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.
New Zealand’s import of Aluminium Plates, Sheets and Strips during 2017-20 reveals uniform growth
The economy of New Zealand is a highly developed free-market economy.[20] It is the 51st-largest national economy in the world when measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP) and the 67th-largest in the world when measured by purchasing power parity (PPP). New Zealand has a large GDP for its size and population. The major industries constitute food processing, textiles, machinery and transportation equipment, finance, tourism, mining, aluminium, etc. The import of Aluminium plates, sheets and strips of the island nation in the South-western Pacific Ocean demonstrate a uniform growth as the total import volume during 2017-19 has been recorded at 59,301 tonnes and the revenue expended stood at $183.28 million. The import projected for 2020 has also been analysed with positive growth...
Ukraine trims Bauxite importation by 9%
Ukraine decreased the import of aluminium ore and concentrate (bauxite) by 9% in January-May’20 compared to the same period in 2019, to 1.945 million tonnes. According to statistics released by the State Customs Service, bauxite imports in monetary terms decreased by 8.2%, to $85.069 million during that period. The import was mainly made from Guinea (67.77% of supplies in monetary terms), Guyana (15.02%) and Ghana (8.49%). In January-May’20, some 70 tonnes of bauxite worth $11,000 were re-exported to Poland, while in January-May 2019 Ukraine supplied 22 tonnes of bauxite worth $1,000 to Poland.
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“Our guess is that the world’s top priority will be to better protect our environment, and at Fives, we are determined to become an active player in environmental commitments in the post-COVID-19 world.” - Aurélie Fillon, VP Services, Fives - Aluminium division.
Graduated from Edhec Business School in Lille in 2000, Aurélie has been first working as an Auditor at Ernst&Young before joining Fives Group in 2004 as Financial Controller at the Head Office. In 2007, she became Financial Control of Fives Solios before being promoted to CFO. In 2018, she moved to the position of VP Services of the Aluminium division of Fives, supervising four Services Companies (Canada, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East) plus the Europe Front office. She is leading the Services strategy and its implantation. AlCircle: How COVID-19 changes the outlook for 2020 for the aluminium industry? Aurélie Fillon: As everybody knows, the situation is for now very complex for the producers of aluminium. Despite the drop in the demand of aluminium, the production of...
The England and Wales railway connector Severn Tunnel’s electrification concludes plying Aluminium contact wires
The installation of aluminium contact wires through the Severn Tunnel to prevent the corrosion that delayed the project by three years already. The infrastructure manager Network Rail has disclosed that this system has been used in Britain for the first time. The 134 years old tunnel with a stretch of 6.4 km tunnel’s electrification was launched as a part of the Great Western electrification programme in June 2010. The tunnel runs 60 metres beneath the Severn Estuary. Dr Dave Hewings, NR special projects manager said: “Several systems were considered for the tunnel, before an overhead rigid conductor rail system developed by Furrer and Frey, Switzerland, was selected. The system has already been used in many major tunnels in Europe, including the Gotthard Base Tunnel and the Ceneri Base...
US $2.5 Billion triple series notes offering by PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium
BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets and HSBC acted as joint global coordinators, joint book-runners and joint lead managers on the 144A/Reg S US$2.5bn triple series notes offering by PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium, one of the largest issuances from an Indonesian corporate in recent years. The funding from the triple tranche notes, including US$1bn 4.750% due 2025, US$1bn 5.450% due 2030 and US$500m 5.800% due 2050, will support the Indonesian state-own mining holding company to refinance its older bonds and fund various infrastructure projects. The transaction was led by Linklaters’ capital markets partner Amit Singh, with support from managing associate Catherine Lee, and Widyawan & Partners’ banking partner Adrian Pranata, supported by managing associate Randy Irawan. Linklaters...
Aluminium du Maroc to expand the number of its Board of Directors
The Moroccan aluminium company, Aluminium du Maroc, specializing in the manufacture of aluminium alloy profiles, mostly gets consumed in the building market (85%), but also covers the multiple needs of the industrial sector. The Ordinary General Assembly of Aluminum du Maroc scheduled to meet on 29 th June’20 intends to bring the number of seats on the Board of Directors to 15 instead of 11 currently. New directors will be appointed. These are Janie Carmen Madeleine Letrot, Sabr Abou Ibrahimi and Radia Chmanti Houari, who will have a mandate of 6 years. Two new directors will also be appointed to Aluminum du Maroc SA for a 6-year term: Francis Guillos and Abdul Hussein Beydoun.
RUSAL initiates testing of new generation Inert Anode Pot
The leading global aluminium producer, Rusal has declared that it initiated testing operations for a pilot industrial electrolytic cell with inert anodes, which has an improved design and a record low carbon footprint. The new pilot model will replace the inert anode electrolytic cell already being tested by RUSAL as the next step in the development of innovative carbon-free aluminium cell technology. The new generation of inert anode electrolytic cell has several fundamentally new technical solutions that can improve the purity of aluminium produced, reduce the carbon footprint to a record low level of 2 tons of CO2 per tonne of aluminium produced and reduce operating costs during the production process. The pilot experimental pot cell will have a capacity of approximately 1 tonne of...
“Industry 4.0 now directly impacts all the process and manufacturing sectors.” - Miles Prosser, Secretary-General of the International Aluminium Institute
Miles Prosser is the Secretary-General of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the only body that represents the aluminium industry at the global level. With more than twenty years’ experience working on various industrial policy issues, Miles brings in-depth knowledge on resource allocation, sustainability and climate change. Miles joined the IAI from the Australian Aluminium Council where he served as Executive Director for more than 10 years. He leads the IAI to promote the unique and valuable properties of aluminium in sustainable development. He holds an honours degree from the Australian National University. Miles Prosser, Secretary-General of the International Aluminium Institute speaks to AlCircle: AlCircle: Currently, IAI membership represents over 60% of global bauxite,...
“The impact of Covid-19 has mainly accelerated the innovative solutions, based mainly on the diffusion of new connecting technology that was already defined by Continuus-Properzi for the future.” - Alberto Ghisetti, Sales Director, Continuus-Properzi
Alberto Ghisetti is graduated in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in industrial automation & robotics and has completed an executive master in Project Management. In the last fifteen years, he has matured experience in the international sale of complete plants in the non-ferrous, mine and steel industry. He is working at Continuus-Properzi for ten years, actually, as Sales Director, focused in both aluminium and copper plants for rod and ingots production. Alberto Ghisetti, Sales Director of Continuus-Properzi shares his insights in an interview with AlCircle concerning COVID-19 impact to the industry: AlCircle: Can you briefly introduce your Company? Mr Alberto: Continuus-Properzi, the leading expert in the aluminium and copper wire rod continuous casting industry, invented...
The sharp decline of Colombia’s importation of Aluminium wires during 2017-20
The economy of Colombia is the fourth largest in Latin America as measured by gross domestic product. Colombia has experienced a historic economic boom over the last decade. The South American nation’s import of aluminium wires during 2017-19 has been recorded with 15,500 tonnes and the expenditure stood at $42.52 million. The projected import volume for 2020 has been analysed at 4127 tonnes and the expenditure to remain at $18.16 million. However, when the previous three years import volume and expenditure gets added to the analysed figures of 2020 it stands at 19,627 tonnes and $60.68 million respectively. Columbia’s import of aluminium wires in 2017 has been recorded with the volume of 9340 tonnes and the expenditure stood at $60.68 million, whereas in 2018 there has been a de-growth...
Saudi Arabia moving to build a non-oil economy, bauxite mining to play key role
On 9 th June’20, Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has approved a new mining law that has an objective to accelerate foreign investment in the sector as part of efforts to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons. Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Mining and Industry said: “The new law facilitates investor access to financing and supports exploration and geological survey activities.” He also added: “This will help attract local and foreign investors and eventually raise mining sector participation in gross GDP.” The Saudi government targets to more than triple this sector’s contribution to the nation’s economic output and to create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in the sector by 2030. The Kingdom’s effort to build an economy that does not largely depend on oil and state subsidies...
Aluminum Extruders Council: Seeks an end to section 232 tariffs on imported Aluminum
The Trump Administration three years ago announced the 232 investigations into the national security implications of imported aluminium products. The US domestic aluminium industry was cheered up. It was presumed that finally, action would be taken on the largest threat to the domestic aluminium industry i.e. China. However, that is not what happened. On 22 nd June’17, the Administration held a Public Hearing on Section 232 Investigation of Aluminum Imports on National Security. At that hearing, nearly 50 aluminium industry professionals described how the single biggest threat to our industry was the unfettered overproduction and excessive build-up incapacity of the Chinese aluminium industry. The industry was told that a global tariff would rebuild domestic production of primary...
Balexo appoints Jassim Mohamed Seyadi as Board Chairman
The Bahrain based aluminium extrusion company, Balexo on 9 th June’20 made public the appointment of Jassim Mohamed Seyadi as its Board Chairman. Seyadi brings to this role more than 41 years of experience including 27 in the insurance sector and 14 years in manufacturing industry management. With an academic background in insurance and corporate law, Seyadi started his career with Balexco as General Manager and has gone on to serve as the company’s CEO, Managing Director and board member prior to become the chairmanship of the board, which has been successfully restructured under his guidance and direction. A spokesperson of the company said: “Balexo Under his management, has continued to be profitable and made operational progress including the successful revamp of three presses, in...
Aluminerie Alouette: North America’s leading aluminium smelter announces change in leadership
Aluminerie Alouette's Chairman of the owners' committee Darren Colwell has announced that Mr Michel Huot is appointed as the Acting President and CEO, hereinafter the exit of Patrice L’Huillier. Since 2018 he has led the aluminium company. The Quebec-Canada based aluminium smelter stated that the change has been addressed post discussion with Mr L’Huillier. The owners of the business have thanked him for his work accomplishment during his tenure. Colwell said: “We are pleased to welcome Michel to our team and are confident that he will be able to support Aluminerie Alouette during this period. The organisation will benefit from his wide experience. Mr Huot will facilitate the implementation of a strategy aimed at pursuing modernisation and long-term sustainability of the company.” The new...
Slovenia’s Bauxite importation exhibits progressive growth during 2017-20
Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, is known for its mountains, ski resorts and lakes. The economy of Slovenia is developed and the country enjoys a high level of prosperity and stability as well as above-average GDP per capita by purchasing power parity at 83% of the EU28 average in 2015. FocusEconomics analysts project the economy to contract 7.2% in 2020, which is up 0.2 percentage points from last month's forecast. The major Slovene industries produce electrical equipment, electronics, trucks, chemicals, processed food, textiles, paper and paper products, and wood products. Ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminium reduction and rolled products, and lead and zinc smelting are also developed. The bauxite importation of the Central European nation has been exhibited...
Washington Governor’s open letter to Alcoa fall short to save Intalco Aluminium smelter’s employees future
Alcoa Corporation initiated the worker's lay-off diligently at its Smelter in Ferndale, Washington post they received an offer of assistance from the state governor. This is also a nod to end the production of the plant. On 4 th June’20, Alcoa began to pass out pink slips on to many of the plant’s 700-strong workforce, giving the first five dozen by 5 th June’20. The layoffs are anticipated to pursue this week, reaching up to 400 workers over the coming two weeks. Eventually, the company is assumed to retain around 30 people in August’20, and gradually take it to 50% that number over the following year. The Governor of Washington Jay Inslee wrote an open letter to Roy Harvey, CEO of Alcoa for volunteering to support broker deal between the organization and potentially engrossed parties...
Carbon Trust: Common standards and clear labelling for Green Aluminium should be the way ahead
Carbon Trust an expert partner for businesses, governments and organisations around the world supporting them in realising ambitious plans for a sustainable, low carbon future stated on 8 th June’20 that: “Common standards and clear labelling should be agreed for so-called green aluminium so industrial users can identify low-carbon material amid competing claims by producers.” The aluminium downstream consumers such as the auto and packaging industries are intensifying and aiming to lower their carbon footprints and buy material produced with low carbon dioxide emissions. However, they are facing a range of “green” aluminium products from producers such as Rusal, Norsk Hydro and Rio Tinto. Hugh Jones, MD of UK-based non-profit organisation Carbon Trust has proposed new labelling system...
Australian scientists invent a treatment: “Transforming aluminium into antiviral and antibacterial”
The COVID-19 pandemic has made science turn its eyes to locate that perhaps had been a little forgotten, such as hygiene and health in public spaces. Contamination must be avoided at all costs, and the mask is not enough because we are constantly touching things at work, the supermarket, public spaces Australian scientists have invented a treatment that converts aluminium into antiviral and antibacterial. Aluminium is one of the most used metals in hospitals, as it is also widely used to make keyboards, door and window knobs, and other objects that we touch constantly. The Queensland Institute of Technology in Australia has been testing with aluminium alloy 663 and after applying treatment with sodium hydroxide for three hours, very interesting changes in aluminium. Sodium hydroxide is...
