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.
Cyprus import of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles during 2018-20 demonstrates downturn
Cyprus was moving on an enterprising growth path before the global outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic and the restriction measures that followed have dramatically changed the scenario. In the first quarter of 2020, economic growth slowed down considerably, 0.8% (year-on-year), reflecting a significant fall in external demand for goods and tourism. Economic sentiment and expectations in services are at a historic low, despite a slight improvement in June’20. Tourism, the main pillar of Cyprus’ economy, has been severely affected. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to significantly dampen international demand for tourism. Tourist arrivals and revenues decreased by 46.5% and 52.4%, respectively in the first quarter of 2020 (year-on-year). The island nation in the eastern Mediterranean has...
Vedanta Aluminium’s COVID-19 vaccination drive held at Jharsuguda Plant
The aluminium arm of Vedanta Group, Vedanta Aluminium becomes the first in the Group to drive the COVID-19 vaccination program for its medical personnel and healthcare staff. The vaccination program was organised by joining hands with the District Health Administration of Jharsuguda, Odisha. In the first phase, 125 personnel from Vedanta’s Occupational Health team will be vaccinated. On 19 th January 2021 vaccination program, held in strict adherence to all COVID guidelines and under the close supervision of the district administration, the government agency that provided the vaccine and other required medical equipment. Mr Rahul Sharma, Dy. CEO, Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd., said: "Under the visionary leadership of Shri Naveen Patnaik, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, the state has...
Covid-19 infections forced Kobelco’s Aluminium extrusion plant in Japan to shut down temporarily
The Japanese metal products maker Kobelco has been forced to shut down temporarily its aluminium product plants after discovering a group of Covid-19 infections. On 19 th January’2021, Kobelco is planning to close its aluminium extrusion plant at Chofu works in western Japan's Yamaguchi prefecture. The aluminium extrusion plant is will remain closed for three days until 21 st January 2021, allowing the firm to focus on quarantine measures and Covid-19 tests on more than 900 plant staff. However, Kobelco stated: “The closure is unlikely to affect shipments and customer deliveries of aluminium products at this stage because of ample stocks.” The company has confirmed 12 cases of Covid-19 at the Chofu works. The new rise in infections has led to tighter Covid-19 measures, with Japan...
Indian Aluminium Industry seeks immediate Govt. support to cross over the challenging phase
The Indian Aluminium Industry is seeking immediate Government support to cross over the challenging phase it is currently facing. This is the Aluminium Industry’s expectations from the upcoming Union Budget 2021. India stands as one of the rapidly growing economies and fastest emerging markets in the world and the Aluminium Industry plays a vital role in the nation’s economy. The aluminium sector is of a strategically important for the country and a much-demanded commodity for multiple other industries, as it is a major role player in diversified applications which are crucial for the economy like energy, security, national defence, infrastructure, electrification, aerospace, automobile, consumer durables, packaging etc. Presently, the Indian Aluminium industry is going through a rough...
Zambia’s import of Aluminium cans reveals inconsistency during 2018-20, yet remains a 100 million dollar market
Zambia is struggling hard for an economic turnaround with the blow Covid-19 pandemic. The country’s external debt is about $12billion, which is roughly 80% of the nation’s GDP. The economy was set to contract by 4.8% in 2020, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The southern African landlocked nation’s import of aluminium cans during 2018-19 was recorded at 5239 tonnes and the expenditure occurred for the import remained at $290.03 million. The import for 2020 stood at 1687 tonnes and the expenditure accounted for $139.26. However, when the import volume and expenditure of 2020 gets assorted with the existing two gets, it reflects 6926 tonnes and $429.29 million respectively. Zambia’s import of aluminium cans in 2018 remained at 3676 tonnes, the highest in the phase of...
Jamaica’s Bauxite-Alumina industry oversights major environment failures
A recent study has unfolded the major environmental oversight failures in the country's bauxite-alumina industry. The multidisciplinary study commissioned by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), comprises negligence of the state agency in monitoring air and underground water pollution in bauxite mining communities, failure to follow air pollution monitoring guidelines, as well as, weak enforcement of regulatory guidelines stipulated in mining permits. According to Diana McCaulay, Director, JET: “The failures were as a result of insufficient data-gathering efforts by the regulatory body and a delay in the implementation of a regulatory framework for the industry at its inception.” “We found that the regulatory framework for the industry was long delayed. So, although this industry is...
EGA, DEWA places the UAE as first country to produce Aluminium using solar energy
On 18 th January 2021, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced a new global milestone placing the United Arab Emirates as the first country in the world to produce aluminium using the solar energy. The milestone supports the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the most sustainable city in the world and to take the lead in the development and application of scientific and technological advances in the energy sector. DEWA will supply EGA’s aluminium smelter with 560,000 megawatt-hours of solar power yearly from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, sufficient to make 40,000 tonnes of aluminium in the first year with the potential for...
EN+ GROUP sets target, net-zero by 2050 and 35% GHG emission reduction by 2030
EN+ GROUP has publicized its ambition to become net-zero by 2050 and to reduce Greenhouse Gas ("GHG") emissions by at least 35% by 2030. These stretching targets cover complete emissions across all operations, which incorporate aluminium production plus heat and electricity production. In 2019, the Group's metal business, UC Rusal, produced 6% of the world's aluminium and its power segment, EuroSibEnergo, generated over 64 TWh of clean hydropower. The Group believes that the targets announced on 18 th January 2021 represent the most ambitious carbon reduction targets yet seen in the global aluminium industry, setting a new standard in one of the most energy-intensive industries in the global economy. The Board has approved targets of at least a 35% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 and...
Five million Aluminium cans to be collected, recycled to build a helipad for the Leicester Royal Infirmary
In the English landlocked county, Leicestershire, across the region litter pickers have grouped to collect five million aluminium cans to build a helipad for the Leicester Royal Infirmary. South Leicestershire litter womble Geoff Walker, from Braunstone, and the founder of the charity Helipads for Hospitals, John Nowell are leading the scheme. The duo John and Geoff have joined hands to collect the cans, which will be crushed and melted down to form the actual helipad for the LRI. They are also aiming to eventually collect enough cans for one at the QMC in Nottingham too. Geoff, who is now 69 years old, said: "In November 2019, we started to collect cans for the LRI and the QMC.” "The problem is that the LRI currently doesn't have space for a helipad, but with all the work that is being...
Colombia’s import of Aluminium Tubes and Pipes during 2018-20 illustrates upswing; expenditures shrink
Colombia hosting almost 1.8 million Venezuelans as of May’20 stands by far the largest destination country for displaced Venezuelans. Since the beginning of the crisis in Venezuela, the Colombian government has maintained an open and constructive response towards the arrival of displaced Venezuelans. The country’s economic lockdown and quarantine have resulted to plunge Colombia’s GDP to fall by almost 8% in 2020, driving the country into its first recession in two decades. This economic slowdown is having severe effects on the Colombian labour market, with the unemployment rate reaching 19.8% in June 2020. The transcontinental nation’s import of aluminium tubes and pipes during 2018-19 was recorded at 3535 tonnes and the foreign revenue expended on the import remained at $ 12.16 million....
AGB2A, Sunda Mining inks an agreement for 20 million tonnes of Bauxite exploitation
On 16 th January 2021, the AGB2A Company as a part of its development has signed an agreement with its strategic partner Sunda Mining (SD Mining) SA, in presence of the CEO of Axis at Conakry, capital of West African nation Guinea. The agreement spotlights for the exploitation of more than 20 million tonnes of bauxite on the Konyakhouré plateau, located on the license of the company AXIS Mineral Resources S.A., west of the FATALA river. Following the vision of the Guinean authorities, this agreement is part of a major project, of which AGB2A is the promoter, consisting in the pooling of mining infrastructure, and the construction of crossing structures, on both sides of FATALA, in the Boffa Corridor. The primary objective of this project is to proffer more opportunities for the removal of...
Utkarsha Aluminium’s land acquisition to gear up: Minister for Industries, state of Andhra Pradesh-India
Mekapati Gautam Reddy, the Minister for industries and Commerce for the Indian state Andhra Pradesh asked the officials to speed up land acquisition for Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Ltd's proposed plant at Kodavalur mandal in Nellore district. On 16 th January 2021, the Minister at his camp office reviewed the advancement of the project with the officials and representatives of the company. He said any irregularities in payment of compensation to the farmers who handed over lands for the project should be settled and additional land should be acquired if needed for setting up the industry. Gautam Reddy discussed with the representatives of Utkarsha Aluminium, a special purpose vehicle for setting up the unit of Midhani, towards the investment for the unit and details of the direct and...
Bauxite Tycoon Fadi Wazni plans to develop Alumina refinery in Guinea, post the acquisition of Alteo in France
The bauxite tycoon, Fadi Wazni, after acquiring the world's number one speciality alumina refinery in France, Alteo, the Franco-Guinean Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Boké mining company, plans to develop an alumina refinery in Guinea. The buyout plan by the Guinean UMS (United Mining Supply) of the French alumina plant Alteo, world number one in speciality alumina, was in receivership since December 2019 and was validated on 7 th January 2021 by the Marseille commercial court. Already present in the exploitation of bauxite through the Boké Mining Company (SMB) in which its UMS group is associated up to 30% with Singaporean Winning Shipping and Chinese Shandong Weiqiao, Franco-Guinean Fadi Wazni, born in Lebanon, therefore ensures control of a large part of the sector, by...
Long awaiting Indian Oil, Israel’s Phinergy Aluminium-air battery test-drive done on Mahindra Treo
As the petrol and diesel prices are gaining to reach the highest levels in India, providers of eco-friendly motoring in the form of electric vehicles are shoving to the wheel of green mobility. The fresh development on this front comes from Indian city Bangalore-based Mahindra Electric. Mahindra Electric is testing out a new form of energy source on its popular three-wheeler Treo, i.e. Aluminium-air batteries. The metal-air batteries are considered to be equal in the performance of traditional fuel. It can be refilled in just 5 minutes, require light-infrastructure, are weather-proof and most importantly lower the cost of EVs. In February 2020, Indian Oil (IOCL), the country’s leading oil marketing company, signed its partnership with Israel-based Phinergy to manufacture Aluminium-air...
Indian Army, DRDO develop the country’s first indigenous 9 mm machine pistol; upper receiver is made from aircraft-grade Aluminium
India has now developed its first-ever indigenously made 9mm machine pistol ‘ASMI”, added another pride to its defence capabilities. The weapon has been jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Army, as stated by the Ministry of Defence. It has been developed by a young officer from Infantry School Lt Col Prasad Bansod in a record time of four months. The weapon has the capability of firing the in-service 9 mm ammunition. The weapon has been named “Asmi” which means 'pride', 'Self-Respect' and 'Hard Work'. As per the statement from DRDO: "The Army's infantry school in Mhow and the DRDO's Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune have designed and developed the weapon." "The machine pistol fires the in-service 9mm...
Danieli Breda secures order from PMS Aluminium in Turkey to supply new 40-MN front-loading extrusion press
PMS Aluminium, the Bursa-Turkey based company selects Danieli Breda to deliver a new, 40-MN, 10-in. front-loading extrusion press. The objective of PMS Aluminium's investment is to expand its product portfolio for the automotive sector with aluminium hard-alloy profiles. PMS Aluminium produces 60,000 tonnes of flat and extruded products, of which 60% is exported, serving the construction, machinery, furniture, industrial applications and solar power markets, as well as automotive. The installation of the new Danieli 40-MN press will make it stand among the largest extrusion presses in Turkey and features the ultra-modern technological innovations, such as: Danieli Breda's patented energy-saving system 'ESED 4.0,' which enables an average energy savings of 25-30%; Press control system...
Yara Marine X picks start-up Aluminium-air battery technology developer Phoenician Energy as winner
A developer of new battery technology, Phoenician Energy has been picked as the winner of the Yara Marine Technologies start-up support programme Yara Marine X. Yara Marine Technologies started the Yara Marine X program earlier this year. Now, after months of search, they finally found a winner amongst the many applicants. Thomas Koniordos, CEO of Yara Marine Technologies, said: “Phoenician Energy’s use of aluminium-air battery technology for the maritime industry triggered our scientists’ curiosity. Their container battery is especially interesting. The concept taps into several recent trends and developments, such as circular economy and electrification of marine vessels. We believe this technology may have an important role to play in a greener maritime industry for future...
Aluminerie Alouette sets all-time record production of 620,706 tonnes in 2020
Aluminerie Alouette, one of the most efficient primary aluminium producers of the world, has stated in 2020 review statement that: "Aluminerie Alouette in 2020 broke its record of all time with an annual production of 620,706 tons of aluminium. It was a special year in many ways for the largest aluminium smelter in the Americas. Employees and partners have worked hard to exceed the 2016 performance in aluminium production.” The previous record, set in 2016, was 608,964 tonnes. The increase in production with the same facilities is linked to the good results of a large-scale project that began in 2019, namely the construction of a forced-air network to cool the AP40 technology tanks. This $ 100M modernization project, completed in November 2020, maximizes energy use. This was the Alouette...
