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.
The rational growth of Algeria’s import of Aluminium Plates, Sheets and Strips during 2017-20
The North African country Algeria is surrounded by Mediterranean coastline and a Saharan desert interior. The country is classified as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank. The economy remains dominated by the state, a legacy of the country's socialist post-independence development model. In recent years, the Algerian government has halted the privatization of state-owned industries and imposed restrictions on imports and foreign involvement in its economy. Algeria has enormous possibilities to boost its economic growth, including huge foreign-exchange reserves derived from oil and gas. A development strategy targeting stronger, sustained growth would create more jobs, especially for young people, and alleviate the housing shortage the country is facing. The national strategic...
Battle to restore economy has only just begun; survival of the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter is the single most important factor: Mayor of Invercargill, NZ
New Zealand has claimed to be one of the nations who are COVID-19 free, whereas the whole world is in turmoil. The airlines had already started to fly again; schools are going to open by next week only. Tim Shadbolt, Mayor of Invercargill said: “But we should never be complacent. The battle to restore our economy has only just begun. So far our farms, the smelter and the SIT are keeping us afloat.” “However, one of our biggest earners of overseas funds, the tourist sector, has only just begun to face reality.” “The council aims to operate as an energised, fun and innovative team so it’s my duty to be positive even though New Zealand’s small businesses must feel as though they’ve been run over by a ten-ton tank.” He also said: “Despite the glitz and glamour of jets and the film industry, I...
NALCO: World Environment Day celebrated by mass plantation
The Indian state-owned National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), celebrated World Environment Day on 5 th June’20. As a responsible CSR activity, NALCO’s commitment to environmental care and management has been its hallmark since its inception. To mark it as a great day, mass plantation drives were undertaken at the company’s units and offices. At Bhubaneswar, Sridhar Patra, CMD, NALCO, formally launched the plantation drive by planting a sapling in the NALCO residential colony. Directors of the company, representatives of various Unions and Associations also participated in the plantation drive adhering to social distancing norms and adequate precautionary measures because of the COVID 19 pandemic. The CMD recapitulated about Nalco’s continuous attempt towards nurturing nature and...
FICCI: Hails Govt. of India's direction to auction mineral blocks with pre-embedded clearances
On 5th June'20, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commer and Industry (FICCI) appreciated the Governments direction to auction mineral blocks with pre-embedded clearances and stated the move will attract huge investments. FICCI said: “Increased investments in the mining and metals sector can make the country self-reliant, reduce import bills by USD 100 billion and create multiple jobs.” "FICCI welcomes the Ministry of Mines guidelines for auctioning of mineral blocks with pre-embedded clearances for mining projects," the industry body said in a statement. Thanking the ministry for accepting FICCI’s recommendation for expediting the operationalization of mines post auctioning, Tuhin Mukherjee, Chairman, FICCI Mining Committee and Managing Director, Essel Mining and Industries, said, "The...
Liberty Aluminium Poitou in France goes gloomy again
The British Liberty House Group took over Fonderie du Poitou Aluminium and renamed it Liberty Aluminium Poitou a year ago. The Group acquired both the Fonderie du Poitou Fonte and Fonderie du Poitou Aluminium located near Châtellerault in France. Both the companies are in trouble again, though the ex-Foundry of Poitou Aluminium would be considered more promising, in the present stage it remains gloomy. The two automotive sub-contractors from Ingrandes-sur-Vienne, near Châtellerault, north of New Aquitaine, the former Fonderie du Poitou Fonte, specializing in the manufacture of cast iron crankcases, and the Fonderie du Poitou Aluminium, which for its part realizes aluminium cylinder heads. Fonderie Poitou Fonte and Fonderie Poitou Aluminium the two sister companies which originally...
HINDALCO: Utkal Alumina in India observes World Environment Day
Utkal Alumina International Limited and Baphlimali Bauxite Mines have observed 5 th June’20 as “WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY”, as a part of awareness towards environment protection and sustainable development. This activity has been going on every year from the organisation. Huge plantation drive, awareness programs and competitions on environment theme witnessed this year’s observance. The theme for this year’s World Environment Day, 2020 is Biodiversity – a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. On this occasion, both at Baphlimali mines and UAIL refinery, various awareness programmes like essay, poster and slogan competitions on the Theme -Conservation of Biodiversity were organised through online mode which saw the active participation of...
Ministry of Mining, Jamaica: Receives vesting powers to speed up titling of bauxite lands
The Jamaican Minister of Transport and Mining Robert Montague stated that his ministry has been given the go-ahead to use vesting powers to assist long-suffering families on bauxite lands to receive titles for the properties. Montague, opening the 2020/21 annual sectoral debate in the House of Representatives this week, said: “The ministry had consulted the Attorney General's Chambers and was given the go-ahead to use the power of vesting orders, under the Bauxite and Alumina Industries (Special Provisions) Act, to speed up the process, which will assist some 5,000 families awaiting titles for parcels of land on which they were resettled by the bauxite mining companies.” The minister also said that, on taking over the chairmanship of the Bauxite Lands Titling Committee last year, he was...
Australian-made campaign massively supported by Australians, aluminium to play a vital role
Australians have massively supported the Australian Workers’ Union campaign to champion Australian made products in huge numbers. An astonishing 88% of people admitted that Australia should be making more essential products, although just over eight out of ten people said state and federal governments should be using more Australian products for infrastructure projects, even if they are highly-priced. The COVID-19 epidemic has catered as a caution light as per YouGov poll that Australia needs to be less dependent on import from other countries, targeting China as a prime. That figure rises to an incredible 98% for those aged over 65, whilst even 77% of 18-34-year-olds also support the view. 82% believe that when the government builds infrastructure it should use Australian-made products...
South Africa’s Aluminium foil export volume remains dwindling during 2017-20, revenue generation reflects growth
South Africa has a mixed economy in which there is a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. South Africa is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The country’s GDP grew at an estimated 0.7% in 2019, down from 0.8% in 2018, and is projected to rise to 1.1% in 2020 and 1.8% in 2021 amid domestic and global downside risks. A contraction in agriculture and mining drove slow growth in 2019. Among the key sectors that keep South Africa's economic engine running are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, financial services, transport, mining, agriculture and tourism. The aluminium foil export volume of South Africa has been dwindling as recorded during 2017-19, as the total export quantity stood at 12,387...
LME: Intends to float a platform to trade LOW-CARBON aluminium
The London Metal Exchange desires to launch a platform to trade ‘low-carbon’ aluminium mostly manufactured with renewable energy. This will mark as an inceptive in the exchange’s 143-year history a metal will be traded deployed on its environmental footprint. Matt Chamberlain, CEO, LME said: “The spot trading platform will go live next year, connecting buyers and sellers of aluminium that meets certain low-carbon criteria.” The move reveals eagerness among companies and investors for disclosure of environmental, social and governance data. It comes after pressure from En+, owner of Russian producer Rusal, for the LME to influence suppliers of the lightweight metal to divulge their carbon footprint on the exchange. Mr Chamberlain added: “We have now moved on to the next great emerging...
Rio Tinto to axe aluminium production at Arvida plant in Canada
Rio Tinto is on its way to slash aluminium production by 8000 tonnes at the Jonquière complex. At this time, less than 20 pots have been closed for maintenance and did not get restarted. The plan is not to restart pots that need maintenance up to a maximum of approximately 100 pots at Arvida. Rio Tinto management confirms that the current situation has led them to make this decision. Rio Tinto has stated that the depressing market conditions in the aluminium sector have made Rio Tinto impose certain measures to maintain its competitive position. Among other measures aimed at improving competitiveness and adapting to market demand in North America, Rio Tinto Aluminum will continue the non-restart of tanks at the Arvida plant, gradually reducing its production this year. As per the...
Aluminium frame manufactures Aluzare S.A. in Luxembourg declared bankrupt
Luxembourg based aluminium frames and metal constructions company Aluzare S.A. has been announced as bankrupt. The aluminium frame company with its head office in Ehlerange, in the South-West of Luxembourg, has been in operations for more than 25 years in the field of aluminium joinery. The Christian trade union confederation said in a statement that: “The jobs of around 30 employees cannot be saved.” The trade union confederation added: “The employees will soon receive further details about potential compensation packages shortly. They will reportedly also receive assistance to find a new job.” Aluzare was mainly specialised in the production of metal doors and windows
Thwaites Aluminium in New Zealand observes 30 years in operations, showers credit to its staffs
Thwaites Aluminium Limited observes 30 years of operations after opening its doors in September 1989, and many of the staff had been working for more than 10 years. Managing director Alvin Thwaites said: “He had been lucky enough to pick up good staff.” The Invercargill businessman proudly stated that the secret to continued growth is treating the right staff well. Thwaites said: "I wouldn't be where I am today without them. It cost a lot to be training new staff all the time.” Tom Irvine joined Thwaites in that first month of business, and said he was proud to see that it grow during the decades.” He said the key had been good management, and staffs respect each other. “The manufacturing industry seemed strong at the moment, but time would tell how much of an impact the Covid-19 pandemic...
Aluminium cans importation in Greece during 2017-20 has shown measurable growth
The economy of Greece is the 51st largest in the world with a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $218.032 billion per annum. In terms of purchasing power parity, Greece is the world's 55th largest economy, at $317.455 billion per annum. The canned food and beverages market of Greece has seen substantial growth, though the country has been going through a lot of rough patches in its economy. This growth has affected directly to the importation of aluminium cans to the nation. The aluminium cans importation of Greece during 2017-19 has been recorded with a total import volume of 10,678 tonnes and the expenditure stood at $51.25 million. The estimated import volume for 2020 has been analysed at 5390 tonnes and the expenditure might stretch to $23.44 million. However, when the analysed...
Nature Alu: Producing high-purity aluminium to developing Canada-Europe very high added value supply chain sector
Denis Mazerolle, The President of Nature Alu has built a dream team to produce the only high-purity aluminium plant in North America. In doing so in Quebec, Canada, he and his partners are developing a Canada-Europe supply chain in a sector with very high added value. Mazerolle has industry experience of around 32 years working with Alcan and then with Rio Tinto and never looked out for retirement. He is now 56 years and with his former colleague Luc Boivin, they challenged themselves to produce 99.99% pure aluminium in Quebec. High-purity aluminium is highly demanded by capacitor manufacturers, as well as by lithium-ion battery manufacturers, which are used in smartphones, as well as electric cars. The manufacturers of the powder used in speciality 3D printers are also very fond of pure...
Fight against “COVID-19”: Vedanta Lanjigarh shields employees with strong precautionary measures
Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh has boosted its precautionary measures against COVID-19 as per the guidelines of the Government and the health authorities. The plant continues to operate, securing fidelity to strict COVID-19 guidelines issued by the central and state authorities. After the recent identification of some positive cases in the adjoining areas, Vedanta Lanjigarh has increased the imposition of its arrangements for safeguarding employees and associate partners against COVID-19. However, the entry into the plant premises is highly regulated and prohibited without due thermal scanning and soon will also utilize the Aarogya Setu app for further strengthening the process. All employees and workers are strictly mandated to wear relevant PPE and individual masks all the...
"COVID-19" lock-down: Altech Chemical’s Johor HPA plant site construction activities resume
Altech Chemicals Limited has publicized an update on the status of activities at the Company’s high purity alumina (HPA) site in Johor Bahru, Malaysia that construction activities have now resumed. In response to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Malaysian government enforced a Movement Control Order (MCO) effective 18 th March’20, for an initial period of 30 days. The MCO resulted in the closure of all non-essential government and private business premises, and consequently the suspension of all construction works and closure of Altech’s HPA plant site at Tanjung Langsat. Subsequently, the MCO was extended on four occasions and is currently in effect until 9 th June’20. However, the Malaysian government recently announced a relaxation of MCO restrictions under a revised...
The abrupt downfall of Belgium’s Bauxite import market during 2017-20
The industrial revolution on the European continent began in Belgium. Thus everything was in place for boosting the coal and steel industries in both areas. Other reasons for its industrialization came from its geography. Its proximity to Britain and its strong trading relationship with her allowed new technologies to subsequently arrive in Belgium. Belgium’s bauxite import market reflected an abrupt downfall majorly during 2017-19, as the total import volume only stood at 131,063 tonnes and the revenue expenditure was recorded at $34.29 million. The bauxite import for 2020 has been analysed has with a rapid downfall, as the volume would remain only to 20,761 tonnes, with Y-o-Y reduced volume of 14,262 tonnes and the expenditure also dropped to $6.19 million. However, when the predicted...
