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.
Global alumina demand will remain strong in 2023
Alumina supply from China, the Middle East and Brazil witnessed growth in 2022. China ranked as the largest alumina producer, while Australia was the world's second-largest alumina producer in 2022. The commissioning of new capacities in China and the supply from Brazil remained key sector drivers. Australia countered the offsetting of the alumina deficit caused by operations-related issues at its refineries during 2022. In the short-term, demand for alumina and alumina prices will continue to be influenced by the need for primary aluminium and the slowing of global economic growth in 2023. AlCircle's latest industry-focused report, 'Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023' , reveals that in 2022, the global alumina production was 139.2 million tonnes, a slight increase from 138.6 million tonnes...
Nigeria’s Aluminium Extrusion Plc posts N2.64 billion turnover for 2022
On March 23, 2023, the leading manufacturing company in Nigeria producing and marketing extruded aluminium products, Aluminium Extrusion Plc, revealed its Audited Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2022. Aluminium Extrusion Industries Plc (NIGALEX) reported a 12-month turnover of N2.637 billion, a slight increase of 0.07% over the N2.635 billion reported in 2021. NIGALEX has a 5000-tonne annual capacity for aluminium extrusion products and manufactures profiles in press finish, wood finish, silver and bronze colour palettes, and modern powder-coated forms. The Company, which is located in the largest economy in the African continent, reported a PAT of N48.529 million for the period under review, down by 27.5 per cent from N66.941 million in the existing year. The company...
Nalco, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre collaboration develops India’s 1st Bauxite CRM
The Indian state-owned integrated aluminium company, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), has successfully developed a Bauxite Certified Reference Material (CRM) naming as BARC B1201 in collaboration with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). BARC is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, chemical engineering, material sciences and metallurgy, electronic instrumentation, biology and medicine, supercomputing, high-energy physics and plasma physics and associated research for Indian nuclear programme and related areas. The CRM developed by the two premier Govt. of India organizations is the first of its kind in India and the fifth in the world. For several years, the two...
Hydro appoints Martine Rambøl Hagen as the Head of Investor Relations
Norsk Hydro, the leading industrial company committed to a sustainable future, appointed Martine Rambøl Hagen as the new Head of Investor Relations, effective May 1, 2023. She will be in charge of communicating with investors and the financial markets on behalf of Hydro. Rambøl Hagen previously served as Investor Relations Manager for the firm. Since joining Hydro in 2015, she has held various positions in Aluminium Metal, including head of performance and control, controller, and analyst. She holds a master’s degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She will report to Pål Kildemo, the Executive Vice President and CFO. Rambøl Hagen succeeds Line Haugetraa, who will take on a position as Mergers and Acquisitions...
Global bauxite production expected to grow by 2.6% in 2023
Global bauxite production is estimated to reach 393 million tonnes in 2023, a growth trajectory expected to continue in the following years, according to AlCircle's latest industry-focused report, ' Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023 '. As a result, there will be a 2.6 per cent increase over 2022, primarily driven by the two largest bauxite producers in the world, viz. Australia and Guinea. Investing in capacity and ramping up production will drive this increase. Companies have taken up the goal of achieving carbon neutrality for operations as part of their sustainable efforts to maintain the environmental balance. The ' Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023' also revealed that in 2022, global bauxite production increased by around 4.1 per cent, compared to a growth of 2.4 per cent...
US seeks exemption from EU's CBAM to resolve the tariff dispute
As part of the United States administration's effort to exempt aluminium and steel exports from the carbon border levy (CBAM), a broader metal accord may be complicated by the allies imposing tariffs and retaliatory measures on each other's goods that could result in billions of dollars in tariffs and retaliatory measures. However, according to our source from North America, it's implausible that the EU will accord to the American request since the bloc's legislation has yet to permit this type of provision readily. Such a move would likely violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. After agreeing to temporarily suspend tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump on national security grounds, the White House and the EU are working on a global agreement on sustainable aluminium and...
Service cranes for Hydro's Sunndal aluminium smelter go to Axess Technologies
Axess Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axess Group that provides engineering and material handling solutions to leading manufacturers, has won a contract to supply four service cranes to Hydro's Sunndal aluminium smelter in Norway. Axess Technologies is a leading supplier of lifting equipment and automation systems to various industrial companies. However, the supply of cranes to Hydro would increase efficiency and safety in the production process. The company has detailed that each crane has a 23-meter span, a 10-meter height of lift, a 20-tonne capacity, and an additional 5-ton auxiliary hoist. However, to lift 40 tonnes, the four cranes will work in pairs. The cranes are classified as having an M6/A6 duty grade. Hydro Sunndal stated that it is "convinced" that the new cranes...
Hindalco Chairman receives the highest civilian honour of India, the Padma Award 2023
India's biggest aluminium manufacturing company and the world's most significant flat-rolled products player and recycler of aluminium, Hindalco Industries' Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, has been awarded the highest civilian honour of India, the Padma Award 2023 for his commendable contribution to the field of trade and industry. Kumar Mangalam Birla is also the Chairman of the American industrial aluminium company Novelis Inc. headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. His accomplishments are numerous in the business world. Many had believed the weight of legacy would be too much for the young man when he took up the group's banner after his father's unexpected death. He has disproven their claims, but he has proven them incorrect. In the 28 years since he has been in charge, he...
Mining major Rio Tinto publishes a first-ever water usage report
The world leader in the mining of bauxite and iron ore, among many other minerals, Rio Tinto, observed World Water Day on March 22, 2023, by publicising information about annual surface water usage across its global network of managed sites in 35 countries, through an interactive map on its website. The database details permitted surface water allocation volumes, the site's annual allocation usage, and the associated catchment runoff from each managed site's average yearly rainfall estimate. The database will be updated annually and include five years of historical comparative data. Rio Tinto pledged in 2019 to promote good water management and improved disclosure to stakeholders by sharing site-by-site surface water usage statistics for all managed sites by the end of 2023. The...
Hydropower shortage in Yunnan propels aluminium producers to scale down output
The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, as stated by UNFCCC. The main objective of the Paris Agreement is to enhance the international response to the threat posed by climate change by limiting the rise in global temperature this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing measures to further restrict the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The aluminium industry is among the most high-energy intensives in the global manufacturing sector. China is the world's leading aluminium producer, contributing to around 55-60 per cent of the worldwide output. The world's second-largest economy is also taking strict...
Qamco projects QR1.1 billion investments for 2023-27, plans to explore new markets
The globally recognized world-class provider of high-quality cast house products and foundry alloys, Qamco, has projected a QR1.1 billion capital expenditure for 2023-27. The company will aim at its strategic plans to strengthen its market position and explore new international markets, focusing on enhanced shareholder value. The joint venture between Qamco and Qatar Aluminium, known as Qatalum, is on pace to increase output efficiency while reducing emissions through specialised process optimisation methods. The Qamco board revealed these in a report submitted before shareholders at the general assembly meeting, which approved all the agenda items on March 15, 2023. Abdulrahman Ahmad al-Shaibi, the Chairman of Qatalum, said, "Going forward, Qamco's JV will remain focused on its strategic...
Alcoa reports close down of Intalco aluminium smelter, site undergoes redevelopment
The US-based aluminium giant Alcoa announced it would close down its Intalco aluminium smelter after five decades of operations. With the closure announcement, the company begins preparing the site for new economic development opportunities. Roy Harvey, the President and CEO of Alcoa, said, “The Intalco smelter site operated for nearly 55 years, and we’ve spent significant time evaluating options for the asset, including a potential sale. Our analysis, however, indicates that the facility cannot be competitive long-term." Harvey added, “The site is an important part of our history. We are encouraged by the prospects for potential economic development via another entity that will own and control land at the site. As we transition, we will continue engaging with our stakeholders, including...
GARMCO announces its first creditor repayment
In accordance with the restructuring plan signed in November 2021 following the company's reorganisation in February 2019, Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill "GARMCO", a portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, announced its first repayment to creditors of USD 23 million. GARMCO reported that it settled its first payments after the business experienced its most profitable year since it started its journey. The reorganisation plan allowed GARMCO to convert the remaining 28 per cent of its debt into company shares while repaying 72 per cent of its total value over an 11-year period. Arif Rahimi, the Chairman of GARMCO and board representative of Mumtalakat, said, "The plan has enabled us to continue operating and maintain our leading role in the Aluminium downstream industry...
First time Ronal Group produces wheels from 100% secondary aluminum for BMW
The world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of light alloy wheels for passenger cars and commercial vehicles, Ronal Group, has set itself the aim of a 50 per cent reduction in its manufacturing CO 2 emissions by 2030 and CO 2 -neutral production of all its wheels by 2050 as part of its PLANBLUE sustainability plan. With the production of the first light-alloy wheels built entirely of secondary aluminium for the new all-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible, the German plant in Landau is taking the lead in this area. The production of primary aluminium is an energy-intensive process that impacts the environment. The carbon balance sheet of the RONAL GROUP shows that 74 per cent of the CO 2 generation is attributable to aluminium procurement. The company sourced 100 per cent of its...
Indian Institute of Metals names Mr Satish Pai as the new incoming President
The Managing Director of Hindalco Industries, Mr Satish Pai, has been named the President of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM). IIM is an adequate body for professional metallurgists in India. It was formed as early as 1945 and was possible through the efforts of a few metallurgists. Since then, the growth of the Institute has been phenomenal. Starting with a modest membership of 42, the IIM Membership stands for more than 10,000 drawn from various fields of metallurgical activity. The 77 th Annual Technical Meeting of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM-ATM) and International Conference on Metals will take place on November 22-24, 2023. IIM Sambalpur, IIM Angul and Hindalco Industries will organise the chapter, and the venue selected is KIIT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The flagship annual...
Talum announces to layoff 120 workers
The Slovenian aluminium producer Talum's decision to close down the primary aluminium production at its smelter will affect 189 workers. However, the company has announced that it will offer 69 workers new job contracts within the group, while 120 employees will be laid off. The group employs a total of 1,453 employees. On March 3, 3023, it was reported that the Slovenian aluminium company Talum will shut down its remaining aluminium electrolytic furnaces in April. Talum plans to shut down its remaining aluminium electrolytic furnaces in April after nearly six decades of producing primary aluminium. The Kidričevo-based company has recently switched to aluminium processing and other more lucrative activities.
Stellantis invests another round in its Kokomo aluminium casting operation
An additional round of capital investment is on the way at Stellantis' aluminium casting plant in Kokomo, Indiana, as the automaker prepares to use those three sites to produce electric drive modules (EDMs) for battery-electric vehicles. The $155 million programme will fund aluminium casting, machining, and final assembly for EDMs used in future battery-electric vehicles on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms. The Italian-American-French multinational automotive manufacturing corporation, Stellantis, was formed in 2021 based on a 50–50 cross-border merger between the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French PSA Group. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam. Since 2020, Stellantis has invested more than $3 billion in Indiana to establish production...
Bosai Mineral’s employee goes missing in Guyana, bauxite mining halts
Following the disappearance of an employee of Bosai Mineral, Linden, Region 10, residents protested at the company's office, calling for the complete halt of bauxite mining on March 12, 2023. Neptrid Hercules, a company operator for the last 40 years, went missing in the early hours of Saturday. He is now presumed dead after a plot of land he was working on devoured him and the bulldozer he was driving. Despite the fact that a search and rescue operation was immediately launched, the man and the equipment are still missing more than 24 hours later. Hercules was working with a bulldozer to clear a plot of land when it caved in, according to reports. The man and the bulldozer are thought to be trapped several feet underground. On March 11, 2023, company employees used heavy machinery to...
