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.
AlCircle launches 3rd edition of e-Magazine, “Aluminium LeaderSpeak 2021”
Followed by the grand success of our flagship e-Magazines for consecutive two years, “Aluminium LeaderSpeak 2019 & Aluminium LeaderSpeak 2020”, AlCircle proudly launches the 3rd edition of its e-Magazine, “Aluminium LeaderSpeak 2021”, which prominently covers the leader’s vision for the global aluminium industry in 2021. As we all are very much aware that global metal manufacturers are confronting a twofold problem in the energy transition. The initial one is, they have to fulfil the towering global demand for the key commodities and secondarily they have to scale down emissions. The metal aluminium faces a much bigger challenge than all the metals as it counters the biggest impact from carbon pricing. Aluminium ranks as the second-highest producer of absolute emissions (2% of the global...
Turkey’s import of Alumina during 2018-20 unfolds marginal to rapid downfall
Eti Alüminyum Seydişehir Plant is the only integrated aluminium plant producing aluminium from ore in Turkey. The continuous investment has made it able to adapt to technological conditions of the age and to acquire competitive power in the international markets, making considerable contributions to the economy of the country, and especially of the region. The transcontinental country straddling South-eastern Europe and Western Asia has recorded 44,956 tonnes of alumina during 2018-19 and the revenue expended for the import during the phase stood at $41.09 million. The import for 2020 accounted 19,230 tonnes and the expenditure occurred remained at $18.41 million. However, when the import volume and expenditure of 2020 gets assorted with the existing two years, it denotes 64,186 tonnes...
Destroying the whole Atewa forest for bauxite mining is untrue, it’s propaganda: Seth Adjei, Technical Director - GIADEC
Seth Adjei, Technical Director of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), has disregarded the propaganda as he professes that the entire Atewa Forest stands irreversible destruction should government proceed with plans to mine bauxite. While attending a workshop on the environment at Ghana’s capital Accra, he said: “It cannot be true and should not stall national development.” “We are talking about destroying the whole of the Atewa Forest. It is not true. It’s propaganda. The portion of the Atewa Forest that we are going to be ‘playing with is about 10% or less over 50 years. So you can imagine, 50 years, 10%, how much of it in a year are we going to touch?” Adjei added. He said: “The targeted five million tonnes of bauxite to be mined takes into account the...
Fight against COVID-19: BIS approves N95 masks fitted aluminium nose bridge and made from five-layer non-woven fabric-50 GSM
The Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has set foot to safeguard the quality of masks production, which is considered as the first line of defence for the fight against Covid-19. According to KV Rao, Head, BIS Hyderabad, it has permitted licence to eight private firms in Telangana, a southern Indian state, to manufacture indigenous masks (IS: 9473:2002; BIS specification). “BIS has specifically directed manufacturers to manufacture IS:9473 (N95/FFP2) masks with two parameters including filtration efficiency and breathability,” Rao said. Dr Akash Chakravarthy, Director, Saritha Pharmaceuticals at Sainikpuri, a BIS licensee, said: “We are using a five-layer non-woven fabric-50 GSM for manufacturing N95 masks, which avoids 95% of viruses and germs from getting in and an aluminium nose bridge...
Vedanta Resources contributes $4.7 billion to Indian exchequer in FY20, says Anil Agarwal
The globally diversified mining and metal firm Vedanta Resources has stated that it contributed $4.66 billion to the public exchequer in India during the FY20. According to the latest report, Vedanta Resources said: “Overall contributions to public exchequers of various countries stood at $4.7 billion (INR 34,310 crore) during the fiscal year. Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Resources, said: "Consistent with our commitment to building on transparency, we present our fifth tax transparency report. During FY2019-20, our contribution to exchequer was $4.7 billion, which accounts for 40% of our consolidated turnover." As the majority of the group’s business operations are positioned in India, so most of this amount goes to the Indian exchequer. Vedanta paid $1,398 million towards royalties to...
Sri Lanka’s import of Aluminium Foil during 2019-20 reveals significant growth; 2021 import hints for further positive development
The unrivalled disruption of COVID-19 has caused geopolitical unrest and as the global order is modified, small emerging market economies like Sri Lanka are exposed to the fallout. Sri Lanka bestrides vital shipping routes and is at the centre of a diplomatic dispute between China and the United States, who called on Sri Lanka to make ‘difficult but necessary choices’ over its growing economic and political ties to China. The island nation of South Asia has recorded import of aluminium foil of 9394 tonnes during 2019-20 and the revenue expended for the import stood at $20.98 million. Sri Lanka’s import of aluminium foil in 2019 stood at 3664 tonnes and the expenditure accounted for the import remained at $8.80 million, whereas, in 2019, the import revealed significant growth by 54.99%, as...
Govt. of India: Ministry of Commerce mandates import registration compulsory on a score of aluminium products
The Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India has mandated import registration compulsory for 43 aluminium and 46 copper items under non-ferrous metal import monitoring system. This is a move to boost domestic production and obstruct imports of such goods. As per the notification of the department of commerce, it is stated that: “Under the import monitoring system importers would have to submit advance information in an online system for inbound shipments of these products and obtain an automatic registration number by paying the specified fee.” However, the statement also says that the importer can apply for registration not earlier than the 60 th day and not later than the 5 th day before the expected date of arrival of import consignment. "Import of specific aluminium and copper items are...
Fort William aluminium smelter’s troubled boss vows none of the steel plants will shut
Fort William aluminium smelter’s troubled boss has affirmed that none of the steel plants will shut “under my watch”. The founder of Liberty House Group and Chairman and CEO of GFG Alliance, Sanjeev Gupta also confessed that his Liberty Steel business owes “multi-billions” to the collapsed financial lender, Greensill Capital. On 2 nd April 2021, Lochaber Chamber of Commerce (LCC) explained: “The smelter, which was bought by GFG in 2016 and is part of its Alvance aluminium wing, as a ‘critical part’ of the local community, and the organisation would continue to engage with the company about any impact the ‘current challenges’ might have on its operations in the area.” Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Business Secretary has turn downed to rule out the probability that Liberty Steel could be taken into...
ANG Lifesciences India acquires aluminium foil among others printing-packing firm under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Plan
On 3 rd April 2021, ANG Lifesciences India Ltd announced its acquisition of printing and packaging firm, Mansa Print & Publishers Ltd, which has undergone corporate insolvency resolution plan, as part of its strategic vertical integration. Mansa Print & Publishers Ltd, located at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, is involved in the printing and packaging business covering manufacturing of packaging products including aluminium foil among other itineraries. ANG Lifesciences India (ALI) said in a regulatory filing: “In addition to this, it has a separate stationery division with high-tech machinery giving good business opportunity.” ANG Lifesciences India did not reveal the value of the acquisition, but it stated: "Acquired above infrastructure at a very economical cost under Corporate Insolvency...
ESG factors push Press Metal Aluminium in a better place
Malaysian aluminium smelter, Press Metal has been adored by the investors as the metal producer focus on ESG practices, while the world’s largest glove producers, Top Glove topples due to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. South-east Asia's biggest aluminium smelter gushed 18% in the March quarter to become the best performer on Malaysia's benchmark stock index. The plants those runs on hydropower, it has been noticed that their shares have rallied amid higher prices of the metal and speculates that its products made with low carbon footprint will be in demand. China is stressing to meet a goal of carbon neutrality by 2060, leaving aluminium producers that run on coal-fired power in the government's cross-hairs. Low Jin Wu, an analyst at Hong Leong Investment Bank, said...
Hungary’s export of aluminium wire during 2018-19 bespeaks marginal dip; 2020 records enterprising growth
According to ERSTE Research, the Hungarian economy was forecasted to shrink by 6.1% in 2020, followed by a growth of 3.9% in 2021. The carryover effect of the 4Q20 lockdown and worsening labour market conditions will likely weigh on consumer consumption. Investment activity should also remain subdued, given the possible delay in EU funds and overall low business sentiment. The economy should recover more spectacularly from 2Q21 with broad-based vaccination restore economic sentiment. The landlocked country in Central Europe, Hungary recorded export of 39,172 tonnes of aluminium wire in 2018-19 and the revenue earnings accounted for the export remained at $79.27 million. The export for 2020 stood at 23,039 tonnes with the highest export volume during the phase and the earnings amounted to...
NALCO scales all-time high by achieving the highest-ever bauxite production in 2020-21
The National Aluminium Company Limited, a Navratna CPSE having integrated and diversified operations in mining, metal and power under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India have registered all-time highest in bauxite production of 73,65,001 tonnes since its inception. This is counted as an affirmation of the hard work and commitment of the NALCO staffs. On reaching its peak in bauxite production, NALCO stated: “Records are meant to be broken. Despite challenging times, NALCO registered the highest ever Bauxite Production since inception, a testimony to the hard work and commitment by Team NALCO.” NALCO is one of the largest integrated primary producers of aluminium in Asia and its presence encompasses the entire value chain from bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting,...
MQP: Electric vehicle sector to benefit from powerful new aluminium grain refiner
MQP, the leading aluminium specialist has developed an increasingly robust version of its top-selling grain refiner to brace customers in the high specification segments. Build on the success of its standard Optifine TiBAl grain refiner, Optifine 5:1 125, which consistently reduces additional rates by 70% in a wide range of aluminium alloy compositions to reduce surface blemishes, cracking and defects. The new, premium version can cut addition rates by up to 85% and is 35% more powerful than the current Optifine, a particular game-changer for producers of automotive body sheets (ABS) for the electric vehicles market. John Courtenay, chairman of MQP, said: “The launch of Optifine 5:1 125 would help ensure that the sheet quality casthouses were better able to meet manufacturers’ rising...
Morgan Stanley, ICBC Standard Bank losing confidence in Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance, considers selling the loan
Morgan Stanley and ICBC Standard Bank are considering selling part of a loan, which they lend to a crucial business unit of Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance. This is a hint which speaks that lenders are gradually losing confidence in the metal producing group. According to an industry professional, the two financial giants have initiated discussions with potential buyers of their exposure to debt that financed GFG subsidiary Liberty Industries France’s acquisition of Rio Tinto’s aluminium smelter in 2018. However, it has also been stated by the industry professional: “The process is at an early stage and may not lead to a sale” All three parties have not commented on the transaction, as of yet. The aluminium plant at Dunkirk, northern France is Europe’s largest aluminium smelter and is...
Argentina’s export of Aluminium Foil during 2018-20 manifests steady to robust growth
The COVID-19 pandemic blew Argentina's economy hard, as the nation is running in its third consecutive year of recession. The government is negotiating a fresh program with the IMF, which could be crucial for the country's sustainable growth with the second wave of the pandemic already started affecting. The country located mostly in the southern half of South America, Argentina has recorded 31,947 tonnes of aluminium foil during 2018-19 and the revenue generated from the export remained at $99.71 million. The export for 2020 was noted at 32,367 tonnes, the highest in the phase and the earnings accounted for $94.76 million. However, when the export volume and revenue earnings of 2020 get footed with the existing two years, it resembles 64,314 tonnes and $194.47 million respectively....
Rheinmetall secures aluminium engine block order worth over €100 million
The integrated technology group, Rheinmetall has secured a follow-up order from an unnamed German carmaker to produce aluminium engine blocks with a total value crossing more than €100 million. Rheinmetall AG is a publicly listed company based in Düsseldorf, Germany and is a powerful, internationally successful corporation. Rheinmetall stands as a market leader in the areas of environmentally friendly mobility and threat-appropriate security technology. The full-scale production is going to initiate in 2023, while the lifetime contract is going to extend beyond 2030. Since 1990, the company has been delivering the automaker with engine blocks for multiple vehicle models. The current model is manufactured by using low-pressure die casting, while the freshly ordered engine blocks will be...
RUSAL invests over $1 billion in environmental projects during the past decade
The global leading aluminium producer, Rusal has invested over $1billion in environmental projects between 2011 and 2020. The environmental measures and initiatives implemented by RUSAL over the past decade are highly praised, as the volume of emissions from the Company's enterprises has reduced by almost 20%, industrial wastewater discharges have dropped by more than twice and the consumption of freshwater has shrunk by a third. The introduction of modern production and environmental technologies as part of the modernization and development of existing production was accredited for such results. In 2020, the Company prioritised its work towards achieving its strategic environmental goals. Thus, last year the EcoSoderberg technology was introduced across the Krasnoyarsk aluminium plant...
North West Aluminium appoints Steven Nairn as new Commercial Project Manager
North West Aluminium, one of the largest manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor of roofing and ventilation products in Ireland & the UK has appointed Steven Nairn as the new Commercial Project Manager for its brand GutterClad as the company expands its product and service offering throughout the Irish and UK market. This new role will empower the company to further strengthen its offering to more substantial building contractors, roofers and aluminium rainwater installers. The company has mushroomed from an established Aluminium Roofing Accessory manufacturer in Ireland and the UK to a supplier of full Aluminium Rainwater product range for both self-build and commercial projects in recent years. In 2019, Steven joined North West Aluminium, carrying extensive construction sales sector...
