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.
Aluminium Associations urge G7 Governments to take concrete measures to bring more free, fair and open trade
The aluminium associations of the United States of America, Europe, Canada and Japan call on G7 governments to deliver leadership in support of ambitious multilateral and plurilateral negotiations to regulate trade-distorting government support and state ownership in industrial sectors. However, today, clear and compelling evidence of the existing multilateral subsidy rules are inadequate to remedy the scale and scope of state intervention in aluminium markets. The latest released report of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), “ Measuring distortions in international markets: Below-market finance ” ,, OECD Trade Policy Papers, No. 247, OECD Publishing, Paris, provides new insights across more than 300 firms in 13 industrial sectors. OECD analysis included 32...
NFE plans to sell the power plant at Jamalco alumina refinery
The integrated gas-to-power company, New Fortress Energy (NFE) has confirmed the plan to sell out its recently constructed power plant at the Jamalco alumina refinery complex in Clarendon, Jamaica, and also admitted the sale will be materialized within months. However, the company as of now has not delivered any indication of the prospective buyer of the 150 MW plant, which was reportedly developed at an approx. cost of US$190 million and accomplished in early 2020. The Jamalco power plant is among assets, which New Fortress wants to divest, as it needs cash to finance its expansion. On 7 th May 2021, Wes Edens, the CEO said, on an investor call following the release of the company’s financial results: “We expect to close our first asset sale here this quarter.” The global leader in the...
Tunisia’s import of aluminium plates, sheets and strips during 2018-20 displays a sharp rise with a marginal drop
Tunisia represents a mixed economic system, which provides a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. As per the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has stretched into 2021, which result in socio-political unrest and Tunisia’s growth and fiscal outlook are looking weaker than before. The recovery will require more stability and a joint national effort to steer the economy to the right path. The northernmost country in Africa has recorded 22,417 tonnes import of aluminium plates, sheets and strips during 2018-19 and the amount expended for the import was $76.09 million. The import for 2020 remained at 14,315 tonnes and the expenditure stood at $37.13 million. Notwithstanding, when the import volume and expenditure for 2020 get tally...
2020: Reynaers Aluminum reports 12% rise in turnover, amid COVID crisis
The designer of cutting-edge glazing solutions for some of the most iconic buildings in the world, Reynaers Aluminum, the Romanian firm has reported a 12% rise in turnover amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation in 2020. The aluminium product making company is the European leader in the construction sector for providing aluminium solutions. As per the company’s statement, the increase in turnover is primarily due to the domestic real estate projects where Reynaers products are heavily consumed. However, among the many projects, a few which were vital towards the growth of Reynaers domestic business are Sema Parc, Ţiriac Tower, One Mircea Eliade, Neo Floreasca Lake, as well as many other projects with high complexity. Daniel Popa, Country Manager Reynaers Aluminum Romania, said: "And for our...
South Africa: National Energy Regulator braces to evaluate new discounted power pricing deal for Hillside Aluminium smelter
South Africa’s National Energy Regular, NERSA has invited stakeholder remarks on a proposed 10-year negotiated pricing agreement (NPA) between Eskom, the South African electricity public utility and Hillside Aluminium smelter, in KwaZulu-Natal, owned by South32 and is the largest single customer of Eskom. The proposed NPA is anticipated to allure much public scrutiny considering the fact that the former tariff agreement between Eskom and Hillside had been the subject of years of enormous public scrutiny and criticism, comprising one proposal that power supply to the aluminium smelter needs to be ceased to control the rise in load shedding. The discounted tariff and tariff methodology of Hillside Aluminium smelter which swung in line with the performance of the aluminium price and the...
GMG reveals initial performance data of ‘Graphene Aluminium-Ion’ battery
The Australia-based clean-tech company listed that produces graphene and hydrogen by cracking methane instead of mining graphite has shared the initial performance data when tested in coin cells for the patent-pending surface perforation of graphene in aluminium-ion batteries developed by the Company in association with the University of Queensland. The experiments were carried out at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (“AIBN”), University of Queensland. Presently, GMG Graphene is being used to produce coin cell prototypes for customer testing in Q4 2021. The initial performance data is presented below: A few days earlier, GMG announced the execution of a research agreement with the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and...
Australia Govt. intends to reprocess northern territory alumina refinery to a fuel storage facility
The federal government of Australia is considering a bold proposal which reflects to see a portion of an alumina refinery in the northern territory be reprocessed into a strategic fuel storage facility, as reported by industry sources. The intents are to see the tanks at the Rio Tinto refinery transforms with a storage capacity of up to 160 megalitres of fuel as the government strives to shore up domestic supply chains in the northern parts of the country. Rio Tinto’s Gove bauxite mine at Nhulunbuy is all set to close within 2030, while the company is preparing to commence pulling down the refinery next year. Darwin’s airport development group and the Gumatj Aboriginal Corporation, the team which is working with Rio Tinto on the refinery’s demolition have brought the proposal on board....
Peru’s import of aluminium cans during 2018-20 illustrates an unstable movement
According to BBVA Research, the Peruvian economy is forecasted to grow 10% in 2021 and 4.8% in 2022, supported by a favourable external context. These forecasts are strongly conditioned to the maintenance of macroeconomic stability by the new government administration and largely reflect a rebound after the sharp output contraction in 2020. The South American nation’s import of aluminium cans during 2018-19 was recorded at 3542 tonnes and the expenditure that occurred for the import was $29.12 million. The import for 2020 stood at 2104 tonnes and the expenditure noted was $5.45 million. However, when the import volume and expenditure of 2020 gets added with the preceding two years, it signifies 5646 tonnes and $34.57 million respectively. Peru’s import of aluminium cans in 2018 was...
Canyon Resources upgrades Minim Martap bauxite project resources to measured category
The African focussed minerals exploration company Canyon Resources has upgraded the bauxite resources of its Minim Martap project in Cameroon following a grade definition drilling effort. Canyon confirmed the resource remains high in alumina and low in silica, containing 1.03 billion tonnes at 45.30% aluminium oxide, 2.70% silicon dioxide at a cut-off grade of 35% aluminium oxide. As per Canyon, out of the total resources, the said 500 million tonnes contained a high-grade resource of 49% aluminium oxide and 2.6% silicon dioxide and included an upgraded measured resource of 268 million tonnes at 49.7% aluminium oxide and 2.6% silicon oxide at a cut-off grade of 45% aluminium oxide. More predominantly, the bauxite explorer said: “This brings one-third of the total resource into the...
Bulgaria: Alcomet posts standalone net profit in Q1 2021, revenue improves
The leading Bulgarian manufacturer of aluminium rolled and extruded products Alcomet announced that in Q1, it revolved a standalone net profit of 171,000 levs or $106,300 or €87,430 when compared to a net loss of 772,000 levs in the same period in 2020. The aluminium manufacturer’s revenue rose to some 109 million levs in the three months through March, from 95.2 million levs in 2020, as the company reported in an interim financial statement. However, in terms of volume, Alcomet's sales grew by 20.36% during the year to 21,546 tonnes in the quarter under review. Sales of extruded products soared 14.62% to 7,595 tonnes, whereas sales of rolled products added 23.73% to 13,952 tonnes. The company’s biggest market for exports remained Germany in the Q1 with a 19.7% portion of total sales,...
Top Alumina refineries of Australia
The aluminium industry in Australia is operating six alumina refineries in the country, which are mostly producing smelter grade alumina for both the domestic and export markets. The nation’s alumina production in 2019 was 20.5 million tonnes and maintained its position as the second-largest producer of alumina and the world’s largest exporter. The six Australian alumina refineries are: Kwinana Alumina Refinery -Alcoa In 1963 Kwinana Alumina Refinery was commissioned and was the pioneer of Alcoa’s three Western Australian (WA) alumina refineries. It has an annual nameplate production capacity of 2.2 million tonnes and produces non-metallurgical alumina (15% of production) and smelter-grade alumina (85% of production). Kwinana refinery receives its bauxite ore from Alcoa’s Huntly Bauxite...
Luxembourg’s export of aluminium scrap during 2018-20 demonstrates growth, while earnings record hefty drop in 2020
Luxembourg has countered the COVID-19 pandemic comparatively well and it needs to be accredited to the unprecedented policy support, both domestically and globally, and a quick adjustment to teleworking given the structure of the economy. The government towards supporting the economy implemented a large and multi-pronged policy package in 2020, followed by more targeted stimulus in 2021. The small landlocked country in Western Europe during 2018-19 documented 12,022 tonnes of aluminium scrap exportation and the revenue generated from the export was $11.91 million. The export for 2020 remained at 7053 tonnes and the earnings stood at $3.61 million. However, when the export volume and earnings of 2020 get assorted with the existing two years, it demonstrates 19075 tonnes and $15.52 million...
Aluminium shortage may lead to hard pricing decision, says canned beverage CEOs
The global deficiency of aluminium supply in 2020 has worsened the position of the soft drink producers and brewers, who hugely count on aluminium for packaging i.e. aluminium cans. Following Q1 2021, multiple CEOs have raised the impact of rising cost in production due to the insufficiency of aluminium supply. Rodney Sacks, CEO of Monster Beverage Corp lamented that his company was compelled to source aluminium cans from South America and Asia due to supply constraint in the domestic aluminium can industry. He even explained that the cost of cans was not so on the higher side, but relatively the up-rise in freight and logistics spending is the major cause. Sacks stated: "We've always tried to manufacture and sell within regions to avoid excessive shipping costs. We had to break that this...
Nigeria Govt. to revive the nation’s aluminium smelter ALSCON
The Federal Government of Nigeria has committed to revive the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) for sustainable commercial operations. According to the Federal government, this was part of efforts that were being articulated to actualize its vision of creating a flourishing nation through the diversification of the economy and pull out Nigerians from poverty. Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development during his two-day visit to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State states the above words at the Government House. On behalf of the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of the ministry, Tine-lulun Maureen signed a statement, which says the minister’s visit was to, among other things, share the vision and policy thrust of the Federal Government towards the...
KPS Capital Partners to acquire extruded aluminium producer Metra
The American investment company KPS Capital Partners has stepped into a definitive agreement to acquire Metra Holding SpA and Metra SpA, (collectively “Metra” or the “Company”), a global producer of extruded aluminium. The existing shareholders will retain a 25% stake in the company. Metra will be the fourth acquisition by KPS Special Situations Mid-Cap Fund (the “Mid-Cap Fund”) and the first mid-cap acquisition of KPS in the EMEA region, following the accomplishment of the transaction. The vertically integrated global manufacturer of extruded aluminium profiles and related value-added services, Metra also includes painting, oxidation, machining, welding and assembly. The Company delivers a complete line of extruded aluminium profiles, which are used primarily in industrial and...
Czech Republic’s import of aluminium cylinders for compressed gas during 2018-20 remains inconstant
As per the FocusEconomic panellists, consumer prices in the Czech Republic rose 0.18% from the previous month. March’s result mainly reflected higher prices for transport and alcoholic beverages and tobacco. Concurrently, inflation increased to 2.3% in March from February’s 2.1%, which had marked the lowest reading since December 2018, therefore moving away from the midpoint of the Central Bank’s 1.0%–3.0% tolerance range. The central European nation during 2018-19 exported 1853 tonnes of aluminium cylinders for compressed gas and the revenue generated from the export counted to $6.32 million. The export for 2020 remained at 976 tonnes and the expenditure stood at $3.33 million. However, when the export volume and earnings of 2020 get footed with the previous two years, it denotes 2829...
Hammerer Aluminium Industries shifts to Combilift for safer handling of extrusion billets
Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI), the Ranshofen, Austria headquartered company, considered as the hidden champions of the aluminium industry has shifted towards the usage of three multidirectional forklifts from the Irish manufacturer Combilift, to ensure the safer and more efficient handling of extrusion billets. Combilift, the world’s fastest-growing manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts are now operational for the last few months at HAI displacing the previous sideloaders. Christian Ertl, Group Manager of transport logistics casting commented: “Sideloaders had not exactly impressed us with their track record of reliability.” Ertl with some of his team members from HAI’s finishing and loading division visited a steel processing plant in another region of Austria where...
RUSAL appoints Bob Katsiouleris as Director of Market Development and Risk to strengthen sales team
The leader in the global aluminium industry and a leading low-carbon aluminium producer, RUSAL has appointed Bob Katsiouleris as Director of Market Development and Risk, reporting to Steve Hodgson, Director of Sales and Marketing. In his new role, Bob will shoulder the responsibility for long-term product strategy development, price and market risk management, market intelligence and strengthening partnerships with key customers within the Company’s key growth segments. As the irreversible structural shift towards a more sustainable world continues, he will support the development of long-term relationships with key aluminium consumers who are increasingly demanding premium, high quality, value-added products consistent with their own environmental goals. Bob will play a crucial role in...
