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.
Bangladesh: Nialco Alloys plans for two new aluminium finished products facility
The only leading Bangladesh company backed with Korean technology, Nialco Alloy plans to build two new facilities to manufacture finished products to expand its business. The company is the only one to be listed on the SME platform of the Chattogram Stock Exchange. Nialco Alloys is a 100% export-oriented company that mainly manufactures high-grade bronze and brass ingots including Phosphorus Bronze, Leaded Bronze, Aluminium Bronze, Manganese Bronze, Sand Cast Brass (SCB), High Tensile Brass (HTB), Die Cast Brass (DCB), Master Alloys, etc. An official of Nialco Alloys stated: “The company will invest more than Tk 2 crore (2 crores Bangladeshi taka) in the new plants – an aluminium product manufacturing and an aluminium-zinc recycling plant and the project cost will come from the bank...
Bosnia Herzegovina export of aluminium bar rods and profiles during 2018-21 illustrates a vacillating movement
The economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a transitional with limited market reforms. It is heavily dependent on the export of metals, energy, textiles, and furniture as well as on remittances and foreign aid. However, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) stated in June that it predicts Bosnia and Herzegovina's gross domestic product (GDP) to rise by 3.5% in 2021 before the growth slows down to 3% in 2022. The nation on the Balkan Peninsula in South-Eastern Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina exported 50,116 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles during 2018-20 and the revenue generated from the export counted to $143.62 million. In 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina exported 6628 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles and the earnings accounted from the export was...
Bauxite residue ‘red mud’ transformation to productive soil ready for trials
The alumina refineries in Queensland, Australia is all set in motion to enter full-scale trials with a new technology that might transpose the bauxite residue red mud to soil-like material competent of laying on plant life. As reported by the researchers who are developing the new system, stated that there are more than four billion tonnes of red mud stockpiled in dams around the world, while Australia ranks second as a mineral waste producer. The eco-engineering solution in this context is being worked on by researchers at the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute in collaboration with Rio Tinto and Queensland Alumina Limited. Longbin Huang, the lead researcher said: “The technology is a process to utilize functional and cost-effective engineering inputs, either...
Rio Tinto Kitimat smelter strike ends
The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto anticipates restarting full operations for production at its Kitimat aluminium smelter and the Kemano hydropower facility, in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province following the attainment of a new labour agreement with workers. Anglo-Australian multinational miner in September 2021 declared that it has drawn up an in-principle agreement on a new collective labour agreement for BC Works with labour union Unifor Local 2310. The members of the largest private-sector union in Canada have now voted in favour of the agreement. Furthermore, in the collective labour agreement, the parties have also given consent on a memorandum of understanding for a new way of working together and on a comeback to work protocol. The agreements outline a...
Camrail confirms rail bridge sustainability for Minim Martap Bauxite Project
The developer of the world-class Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon, Canyon Resources Limited announced that its ongoing work to finalise the Company’s Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for the 1 billion tonne resource has received confirmation from Camrail that all the bridges on the rail line are capable to accommodate the 5 Mt annual bauxite tonnage target. The mining company has received a report from Camrail confirming that all major bridges are suitable for the planned use and will not require additional upgrades for the Project to achieve the required tonnages. Upgrades currently underway on the rail track include increasing the final areas of the track to a 54kg rail line. As a result, Canyon will not need to assign capital to upgrade the existing rail infrastructure for the...
Slovakia’s import of alumina during 2018-21 exemplifies mercurial movement
Slovakia ranks as the fastest-growing developed economy in the world. The country has a mixed economic system in which there is a variety of private freedom, integrated with centralized economic planning and government regulation and it is a member of the European Union (EU). Slovalco is the only primary aluminium producer in Slovakia. The majority of which is owned by global aluminium giant Norsk Hydro, producing 160,000 tonnes of aluminium annually in 226 furnaces, consuming 8% of Slovakia’s total power consumption. The landlocked nation in Central Europe, Slovakia imported 822,204 tonnes of alumina during 2018-20 and the amount expended accounted for $292.95 million on the raw material for the production of aluminium and used for other applications. In 2018, Slovakia’s import of...
Gupta’s GFG scathe legal action against the acquisitive exploits of AIP
On 5th September 2021, Sanjeev Gupta chaired GFG Alliance confirmed that it will initiate legal action against any attempts by the US private equity fund, AIP, to seize the power of the Dunkirk aluminium smelter which is part of GFG’s ALVANCE aluminium business. AIP bought out a chunk of the ALVANCE debts from its previous lenders earlier in 2021. The initial discussions also took place between GFG and AIP regarding a potential future sale of these assets but these discussions were briskly concluded by GFG due to précised concerns over the negotiations, and the gross under-market valuation AIP put on the business. GFG announced a fully commercial arrangement between ALVANCE and a leading international metal market business, at the concurrent of concluding negotiations with AIP in July...
Nalco reaches highest ever aluminium production in H1 FY22
The Indian state-run integrated aluminium company Nalco has attained the highest ever half-yearly production of cast metal in the 2021-22 financial year. On 5th September 2021, Pralhad Joshi, the Union Coal and Mines Minister congratulated the company on the achievement by saying: “NALCO has yet again reached another milestone in its glorious journey of Business Excellence. The Navratna CPSE has achieved the highest ever half-yearly Production of Cast Metal since inception in H1 FY22.” “Nalco produced 22,6,028 tonne of cast metal in 2021-22 financial year so far compared to 204,143 of the previous fiscal.” The company produced 17.61 lakh tonne bauxite, 5.21 lakh tonne alumina and 1.14 lakh tonne aluminium respectively during the June quarter, compared to 17.10 lakh tonne, 4.65 lakh tonne...
Vedanta aluminium production jumps up 21% Y-o-Y
India’s largest producer of aluminium Vedanta revealed that its total aluminium production escalated 21% to 570,000 tonnes in Q2 FY22 compared with 473,000 tonnes in Q2 FY21. Vedanta has world-class aluminium smelters with power plants in Jharsuguda, Odisha and at BALCO in Chhattisgarh. The smelter at Jharsuguda is the world’s largest, ex-China. The aluminium production at Vedanta’s smelters in Jharsuguda and BALCO was higher by 4% as compared to Q1 FY22 mainly due to the up-gradation of pots. Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta: “Currently, we are manufacturing 2.2 million tonnes of aluminium and will be manufacturing 3 million tonnes in the recent future at the lowest cost.” In regards to Vedanta’s role in investment, the Chairman said: “In the coming days, we will be investing $20...
Algeria’s aluminium can import demand remains fluctuating during 2018-21
The regional power in North Africa Algeria's economy is influenced by its export trade in petroleum and natural gas, despite fluctuations in world prices, which annually contribute roughly one-third of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). The economy is expected to recover partially in 2021 from the health and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The creeping movement of vaccination suggests that some containment measures could remain in place in the country until 2022. The North African nation Algeria recorded 20,136 tonnes of aluminium cans importation during 2018-20 and the revenue counted for the import accounted for $118.03 million. In 2018, Algeria’s import of aluminium cans was registered at 3654 tonnes and the expenditure occurred was $23.54 million, whereas, in...
Vedanta keen to explore business expansion opportunities in the Middle East
The world's leading diversified natural resource company, Vedanta with its headquarters in Mumbai is desirous to explore business augmentation opportunities in the Middle East region, comprising establishing a regional base in the UAE or Saudi Arabia. Vedanta is a leading producer of Aluminium & Power, Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore and Steel. The Anil Agarwal led company is one of the key partners of the Indian Pavilion at Expo 2020 and is ambitious to showcase “India’s capabilities” over the next six months. Sunil Duggal, Vedanta’s CEO and Director spotlighted UAE and the wider region as a promising hub for minerals and trade by saying: “We’re keen to talk to companies such as Ma’aden and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), to discuss collaborative opportunities.” “We’re...
BAGR Berliner Aluminumwerk GmbH appoints Oleg Hoffmann as new Managing Director, Mustafa Güngör to depart
On 1st October 2021, BAGR Berliner Aluminiumwerk GmbH, which is operating a melting and casting plant for secondary aluminium in a traditional industrial area in the north of Berlin since 1997, announces a change in their management board. Mustafa Güngör, the well-established Managing Director of BAGR will be retiring from the organization on 31st October 2021. The company has appointed Oleg Hoffmann as the new Managing Director commencing from 1st October 2021. The veteran engineer Mustafa Güngör's professional career is inseparably linked to the history of aluminium production in Berlin. Güngör having already worked as a quality engineer and plant manager under the former operator of the site, after the takeover by BAGR he delivered outstanding services in that same function to realign...
Ukraine’s aluminium household articles export signifies remarkable growth during 2018-21
The second-largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine has a mixed economic system with limited private freedom, blended with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Ukraine’s economy is all set to rebound to growth in 2021, as reported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Bank further forecasted that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to rise 3.5% on the year in both 2021 and 2022. However, the major risk to its forecasts is the country’s decelerated progress on reform and vaccination. Ukraine, a nation well-developed with an industrial base exported 6376 tonnes of aluminium household articles during 2018-20 and the revenue generated from the export accounted for $29.48 million. In the Eastern European nation, Ukraine reported...
Sinohydro bauxite-for-infrastructure deal is a grand failure, says Ghana’s opposition
The opposition party of the West African nation, Ghana, National Democratic Congress (NDC) national communication officer, Sammy Gyamfi has criticised the Sinohydro deal that is instituted to elucidate Ghana’s road infrastructure disputes, as a grand failure. On 2nd October 2021, during a live event Sammy commented: “The deal was built around a barter arrangement, which will see the government pay for the $2 billion with processed bauxite, however, the country has not been able to fulfil its end of the bargain.” Gyamfi further added: “The government has been able to access only $100 million dollars for some of the road projects which represent 5% of the total amount.” “Some of us are not surprised that the much-touted Sinohydro deal has turned out to be a total fiasco. It has turned out...
Top Newsmakers for September 2021: Guinea’s mutinous military unit seizes power, suspends constitution; Aluminium industry predicts a further surge in price; China’s power shortage driving industries to dark, aluminium production suppresses
The month of September 2021 extracted a lot of exciting moments from the global aluminium industry. The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium benchmark price escalated to a new milestone of US$3,000 per tonne, the first time ever since 2008. The political turmoil in the West African nation Guinea, the world’s largest exporter of bauxite and with the production curb in China has triggered the LME aluminium price to a 13-year high. The bauxite price from Guinea climbed the highest almost in 18 months at top metals consumer market China, as buyers distressed about supply followed a coup in the country. The western Xinjiang region in China, the home to almost one-fifth of the country’s primary aluminium capacity, directed five major smelters last month to cut 10% monthly output levels for...
Downstream Products Weekly Recap: Curtis brings victory to Oman Aluminium Rolling Company in the US trade case; AMAG Austria Metall AG extends contract with Chief Sales Officer Victor Breguncci for four years
The global aluminium industry's most crucial, downstream segment remained highlighted due to some of the potential news. The global law firm Curtis, which represents a number of international clients brought victory to Govt. of Oman and Oman Aluminium Rolling Company in the US trade case. Curtis further stated that their international team, comprising lawyers in Muscat, Geneva, and Washington, successfully beat back the allegations. The Chinese aluminium foil exports have recorded growth by 19% in August 2021 to 115,400 tonnes. However, China is facing the heat of power shortage, which has driven multiple industries to close down, while aluminium industries were forced to curb their production. After two consecutive declines on September 25 and 28, Hindalco Industries Limited has...
Bauxite kingdom Guinea sworn in coup leader as interim President
On 1st October 2021, the coup leader of Guinea Mamadi Doumbouya was sworn in as interim President of the West African nation. This will adjudicate the expectation of the regional power towards a short time transition to constitutional rule following the Sept 5th dethroning of President Alpha Conde. The interim Presidential swearing-in ceremony was held at the Mohamed V Palace at Guinea’s capital Conakry with the noticeable absenteeism of most West African country heads, who consented last month to impose sanctions on coup members and their relatives. Since the previous year, West and Central Africa have witnessed four coups. However, the political turbulence has escalated disquiet and took the side towards military rule in the Kingdom of minerals but the poorest nation in the world....
AIP takes over Sanjeev Gupta’s Dunkirk aluminium smelter
The American private equity firm that invests in industrial businesses, American Industrial Partners (AIP) claimed to have grabbed control of distressed metal magnate Sanjeev Gupta’s Dunkirk aluminium smelter in France. On 1st October 2021, American Industrial Partners stated that it had acquired the Alvance smelter in Dunkirk and two other French establishments following Sanjeev Gupta chaired GFG Alliance failed to make payments on outstanding loans. However, in 2021, AIP bought up a portion of the debt at Europe’s largest aluminium smelter, Dunkirk, as well as at an associated mill in Belgium. Sanjeev Gupta anticipated securing a rescue loan with Anglo-Swiss multinational commodity trader Glencore, which had propounded to refinance the debt across his European aluminium business. The...
