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.
EGA reported several tonnes of waste supply to other industries as feedstock in 2022
The world’s biggest premium aluminium manufacturer, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), reported that it catered 203,000 tonnes of waste to other industries as feedstock in 2022. The quantity was almost twice as much as the EGA produced in 2022, resulting in lower stocks than in prior years and a 40 per cent increase in 2021 as the economy recovered from COVID-19. EGA has collaborated with other businesses in the UAE for more than a decade to identify profitable use for aluminium manufacturing waste. Reuse helps create a circular economy by keeping waste out of landfills and minimizing the need to use new natural resources. The most significant by-product of the aluminium smelting process, and one EGA leads the world in recycling, is discarded pot lining. Experts in the field estimate that...
Xinfa Aurum Exploration in Fiji suspends bauxite exports due to low-grade issues
The Naibulu Mine in Dreketi, Fiji, owned by Xinfa Aurum Exploration, is yet to resume exporting bauxite because of its low-grade issues. Filimoni Vosarogo, Fiji's Minister of Lands and Mineral Resources, said, "The Company is looking for ways to improve quality to resume exports." However, it has been reported that the company has not exported bauxite in nearly four years. Vosarogo added, “The Company is stockpiling for now. It's not up to the quality that is needed for export that is exportable. That's probably why they are collecting at the moment and looking at mixing it with the one they are going to mine in Australia to improve the quality they will export to their primary market." “Currently, the company holds a prospecting licence in Wainunu, Bua. If that progresses to mining,...
Novelis invests R$6 million in solar energy and electric machines in aluminium can collection centres to ensure a sustainable future
In accordance with global sustainability goals, Novelis will invest R$ 6 million in February 2023 to install nearly 1,000 photovoltaic solar energy panels in Brazil's 14 aluminium can collection centres. The sum includes the cost of replacing gas-powered forklifts with electric machines. Beatriz Sobreira, the Senior Manager of Strategy and Sustainability at Novelis, Brazil, said, "This investment marks Novelis' first project in Brazil with a solar energy source. Our objectives of decarbonizing and producing increasingly sustainable aluminium are priorities for the company. We are focused on moving forward with initiatives that bring us closer to achieving these goals." The collecting centres will be self-sufficient in energy use thanks to the new sources, which can produce 603.8 MWh of...
Iranian aluminium ingot output leaps 19% in the first nine months
In the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21–December 21, 2022), Iran's aluminium ingot production increased by 19 per cent compared to last year. According to statistics, the production of aluminium ingot increased from 398,610 tonnes in the same time last year to 474,601 tonnes in the first nine months of this year. South Aluminum Corporation (SALCO), one of the country's four major producers, produced the most aluminium ingots in the first nine months of the current year—203,231 tonnes followed by Iranian Aluminum Company (IRALCO), which produced 132,394 tonnes, Almahdi Aluminum Company, which produced 11,479 tonnes, and Iran Alumina Company, which produced 27,497 tonnes. According to data previously released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries...
Critical minerals need more funding from European banks; Hydro CEO calls for sanctions against Russian aluminium
As the European Union developed its Green Deal industrial plan, European Commissioner Thierry Breton encouraged European bankers to provide finance to producers of minerals essential for the energy transition. On March 8, the EU will introduce its Critical Raw Materials Act, ensuring that the bloc has access to the lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite needed for electric vehicles. Breton emphasised two crucial problems. The first is an overreliance on some nations, such as China, a significant manufacturer of commodities like magnesium used in machinery, automobiles, and electronics. The second is the "colossal" rise in demand that is anticipated. Energy-intensive sectors like aluminium, among others planning to move output outside the group due to rising power costs following...
Gränges intends to invest SEK 600 million to double its capacity for producing battery cathode foil in Finspång
Gränges plans to invest SEK 600 million over two years to double its battery cathode foil production capacity in Finspång, Sweden, to meet Europe's growing demand for battery components. The new capacity is expected to be operational in 2025. Jörgen Rosengren, the CEO of Gränges, said, “Gränges started to invest in this area in 2021. Recently, we have experienced very high interest in our battery and electrification solutions from battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs. Our market launch plan for battery cathode foil is ambitious: Asia in 2022, Europe in 2023 and the Americas in 2024. A recently made agreement with a leading global battery manufacturer consumes our initially planned production capacity in Europe. To keep up a high pace, we are now investing in doubling our capacity for...
2023: Brazil’s aluminium production to gain momentum, imports anticipated to decline
The Brazilian aluminium industry is anticipated to depend less on imports and emphasise domestically produced metal in 2023 due to the demand for aluminium and the plans for significant extensive production capacity. Domestic producers were already raising premiums for deliveries in the first quarter of 2023, anticipating that imports would become less appealing and more challenging to enter the country. Since May 31, when it rose by 1.94 per cent to $520-530 a tonne, the import premium had stayed the same and kept falling. A trader trading in the Brazilian metal market said, "Now this is a time to hold back and watch. Duty increases the difficulty of bringing in foreign metals. Still, the new government's firm currency exchange policy can make imports much cheaper and breathe new life...
World Economic Forum, Davos: Climate change discussions restrained by lack of Russians, Rusal praised for low-carbon production
The year 2023 marked the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began that the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was attended by attendees. The theme of the meeting was “co-operation in a fragmented world.” Coronavirus limitations, trade tensions between the US and China, and the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis have all contributed to a greater deglobalization of the world. However, despite this fragmentation, there are still widespread issues with coordinated solutions, with climate change being the most urgent. Breaking trade ties with Russia has harmed the European Union the most, increasing EU spending on oil and natural gas. This has become yet another impetus for Europe's transition to renewable energy. The energy transition has its challenges. Due to inflation,...
Aluminium profile maker ‘American Aluminium Extrusion’ declared as sole proprietorship company
The age-old collaboration between Sam Popa, owner of American Aluminium Extrusion, and Beloit business titan Diane Hendricks was terminated on January 16, 2023, following a total buy-out. After 22 years of shared ownership between Sam Popa and the former held by businesswoman Diane Hendricks, American Aluminium Extrusion has bought all of its holdings. American Aluminium Extrusion, based in Roscoe, Illinois, supplies aluminium profiles to the region's semitrailer manufacturing industry. As confirmed by Popa, the 22 years of shared ownership between Hendricks' business assets and Popa's portion of American Aluminum Extrusion will now be classified under Popa Holdings. The company's Roscoe and Canton, Ohio, manufacturing facilities are also included in the acquisition. American Aluminium...
Losma India concluded a large fume extraction project at an aluminium alloy foundry in Gujrat
A significant fume extraction project was recently completed by the top specialists in industrial air and liquid filtration, Losma India, at a reputable aluminium alloy foundry in the city of Vadodara, Gujarat, India. The project entailed the extraction of fumes produced during the melting process of aluminium, air filtration, and the release of clean air into the atmosphere in accordance with local pollution control authority norms. Foundry operations generate significant pollutants, and local laws prohibit their untreated release into the atmosphere. Large suction fans were erected by Losma, who then used water scrubbers to filter out impurities from incoming air before releasing the clean air into the atmosphere. This was Losma India's fourth project in the field of foundry air...
Jarrah woodlands get a temporary relief after Alcoa abandons its bauxite export plan
The American aluminium major Alcoa has cancelled its plan to stretch bauxite mining in Australia's Northern Jarrah Forest to export unprocessed ore. Consequently, it will conserve its output for its three West Australian alumina refineries. Alcoa's mines in Western Australia produce approximately 36 million tonnes of bauxite per annum to cater for its alumina refineries in Kwinana, Pinjarra, and Wagerup. Alcoa accomplished a pilot mining and exported an additional 2.5 million tonnes of bauxite in 2021. The option of continuing exports was part of a planned expansion of the Huntly mine's footprint that Alcoa submitted to the WA Environmental Protection Authority in mid-2020. On January 23, 2023, a spokeswoman from Alcoa said its top objective was to produce alumina, a feedstock for...
Iran to escalate alumina production with Chinese assistance
According to an official, Iran has begun researching the possibility of producing 500,000 tonnes of alumina annually from low-grade bauxite with Chinese assistance. On January 23, 2023, Turaj Zar'e, the Managing Director of Iran Alumni Company (IAC), said, "The initial phase of studies was done with the Chinese, and we are conducting the second phase of the studies." He claimed that once the goal is met, Iran will be self-sufficient in alumina. "80 per cent of Iran's demand for alumina is met with imports which cost the country $1 billion a year", the MD added. According to Zar'e, the country's bauxite resources could be of better quality; hence, they are unsuitable for alumina powder production. Iran's most remarkable bauxite deposit is located in the northeastern province of North...
Supreme Court of Jamaica bars Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners from mining in St Ann's Cockpit Country
The Jamaican Supreme Court has prohibited Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners and New Day Aluminum (Jamaica) Limited from mining bauxite in St Ann's Cockpit Country, which some residents claim threatens their ability to survive. On January 20, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an injunction to prevent the bauxite/alumina partners from the beginning or continuing mining on the lands under Special Mining Lease (SML) 173. It will remain in effect until the residents' claim is heard and determined. However, sources in the Ministry of Transport and Mining have expressed concern about the impact of the production halt on the Government's 25-year mining agreement with Noranda Alumina and Noranda Bauxite, with the latter company focused on mining and shipping bauxite from Jamaica. Noranda Bauxite...
South32 lowers its Brazilian aluminium production forecast
On January 23, 2023, the global resources company, South32 Ltd., downgraded the annual production forecast for its Brazil Aluminium operations, but the group remains optimistic in the days ahead. South32 said, "Due to a slower-than-anticipated ramp-up to nameplate capacity, its guidance for the Brazil aluminium business, which it owns in a joint venture with Alcoa Corp., has been decreased by 25 per cent.” "After obtaining renewable energy under long-term contracts, South32 declared a year ago that it would reactivate the Alumar aluminium smelter in Brazil, which had been shut down since 2015." “The smelter encountered brief issues with its alumina feeding systems during the December 2022 quarter and higher than anticipated pot failure rates. Therefore, fewer pots are operating than...
Australia: Reusable cup trials at Queensland stadiums
Trials are underway at Brisbane, Townsville, and Gold Coast stadiums that are testing alternatives to single-use drinking cups. Stirling Hinchliffe, the sports Minister, said, “At this past weekend's Brisbane Heat Big Bash games at The Gabba, the first innings of Stadiums Queensland's reusable drink container experiments were played." "We understand that enjoying a cold beer is an important part of the world-class event experience at a Queensland stadium, but we also want it to be sustainable." “The testing of reusable drink containers is a part of the Palaszczuk administration's continuous dedication to safeguarding Queensland's opulent way of life and our distinctive environment for coming generations”, the minister added. Three solutions were compared: cans of recyclable or reusable...
Alcoa to bear $240 million for WA bauxite mining delays
Alcoa has informed its US investors that delaying approvals to elongate its bauxite mining in Western Australia (WA) will cost approximately $240 million in 2023. Nonetheless, stricter environmental standards would help maintain community support, allowing it to continue mining South West forests for another few decades. Until it is granted permission to mine portions of the jarrah forest with better-grade ore, its refineries south of Perth will produce less alumina at a higher price. Roy Harvey, the CEO of Alcoa, said, “The hold-up was due to something other than introducing new regulatory requirements. However, as environmental protection demands grew, so did the information submitted to regulators, which required planning.” “Taking a step back and giving ourselves a little extra time...
Alternative to Lithium-Ion batteries, IICT in the development process of 'Rechargeable Aluminium Batteries'
On January 20, 2023, the southern Indian state, Telangana's capital Hyderabad, based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) announced its venture into developing Rechargeable Aluminium Batteries (RAB). These well-known sustainable energy storage systems can be an efficient alternative to Lithium-Ion batteries, which currently dominate the battery sector. In this regard, an MoU was signed and exchanged in the presence of senior officials from the research institution and Luminous Power Technologies by MD, Luminous Power Technologies, Preeti Bajaj, and Director, IICT, Dr Srinivasa Reddy. According to senior scientists, IICT already has a track record as a knowledge partner in the chemical sector. It is now working on materials for alternative battery chemistries as next-generation...
Balco deploys state-of-the-art BI tools to track oil consumption
The renowned aluminium producer in India, Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), is aggressively investing and extending the application of smart technology inside its production systems. The organisation has implemented several high-end digital solutions to guarantee business excellence, from smart analytics for decision-making at the strategic business unit (SBU) level to real-time equipment monitoring at shopfloors. The business has updated its oil monitoring procedure using cutting-edge business intelligence technologies to monitor oil recovery and consumption at the equipment and SBU levels. This will assist BALCO in maximising and lowering the amount of oil used in specialist vehicles and large machinery. Strategic business units will be able to optimize the use of new oil and...
