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.
Inflation forces Norsk Hydro to raise capital expenditures and cut spending
On December 15, 2022, while distributing dividend Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium maker, stated that it would slash more costs and raise its capital expenditure (Capex) in 2023. On the plus side, Hydro anticipated rising industrial demand for aluminium produced with fewer emissions and reduced carbon impact. Hydro said, "The Company aimed to reduce its annual costs by 3.5 billion crowns ($358.7 million) to a total of 11 billion crowns by 2027, up from its previous target of 8.5 billion crowns between 2019 and 2025." Hilde Merete Aasheim, the Chief Executive Officer, said, "Cost cuts are coming from thousands of initiatives throughout the business to improve productivity and cut fixed costs." The group expected capital expenditure of 13.5 billion crowns in 2023, including a 2.1...
Hydro to supply Mercedes-Benz with low-carbon aluminium Reduxa
On December 15, 2022, the luxury automotive giant Mercedes-Benz and global leader in low-carbon aluminium production, Norsk Hydro, announced that latter will supply the German automaker with low-carbon aluminium for a range of models from 2023, including its electric EQ models, as the luxury carmaker plans to decarbonise its supply chain. The Mercedes-Benz brand already uses Hydro-supplied components and aims to become carbon-neutral by 2039 and use near-zero carbon aluminium by 2030. The electric car manufacturers are eyeing more aluminium usage to make them lighter to increase the vehicle's mileage, and the batteries contain lightweight metal. Markus Schaefer, the Chief Technology Officer at Mercedes-Benz, said, "This is an important signal to accelerate change in the aluminium industry...
Aluminium major Alcoa nominated as Leader in S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
The global industry leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminium products, Alcoa Corporation, with a vision to reinvent the aluminium industry for a sustainable future, has been recognized as a leader for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance with its most recent inclusion in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). Alcoa has been ranked among the companies with excellent ESG performance in the annual indices since the DJSI was established in 1999. This year, Alcoa's ESG score was in the 96th percentile, placing it in the top spot among all foreign companies in Alcoa's industry peer group. For the aluminium industry, Alcoa was ranked first in the economic and governance categories and environmental categories (biodiversity, environmental reporting, operational...
Alcoa aluminium smelter among $136 million in UGL contracts
Cimic Group's specialist end-to-end engineering and services provider, UGL, has been awarded five multi-year energy and resources contracts in Western Australia amounting to $136 million. The projects will start in late 2022. However, UGL will work with its existing client, Alcoa, per the contract extension, to provide electrical, instrumentation, mechanical and access services at an aluminium smelter and a five-year turbine servicing contract. A three-year agreement for electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, and cranage services for Santos' onshore and offshore gas assets was also secured by UGL, while a prolongation of Woodside Energy's asset preservation services at the Macedon Gas Plant on land and the offshore Pyrenees vessel. Juan Santamaria, the Executive Chairman of Cimic Group,...
HSP's supply partnership with Capral is propelling them towards global leadership
HSP 4 x 4 Accessories, an Australian automotive company based in Victoria, has grown to become a global leader in designing and manufacturing solutions that improve the functionality of utility vehicles. HSP's business is built on innovation to create and distribute masterfully designed products that make vehicle users' lives easier. The ground-breaking products of the company, which include the best-selling Electric Roll R Cover, Silverback Lid, and Tailgate Lock, are frequently world-first. HSP is 100% Australian-owned and manufactures and gets all of its materials locally. Brothers Massih and Masood Aimaq and long-time friend Omer Dost have transformed HSP from a start-up into a world leader since 2007. Massih Aimaq, the Sales Director, is modest about HSP's success but admits it feels...
Norsk Hydro invests in a new automotive press in Hungary
The leading Norwegian aluminium company committed highly to a sustainable future, Norsk Hydro, reported investment in a new automotive press in Hungary. Earlier in 2022, Hydro announced the investment in Denmark's automotive press network, including the new press. Hydro Extrusions is a world-leading aluminium extrusion business, counting around 100 production sites in 40 countries and employing 21,000 people. Bruno D'hondt, the Senior Vice President of Hydro's Extrusion Europe business unit, said, "This network of specialized plants offers a unique selling point towards car manufacturers with large volumes, allowing supply from several locations. Together, with the new press in Tønder, Denmark and our existing P5 press in Hungary, this new investment will give Hydro unmatched capabilities...
AMAG Austria Metall observes the 30th anniversary of shareholding in Aluminerie Alouette
The largest company in the Austrian aluminium industry sector, AMAG Austria Metall AG, celebrated 30 years of ownership in Aluminerie Alouette. By safeguarding its primary source of aluminium input material for 30 years, AMAG held a 20% stake in Aluminerie Alouette in Canada. A worldwide renowned producer of the cast and rolled aluminium products, AMAG Austria Metall AG, is dedicated to "sustainability" and "innovation." When it was opened in 1939 as an aluminium smelter to guarantee the supply of raw materials for the German market, this development was anything but self-evident. For 30 years, the primary metal production of AMAG does not occur at the Ranshofen site but at the Aluminerie Alouette in Québec, Canada. This is when Austria Metall AG (AMAG) first adopted its current name and...
Rheinmetall secures new order worth around EUR300 million solidifying its global leadership in the emissions reduction market
The integrated technology group Rheinmetall has bagged a new order in the highly competitive emissions reduction market, further solidifying its market lead. In the course of its lifetime, a well-known automaker will spend approximately EUR300 million on exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) modules supplied by Group subsidiary Pierburg. The order includes both low-pressure and high-pressure EGR modules. These are water-cooled poppet valves in the low-pressure loop. EGR modules with two poppet valves were ordered for the high-pressure loop. The systems are made of aluminium and include a bypass with a fully integrated water-cooling circuit. However, production will begin in August 2026. A portion of the actuators will be manufactured at the Pierburg plant in Abadiano, Spain, with the electric...
Jamaica Environment Trust applauds the IACHR's ruling in favour of the residents living in St Ann bauxite mining communities
On November 24, 2022, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a ruling that mandates the Jamaican government take action to address the effects of bauxite mining on the health of people of particular St Ann villages. The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) applauds this decision. The non-profit, non-governmental membership organization based in the Kingston and St. Andrew area, the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), was established in 1991 by a group of citizens concerned about the state of Jamaica's natural environment. Among other things, the human rights non-profit organization Freedom Imaginaries alleged that exposure to bauxite dust had severe and detrimental consequences on the overall health, documented medical conditions, and illnesses of the people in their appeal...
Tostem celebrates its 100th anniversary by launching the latest aluminium door and window collection
The globally recognized windows and doors brand, Tostem, celebrates its 100th anniversary by launching the latest innovation, which is also a first in the aluminium door and window manufacturing industry. The latest anodizing colour, "Dusk Gray", marks the start of a new era for Tostem, which is continuing after a century. On December 11, 2022, Masakatsu Kudo, the leader of PT LIXIL Aluminum Indonesia, oversees Tostem Indonesia, "When the sun amplifies the view, the sunset unites the home with nature. Inspired by the nuances of twilight in Japan, Dusk Gray is an exclusive colour to create uniqueness in residential spaces." Tostem is part of LIXIL Corporation's manufacturing bases in Japan and Asia, with an aluminium production capacity of around 220,000 tonnes per year. Tostem products...
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Alba floats its mini plant-wide Safety & ESG Campaign 'Back to Core Basics'
On December 12, 2022, under the directives of Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali, the company rolled out a mini plant-wide Safety & E.S.G. Campaign, ‘Back to Core Basics’. The campaign was commenced with a welcoming note by Alba’s CEO, followed by an interactive Executive Panel Discussion featuring Alba’s Chief Marketing Officer, Khalid A. Latif and Chief Operations Officer, Dr Abdulla Habib, as well as senior officials from Major Contracting Companies -- MD of SMS WLL John Witter and MD of SKD Group S. Hassan Al Durazi. The panel discussion was moderated by Mohamed Khalil Saeed, Alba's Director of Safety, Health, and Environment, and explored ways to improve Alba's and Contractors' Safety missions. While speaking at the launch event of this...
Split-off for Inalum signed; needs to focus on capacity expansion projects
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Indonesia, solicited PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (Persero) or Inalum operating to expedite the accomplishment of development projects and increase the capacity of the aluminium smelter and alumina refinery. However, this is in line with the issuance of a government regulation (PP) regarding the uncoupling of business operations or the split-off of the state-owned mining company and BUMN Mining Industry Holding Indonesia (MIND ID). Agus Tjahajana, the special staff to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for the Acceleration of Industrial Development of the Energy and Mineral Resources Sector, said, "The split-off is expected to make Inalum Operating more serious in accelerating processing and production capacity increases to...
CATL and Guangdong Hoshion Aluminium ink an agreement for industrial components collaboration
The China-based company primarily engaged in the research, development, design, production and sales of industrial aluminium extrusion products, Guangdong Hoshion Aluminium, has inked a strategic agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) to conduct extensive cooperation in the field of industrial parts and components. CATL is a global leader in new energy innovative technologies, dedicated to providing world-class solutions and services for new energy applications. On December 12, 2022, Guangdong Hoshion Aluminium stated in a filing that, as part of the partnership, the parties would develop fundamental life cycle components for the new energy industry. However, this needs to be noted that the strategic agreement is valid until December 31, 2026. The industrial aluminium...
HPA producer FYI Resources joins UNGC as it emphasizes ESG future
FYI Resources Ltd joined the United Nations Global Compact followings the acceptance of its application to join the United Nations Global Compact in Australia (UNGC). This action demonstrates FYI's dedication to putting universal sustainability principles and UN objectives into practice through developing its crucial minerals projects. The company envisages FYI's revolutionary low-carbon HPA manufacturing goals closely coinciding with the UN sustainability standards. As part of a network of more than 16,000 companies from more than 60 countries, FYI will share best practices and cutting-edge solutions for sustaining ESG advancements on a global scale. For the integrated manufacture of high-grade, high-purity alumina (HPA), primarily for electric vehicles (lithium-ion batteries), sapphire...
Two mining heavyweights in discussion on green hydrogen to replace fossil fuels
The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto's chief executive Jakob Stausholm has approached the worldwide leader of the iron ore industry’s founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, Dr Andrew Forrest, to identify if the two mining titans can work on the common interest of green hydrogen and its potentiality to replace fossil fuels. Rio Tinto, the owner of bauxite and Iron ore, among other mining activities, with Fortescue, the iron ore exploring giant, mines in Western Australia, are in discussion about a collective approach to lower their carbon footprint, as both the companies intend to build industrial solar and wind farms near their WA mines. In addition to driving Fortescue’s strategy to grace as a significant player in the global supply of green hydrogen, Dr Andrew Forrest is...
Auto ancillary sector anticipates a turnaround following the cooling of global metal prices
The market leader in manufacturing automotive components with more than three decades of operational experience, Lumax Auto Technologies received a nod from its board for INR 400 crore fundraising. The company's profit escalated by 431% Y-o-Y to INR 26 crore for the quarter that ended June FY23 on a low base, but there was a significant increase in input cost. However, revenue grew by 62% Y-o-Y to INR 421.93 crore during the same quarter. The company stated that the board of directors had approved raising funds to INR 400 crore by issuance of securities. The market participants are placing bets on some beneficiaries at a time when metal prices have started to decline. Some industry experts believe that the auto ancillaries, engineering, capital goods, and infrastructure sectors, among...
Lanthanein Resources accomplishes first air core drilling at Koolya kaolin high-purity alumina project
An initial air core first-pass drilling programme at Lanthanein Resources' Koolya Project in Western Australia has concluded after 599 metres of drilling and with unprecedented visual results. Brian Thomas, the Technical Director at Lanthanein Resources, said, "The results highlight a significant amount of high-quality bright white kaolin at the project." Due to its conversion into high-purity alumina (HPA), which is used in Li-ion batteries, LED lighting, semiconductors, and sapphire glass, high-purity kaolin is becoming increasingly important as a vital mineral. Contrarily, halloysite can be applied in nanotechnologies for various commercial purposes, including carbon sequestration, agriculture, energy, and health. Thomas stated, "Samples will be sent for dual analysis for rare earth...
Donor Forum ranks Rusal among the top companies in terms of corporate social responsibility
The Russian aluminium giant Rusal, which is also among the biggest producers of aluminium worldwide, has risen to the top of the annual Donor Forum association ranking for corporate social responsibility. RUSAL received the highest rating possible and was placed in the A + category, as determined by the findings of the study of company social investment systems. A competition for corporate social activities was launched by Donor Forum this year as well. The expert jury gave two of RUSAL's social programmes top marks, and both took home awards. The programme "Sustainable Development of Social Responsibility Territories" came in second place in the category "The Best Corporate Social Investment Program in the Territories in the Context of Sustainable Development and Business Strategy." This...
