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.
Mining operators meet Guinea's Prime Minister to restore business conditions
The Guinean government hosted mining operators at the Prime Minister's office at the initiative of Prime Minister Bernard Goumou, accompanied by the Minister of Mines and Geology Moussa Magassouba and senior executives from his office. This meeting aimed to re-establish trust between mining operators and the government and restore confidence in the Guinea mining sector business. As a result, the government has initiated reforms promoting SME creation and environmental protection. The West African nation Guinea has the world's largest bauxite reserves and is also the biggest exporter of bauxite. The government's main request to operators now is to declare the quantity of bauxite leaving the country and follow the method introduced since the advent of the junta in power. The Minister of...
Top Newsmaker for August 2022: Adani Group to invest $5 billion in Odisha to set up an alumina refinery; Hydro to shut down primary aluminium production in Slovakia
The global aluminium industry has witnessed some exciting events throughout August 2022. The H1 2022 reports are gradually getting published, and most companies have reported profits showcasing better margins, despite the news of significant production cuts from Europe due to the energy crisis. The month has also witnessed a few pieces of information on facilities planning to shut down. Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s Adani Enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Group, has received approval to build a 4 MTPA alumina refinery and 175 MW captive power plant in Odisha. By late 2021 and in the early months of 2022, Slovalco had already decreased its production rate by 40 per cent from its actual yearly capacity of 175,000 tonnes of primary aluminium. Hydro has decided to shut down...
Aluminium industry expert Anthony Tropeano joins AlCircle as Strategic Advisor for North America and a Member of the Advisory Board
Mr. Anthony Tropeano, a distinguished expert in the aluminium industry, joins AlCircle as the North American Strategic Advisor. Currently, Mr. Tropeano serves as the President of TT Consulting Inc., a US-based firm that provides management consulting services in the metals, mining, and contracting sectors. Having worked in the ferrous and non-ferrous industries for 40 years, Mr. Tropeano retired from FATA S.p.A. (part of the Danieli Group) in February 2018. As Chief Executive Officer of FATA, he successfully led its two operating divisions, FATA Hunter (engineering and equipment supplier for aluminium flat rolled products) and FATA EPC (supplier of complete plants on an LSTK-EPC basis). Before joining FATA, Mr. Tropeano served as Executive V.P. and COO of Italimpianti of America, Inc. -...
Extreme weather caused Metro Mining to suffer a A$29 million loss in H1 2022
The Australian bauxite mining company Metro Mining has posted a loss of A$29.4 million for H1 2022 and as a result of poor weather conditions in Far North Queensland, production expectations have been marginally decreased for the entire year. Throughout 2022, Metro has experienced bad weather, with output also being negatively affected in May and June. Even so, Metro has taken proactive steps to reduce "uncertainty and volatility" by signing new freight contracts and foreign exchange agreements. Additionally, the company is planning to increase the capacity of the Bauxite Hills operation from 4Mt to 7Mt per annum, subject to financing. Simultaneously, the H1 2022 report showcases Metro Mining had improved figures from the previous period when the miner suffered an A$87 million loss. The...
Aughinish Alumina may be affected by rising energy prices
In Ireland, businesses in County Kerry's northern part will have to bear a 50 million euro increase in electricity rates. This winter, 22 large energy firms are expected to absorb the 50 million euro cost of increased electricity prices, including Rusal's Aughinish Alumina refinery in North Kerry. As per our report, large businesses, including Aughinish Alumina, the largest alumina refinery in Europe, may be impacted by increased electricity tariffs from 1st October 2022. It is estimated that the tariffs will generate 100 million euros in revenue. This is one of the proposals the Commission for Regulation of Utilities put forward. In the industry, Rusal Aughinish has always been at the forefront of technology. It consistently implements world-class technologies to remain among the top...
Fiji’s bauxite export to China put on hold for about three years: Minister
The country in the South Pacific, Fiji, has reported that its bauxite exports to China have been halted for about three years. Jone Usamate, Fiji's Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, stated, "There have not been any shipments to China since 2019, and there are no shipments scheduled any time soon. Bauxite export depends on the world market price; if the price goes down, it affects the whole chain." "We had COVID-19 in China. That means the things you do, such as manufacturing, slow down a bit, and so when all that happens, it impacts whether it economically makes sense to send because transportation from here to China is quite expensive. When that happens, the bauxite payment is also affected", he added. Arum Exploration (Fiji) Limited is the company that holds the bauxite mining...
Bauxite blocks auction to be more competitive following Adani Group's entry into the aluminium sector
As Adani Group charts an entry into the alumina refining sector and existing players seek to expand capacity, the following auction for bauxite blocks in Odisha may see strong interest. Hemant Sharma, the Principal Secretary of the Odisha Industries Department, said three bauxite blocks had been scheduled for auctions this year. Adani Group will be establishing a 4-MTPA alumina refinery and may enter aluminium production; hence it is anticipated to bid for mines. However, raw material linkages will be available to Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). Raw material security may be necessary due to the scale of the proposed project. Jayanta Roy, the Senior Vice-President at ICRA, said, "Securing bauxite supply will be a key success factor for the alumina project since almost 3 tonnes of bauxite...
Nalco's Panchpatmali bauxite mine took home the prestigious 'Greentech Quality and Innovation Awards 2022'
NALCO-operated Panchpatmali Bauxite Mine has secured the prestigious Greentech Quality and Innovation Awards 2022 for its outstanding achievements in the 'Quality Improvement in Processes' category. Greentech Foundation presented the award during its occasion at Taj Vivanta, Guwahati. Greentech Quality and Innovations Awards have been instituted to encourage and motivate to boost improvements and implementation of processes in manufacturing process/service delivery aligned to stakeholders. Greentech "Quality and Innovation Awards" is presented to companies/organizations to recognize their outstanding achievements in total quality and innovation. On Panchpatmali hills of Koraput district in Odisha, a fully mechanized opencast mine has been operating since November 1985, serving feedstock...
Malaysia's Press Metal posted RM409.17 million in profits during the second quarter
Malaysian aluminium giant Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd. has reported that its net profit for the second quarter of the financial year ended June 30, 2022 (Q2 FY2022) escalated by 60.1 per cent to RM409.17 million against RM255.58 million in the same quarter previous, boosted by enhanced revenue and contribution from subsidiary companies. A filing on the stock exchange revealed Press Metal's revenue increased by 51 per cent to RM4.01 billion from RM2.64 billion in Q2 FY 2021, primarily due to an increase in metal prices and production output as its Phase 3 smelter became operational in October 2021. With three decades of experience in the aluminium industry chain, Press Metal stated, "The strengthening of the US dollar also contributed to the increase as the group's revenue is mainly...
Meridian Energy seeks 15 years of operational commitment from Tiwai aluminium smelter
Meridian Energy, New Zealand's most significant renewable energy generator and Rio Tinto, the majority owner of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, have made predominantly positive comments about their anticipation of attaining a deal to keep the smelter open after 2024. In spite of the Electricity Authority's announcement last week that it would veto any supply deal that it considered unfair to other prospective power users, the deal looks to proceed regardless. The island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter requires a new power supply deal if it desires to remain open after its current supply agreement expires at the end of 2024. On 24th August 2022, Neal Barclay, the CEO of Meridian Energy, said, "The power firm required a contract that would...
Western corridor railway track to be upgraded for unhindered bauxite transport in Ghana
The Akufo-Addo government in Ghana has inked an agreement with Messrs Thelo DB Consortium of South Africa and Ghanaian firm Transtech Consult Limited for upgrading the Western Corridor railway track to simplify the coherent movement of freight as well as passengers. As part of the government's integrated aluminium industry promotion, the $3.2 billion project is a critical component of the first phase of the railway master plan. John-Peter Amewu, the Minister for Railway Development, stated, "The move would enable the government to extend the haulage of minerals resources to bauxite." "An efficient rail transportation system along the Western Corridor would reduce freight transport costs and fuel consumption", he added. In order to leverage West Africa's bauxite resources, GIADEC sought to...
WALNG seals LNG import terminal funding; Guinea's bauxite mines to run on sustainable fuel
The comprehensive natural gas-based fuels products and services company, West Africa LNG Group (WALNG), has secured an equity financing round for an LNG import terminal in Guinea with a US-based investor group. With the Guinean government's request for a competitively priced, environmentally responsible fuel source, WALNG has developed an LNG import terminal and distribution network. The company said, "We are currently in active discussions with several strategic and financial investors and potential offtake customers." In the Boké, Bel-Air, and Boffa regions, Guinea LNG will supply commercial quantities of natural gas to bauxite mining companies for power generation and planned alumina refineries, allowing Guinea to benefit from its valuable natural resources in a tangible way. According...
Restoration of Hindalco's Samri bauxite mines as ecological sanctuaries
Samri Bauxite mines of Hindalco don't portray a large, red, rugged landscape with dust flying all around. This reclaimed mining land has been thoughtfully redesigned to foster new livelihoods and lifestyles. Over 6 hectares of mined-out land have been converted into a tea garden, biodiversity park, and grove. The Samri Bauxite mines in the Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh are an exceptional example of sustainable mining by Aditya Birla Group's metal flagship Hindalco Industries Limited. On mined-out land, the company has undertaken some ambitious projects to restore ecological sanctity. The Samri Tea Project is one example that flourished over 2 hectares of land, where Hindalco has invested in planting 16,000 tea saplings. However, the next target is to develop it into a full-grown tea...
Forging industry in India's most industrialized state is facing challenges due to rising material costs
The forging industry in India's largest industrialized state, Tamil Nadu, is encountering a challenging phase as the cost of production materials like aluminium and steel and fuel has soared. Despite a revival in demand, the industry faces higher expenses and difficulty obtaining raw materials. Rajavelu Manickavasagam, the Managing Director of Innoforge Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are forced to buy through third-party traders, and even then, we don’t get materials on time. Industries cannot completely pass on the price rise, so industrial units must absorb some of it and cut expenses.” According to our report from the forging industry, the price of mild steel leapt from INR 40/kg to about INR 65/kg in a year, while stainless steel prices surged from INR 250 to INR 350 and aluminium from INR 250...
Bank of Jamaica forecasts growth within the range of 2.5%-4.5%; Jamalco's alumina production taken into consideration
The Bank of Jamaica, the country's central bank located in Kingston, is projecting 2022/23 fiscal year growth to be between 2.5 per cent and 4.5 per cent. While speaking at BOJ's digital quarterly briefing, Richard Byles, the Governor, said," Growth is also expected to range between one and three per cent for 2023/24. The Governor added, "The economy continues to perform creditably and delivered signs of solid expansion in April to June 2022 quarter and so far, in the September 2022 quarter." "The labour market continues to perform exceptionally, noting that the April 2022 Labour Force Survey out-turns showed that the unemployment rate fell to a historic low of six per cent." Byles also stated that deposit-taking institutions' (DTIs') balance sheets remain well capitalized and in...
Environmental NGO urges Ghana govt. and GIADEC to revoke the decision of bauxite mining in Atewa Forest
An environmental NGO, A Rocha Ghana, has urged the Ghana government and the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) to repeal the decision to mine bauxite in the Atewa forest. A Rocha Ghana (ARG) has emerged as a committed environmental NGO providing practical conservation interventions aimed at contributing to the sustainable management of critical ecological habitats and initiating programmes aimed at facilitating the target community's ability to adapt to current trends in climate change and the impacts of a changing natural environment. Addressing journalists on August 19, 2022, Mr Bosu said, "Regardless of how small the area planned for bauxite mining, Atewa must not be mined for bauxite. The government and GIADEC must rescind their plans immediately. Ghana can...
Singapore's Green Doctors Programme developed a method to recycle pharmaceutical blister packaging
Blister packages for pharmaceuticals usually consist of aluminium and plastic layers. As a result of their multi-material composition, discarded packages are typically landfilled, although metallic and polymeric fractions can be recycled if they are separated. The separation of aluminium and plastic from pharmaceutical blister packaging is quite difficult to separate due to heat-sealed together with a type of glue, thus recycling is primarily avoided. A group of engineering students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) developed a chemical recycling method to separate plastic from aluminium and restore the components. Following this, both the aluminium and plastic can be returned to the recycling companies. The Green Doctors Programme was spawned in August 2021 after a pharmacist...
GACL-NALCO Alkalies JV consigns 1300 MT of caustic soda
GNAL, a joint venture company between Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL) and National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), was formed to build an 800 TPD (tonnes per day) caustic soda facility at Dahej, Gujrat, along with a 130 MW captive power plant. It was announced that GNAL shipped 1,300 DMT of Caustic Soda to National Aluminium Company Limited through rail from Ankleshwar on 20th August 2022. The process of extracting alumina from bauxite is called refining, which consists of two steps: a digestion process involving caustic soda, which separates aluminium hydroxide from the bauxite residue, and calcining, which removes the water content in the hydroxide. Swaroop P., an IAS Officer and the Managing Director of the Company flagged off the rail rake in the presence of Senior...
