to execute the process...
Vedanta Aluminium ranks India’s largest industrial consumer of renewable energy in 2021
Renewable energy, which is commonly referred to as clean energy, as it is derived from natural sources or processes that are continuously replenished, for instance, sunlight keeps shining and the wind keeps blowing, even though their obtainability banks on time and weather. The biggest aluminium producer and VAP maker of India, Vedanta’s Aluminium business has ranked as the largest industrial consumer of renewable energy (RE) in 2021, leading renewable energy procurement on India’s power exchanges – Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India Limited (PXIL). The Indian commodity tycoon, Anil Agarwal led Vedanta Aluminium procured about 2 billion units of RE power in the year 2021 for consumption at its aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Consequently, it contracted GHG...
Brazil’s aluminium foil exports during 2019-21 displays an unsettling trend; 37% growth estimated for 2022
The metal aluminium is transformed in making into several products for our daily purposes like aluminium foils is one of them. The foil made from aluminium is again utilized in multiple ways, as the wrapping of food items due to its character of barring complete light and oxygen, while keeping intact its original taste. The largest country both in South and Latin America, Brazil exported 131,268 tonnes of aluminium foil during 2019-21, incurring an inward revenue flow of around $420.79 million from the export. CBA, the largest producer of aluminium in Brazil is also one of the biggest exporters of aluminium foil. On 28 th April 2021, the US Department of Commerce announced its affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations of aluminium foil from multiple...
Nalco eventually achieves operation of 100% potlines in its aluminium smelter
The Indian state-owned National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has attained so far another landmark in aluminium smelting. The integrated aluminium company has gainfully put into operation all the 960 potlines at its existing aluminium smelter located at Angul, Odisha. On 12 th January 2022, the CMD of Nalco, Sridhar Patra officially functionalized the 960 th pot by virtually switching from the NALCO Corporate Office, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Nalco in its long journey of 41 years eventually achieved operation of 100% pots in aluminium smelter for the first time in history. The CMD congratulated the Nalco team for making dynamic efforts in hard times for dream realization and missioning it a breakthrough moment. He applauded all the stakeholders for their support which has fuelled Nalco to...
TANAKA Denshi Kogyo to set up new plant for aluminium bonding wires in Hangzhou, China
The Japanese manufacturer of precious metals materials, TANAKA Holdings that focuses majorly on products for the electronics, semiconductor and automotive industries has publicized its subsidiary TANAKA Denshi Kogyo is planning to set up a new plant in the Chinese city of Hangzhou to boost the production capacity of aluminium bonding wires for power semiconductors. However, the plant is scheduled to begin operations in November 2022. The establishment of this new plant forms part of TANAKA Denshi Kogyo's plans to augment its production capacity for aluminium bonding wires by approximately three-fold by 2025 to meet the growing global demand associated with the growth of power semiconductors. Since 2001, TANAKA Denshi Kogyo has been manufacturing various bonding wires and providing...
Algeria’s aluminium bar rods and profiles import during 2019-21 illustrates constant downfall; 17% further dip predicted for 2022
The North African nation, Algeria which is heavily dependent on the petroleum economy, has been straggling behind since the drop in oil prices in 2014. However, the World Bank ranks Algeria as an upper-middle-income nation. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was worth $145.16 billion in 2020, according to official data from the World Bank. Algeria imported aluminium bar rods and profiles of 17,118 tonnes during 2019-21, accounting for revenue expenditure of around $53.28 million. These aluminium products are heavily consumed in the construction and other sectors of the nation. In 2019, the Algerian import of aluminium bar rods and profiles was documented at 7009 tonnes, attracting expenditure of $22.33 million, whereas, in 2020, the import saw a downfall of 5.83%, as the import volume...
Guyana-Brazil summit to emphasize bauxite mining other than oil and gas
The President of the nation on South America’s North Atlantic coast, Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali, had a dialogue with his neighbouring country Brazil in regards to the oil and gas industry and bauxite mining before the visit of Jair Bolsonaro, the President of the largest country in South America, which is slated towards the later part of this month. On 10 th January 2022, the President of the two bordering countries held a teleconference, according to the official statement released by the office of the Guyanese President. Dr Ali highlighted that Guyana desires to have a firm strategic partnership with its Portuguese-speaking neighbours during the conference while focusing on several key points. As per the statement released by the office of the President, the two Presidents held a...
Financially distressed Bahrain’s aluminium downstream facility Garmco reaches final agreement with creditors to ensure functionalizing
The first and one of the largest downstream aluminium facilities in the Middle East for rolling, cutting and fabricating aluminium, the Bahrain-based Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill B.S.C (“GARMCO”) notified that it has reached a final agreement with the group of Creditors to ensure continuity of the Company’s functionalization. Garmco had encountered financial distress due to global economic conditions and following the issuance of Law No. 22 of the year 2018 ‘Promulgating the Reorganization and Bankruptcy Law’, the Company’s General Assembly resolute to benefit from the provisions of the law by filing a reorganization case. Accordingly, the company became one of the first companies to file for reorganization under the new reorganization and bankruptcy law. However, the purpose of the law is...
Iraq’s import of aluminium semi-finished goods during 2019-21 manifests rise in demand with edgy downfall; marginal growth of 1.8% estimated for 2022
As per the overview of the World Bank, Iraq remains on the list of countries that are heavily or mostly dependent on oil production and export. In the last few decades, its oil revenues have shouldered for more than 99% of exports, 85% of the government’s budget, and 42% of GDP. However, this uncurbed dependence on oil has forced the country towards macroeconomic volatility, while budget rigidities restrict fiscal space and any opportunity of countercyclical policy. The economy is steadily recoiling from the double oil and COVID-19 impacts of 2020. In H1 2021 GDP grew by 0.9% Y-o-Y. The non-oil economy grew by over 21% in H1-21 (y/y), owing to a robust performance in the services sectors as COVID-19 containment measures were relaxed, supported by a drive in the vaccination campaign. The...
Evian begins a new journey of sparkling water in aluminium cans
The French water company Evian has launched its first-ever sparkling water and stated, “H20 lovers can enjoy a natural mineral water complete with delicate sparkles.” The availability of the Evian sparkling water will be in both packaging formats recyclable – 33cl aluminium can and a 100% recycled one-litre PET plastic bottle. Shweta Harit, the Vice President of Marketing at Evian said, “Evian Sparkling represents new possibilities for the brand, as we reimagine our uniquely sourced water into an exciting new product.” "Available for the first time in recyclable aluminium cans, this latest innovation demonstrates our longstanding pioneering spirit that runs through everything we do at Evian.” She further added, “This new product contains the perfect level of sparkles with its fine bubbles...
Alro’s downstream arm Vimetco Extrusion initiates the execution of an automatic packaging line
The Romanian aluminium producer, Alro publicized that Vimetco Extrusion (VE), its downstream arm managing the extrusion business line, initiates the implementation of a new investment project focused on modernizing and enhancing production capacity. This sustainable business development project, which takes place between July 2021 and June 2023, has a total value of EUR 3.85 million, while its primary intent is to apply innovation in one of VE's main processes. Now, for this reason, the company will acquire an automatic packaging line for the extruded aluminium profiles to improve competitively by applying "green steps” for the extruded profiles production. However, this project will benefit from a grant of EUR 1.85 million (48% of the project value), from Iceland, Lichtenstein, and...
Lochaber aluminium smelter’s valuation scales up by £100 million, while GFG Alliance investment remains little: Scottish Liberal Democrats
The liberal, federalist political party in Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats asserted that Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance has comprehended the valuation of Lochaber aluminium smelter scaled up by£100 million, which was acquired from Rio Tinto Alcan and a very small amount was further invested. Willie Rennie, the party’s spokesman for the economy said, “Sanjeev Gupta's collection of businesses in the energy, steel and trading paid £330m in 2016 for the aluminium smelter and hydro-electric plant in Fort William.” “They are currently valued at £438m - making the businessman a gain of £108m - with very little investment or effort from the company.” The Scottish Government also backed GFG Alliance’s acquisition of the aluminium smelter with a guarantee nominally valued at £586m. “GFG Alliance...
World’s top selected alumina producing companies of 2020
Alumina is the prime material for the production of aluminium ingots which feature light-weight, high fluidity, high dissolvability and strong absorption of fluorine. It is also used in applications such as industrial and medical ceramics, sandpapers, pigments, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The mounting development in the demand for aluminium has given an extra mileage growth to the aluminium industry in the last two decades. This has propelled the need for alumina as raw material, forcing to build of more alumina refineries or expansion of the existing plant’s production capacity. The financial year of 2020 signified that China-based Chalco remained as the largest alumina producing company, producing some around 14.53 million tonnes of alumina, followed proximately by the American...
Israel gets down buying aluminium from Bahrain: Sources
The middle-eastern nation on the Mediterranean Sea, Israel surfaced importation of aluminium from Bahrain, as reported by Manama’s local print media on 9 th January, mentioning it over an interview with Eitan Na'eh, the present Israeli ambassador to Bahrain. In 2021, Eitan Na'eh was appointed as Israel's first ambassador to Bahrain, this emerged a year after the two countries agreed to harmonize relations. However, Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) is the first aluminium smelter in the Middle-East region, started its commercial operations back in 1971. The diplomat did not spell out the volume or the value of Israel's aluminium imports from Bahrain. According to Na'eh, Israel's national airline El Al should commence flights to Manama soon, while Bahrain's Gulf Air in September 2021announced the...
Rusal owned Windalco officially initiates the construction of second EHP to safeguard environment
On 6 th January 2022, the Jamaican minister of transport and mining, Robert Montague, has officially inaugurated the UC Rusal owned Windalco’s $4-million project to restrain caustic sewage from impacting the environment. The programme of the bauxite and alumina production complex in Ewarton, St. Catherine is to build a second Effluent Holding Pond (EHP) and augment the capacity of the old pond to avert spillages into a nearby river. The Minister said, “The project came after discussions with our ministry, the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, and ‘cries and pleas’ from residents of affected communities.” “No longer, once there is rain, will we have any contamination from the bauxite red mud lake getting into the Rio Cobre. If there is contamination after this, it must be from another source, but...
TricorBraun absorbs beverage packaging companies Zuckerman Honickman and Vessel Packaging
The American designer and distributor of rigid packaging TricorBraun have acquired beverage packaging companies Zuckerman Honickman (ZH) and Vessel Packaging (Vessel). However, the financial terms of the transaction are yet to be disclosed. ZH is located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and delivers products across all the beverage verticals comprising sports drinks, craft beer, cider, craft soda, wine, spirits and others, in the US and Canada. The acquisition aspires to amplify TricorBraun’s beverage portfolio and strengthen its range of beverage and sustainable packaging services. On the other side, Vessel furnishes mobile canning and design services and delivers printed cans, can ends and carriers, shrink sleeving and other labelling capabilities. The company functionalizes through...
Alro to reduce energy consumption in compliance with curtailing aluminium production
Romania’s one of the biggest vertically integrated aluminium producers, Alro has notified Transelectrica, the nation’s electricity transmission system operator in regards to the curbing of the proposed electricity consumption, as the metal company is supposed to shut down some of the electrolysis units where aluminium is produced. The rising prices of electricity have forced driven to plan the largest industrial energy consumer of Romania to curtail its aluminium production by 60% in 2022. Alro reported its request between 1 st January and 31 st January 2022 to restrain the power requested from the national grid by 50 MW. However, between 1 st February and 8 th February, the depletion will be 160 MW, while from 9 th February to the end of 2022, the aluminium producer entails 195 MW under...
