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.
Top Newsmakers for June 2022: Century Aluminium to idle its Hawesville smelter temporarily due to high energy costs; Guinea govt. extends the submission date for alumina refinery proposals
The global aluminium industry experienced several electrifying events in June 2022. Century Aluminium’s Hawesville smelter, the largest aluminium producer in North America producing military-grade aluminium, employing over 600 staff has decided to idle its smelter due to soaring energy prices. The company has planned to suspend production for around nine to twelve months and staff have been delivered the notice of temporary lay-off. On the other side of the world in West Africa, Guinea, one of the world’s leading bauxite producers and exporters has pushed companies to build locally alumina refineries to mechanize its national mineral wealth for economic development and has extended the deadline the submission date for alumina refinery proposals and targeted to set a reference price for...
Aluminium and steel waste recycler Befesa S A releases its 2021 ESG Report with climate goals
The leading provider of hazardous waste recycling services, Befesa S A which enables the circular economy within the steel and aluminium industries, has released its ESG Report for 2021. Befesa has published its ESG Report following its publication of the 2021 Annual Report in March, which delivers an insight into the developments attained in ESG during 2021 and also an update on the main ESG performance indicators. Now this year, Befesa devotes a distinctive chapter to Climate Change, where it is detailed how Befesa is positioned regarding this important challenge. Befesa is fully committed to making strong contributions toward creating a more sustainable society as part of the circular economy. Befesa has been very successful in achieving its ambition to improve its recycling capacity...
Hindalco to grab 26% stake in Cleanwin Energy SIX
On 29 th June 2022, the world’s largest aluminium rolling company, Hindalco Industries made public that its board has delivered a green signal to invest INR 71.50 lakh in the equity share capital of Cleanwin Energy SIX. The total cost of acquiring a 26 per cent stake in Cleanwin Energy SIX is INR 71,50,000. The company said that its initial equity contribution was made on 30 th May 2022. According to the firm, it will continue to update details of the project at a later date. According to Hindalco Industries, it is exploring options for reducing energy costs, among which is open access to renewable energy generators on a captive basis. It appears that this company intends to invest in Cleanwin Energy SIX, a wind generator. Cleanwin Energy SIX was incorporated on 1 st December 2021and...
Rio Tinto in partnership with Corona Canada launch specially-marked low-carbon beverage cans utilizing ELYSIS technology
On 29 th June 2022, the world’s second-largest metal and mining corporation, Rio Tinto announced, that in partnership with Corona Canada, a pioneer in the beer industry has launched Canada’s first specially-marked, low carbon beverage aluminium can manufactured by Ball Corporation. The availability of the cans is now through a pilot in Ontario and was made using aluminium from Rio Tinto, leveraging the ELYSISTM technology. In addition to the limited release, 1.2 million cans were released with QR codes to encourage consumers for learning more about the cans' low carbon footprint. This pilot aims to put a fully traceable beverage can in consumers' hands. Rio Tinto will leverage insights from its START initiative in the future to enable consumers to use QR codes to see exactly how their...
Metro Mining plans to elevate Bauxite Hill’s production capacity by 75%
The Australian exploration and mining company, Metro Mining has announced its plans to augment the annual bauxite production capacity at the Bauxite Hills Mine from 4 million to 7 million wet metric tonnes per annum (M WMT pa) in 2023. The Bauxite Hills Mine has been operating in Western Cape York since 2018. The mine is located 95 km north of Weipa. In its "Stage 2" expansion, Metro proposes to spend $28.3 million to purchase a second floating crane barge, upgrade existing screening and conveying equipment, and expand haulage and transhipping operations. Simon Wensley, the Managing Director and CEO of Metro Mining said, “The expansion plan, which is subject to financing, had been underpinned by the signing of additional binding offtake agreements with China’s Xinfa Group. Xinfa, Metro’s...
United States to impose 35% tariff on aluminium imports from Russia
The United States has elevated its tariffs on aluminium imports from Russia to 35% from 10.5%-11.0%, taking effect in 30 days. Aluminium product details subject to these new tariffs have not yet been announced. However, it would not influence the MW premium, but it would have a bullish impact on spot billet, PFA, and slab premiums. Tariffs were raised on certain Russian imports by the US on 27th June 2022, including aluminium. The President of the United States Joe Biden delivered a presidential proclamation announcing a 35% tariff on certain US imports from Russia. While the day’s proclamation did not provide details about products, USTR Katherine Tai confirmed in a statement that aluminium is among the products covered by this decision. The official detailed information is yet to be...
USM teams with ribbed aluminium luggage label Rimowa for a distinctive storage unit concept
The Swiss manufacturer of modular furniture and storage units, USM is among the rarest brands that, by the nobility of its timeless designs hardly ever has caused to add to its product range. However, with a similar rationale, it is extraordinarily choosy when it comes to tying up with other brands. According to our special correspondence, the news has emerged that UMS has collaborated with leading aluminium luggage label Rimowa, which is quite impressive. ‘Concept USM by Rimowa’, as the result is tagged, is an exquisite union of distinctive elements from both renowned brands – the USM ‘Haller E2’ storage credenza reimagined in the grooved aluminium that is emblematic of Rimowa’s luggage. Unpredicted, but true to the standards of the two creators, this one-off conceptual piece illustrates...
Alro's downstream subsidiary Vimetco Extrusion accomplishes the installation of a new press line
One of the biggest integrated aluminium companies in Romania and Europe ALRO S.A. publicized that its downstream in charge with the extrusion business subsidiary, Vimetco Extrusion, accomplished the installation of a new state-of-the-art 7" press extrusion line, following an investment of approximately EUR 10 million. The project was initiated in March 2021 and Vimetco Extrusion has just successfully tested the new equipment by extruding the 1st billets on this line. However, this new installed automatic extrusion line for aluminium profiles is the third one for Vimetco Extrusion. The new press line sustains Vimetco Extrusion's strategy to upgrade its manufacturing capacity for high-value-added aluminium products, consequently, delivering to its customers a sizable portfolio of customized...
Hydro charged for polluting Brazilian river over bauxite residue spillage from Alunorte alumina refinery
On 24 th June 2022, the Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro was accused in a Dutch court, imputing the world’s biggest alumina refinery polluting a Brazilian river for years, engendering critical health issues for inhabitants. An association and nine victims together representing around 11,000 indigenous families from the north-eastern Brazilian river port of Barcarena are suing Hydro, its seven subsidiaries and shareholders out of which six are based in the Netherlands over alleged spillage from the Alunorte plant for at least 20 years. According to our report, one of the suitor’s lawyers said, “A lot of people have suffered horrible health effects as a result. That dates back at least two decades.” “Some developed various forms of cancer. Others developed skin diseases. Babies have...
EGA projects to build a solar-powered production unit for silicon metal
The world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) plans to develop renewable energy sourced (solar-powered) production facility for silicon metal. Silicon is one of the crucial raw materials essential in the manufacturing of premium aluminium production. However, the project will also form part of the ‘Operation 300billion’ and ‘Make in the Emirates’ initiatives. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, the CEO of EGA said, “Developing a silicon metal manufacturing facility would secure our supply of a strategic raw material. Once we have met our demand we could expand further, creating a new growth opportunity for our company.” During the process of casting silicon metal is added to aluminium to create high-strength alloys, which are in extensive demand from the automotive...
Russia will seek to increase trade and investment with India: Oleg Deripaska, Founder of Rusal
The founder of Russian aluminium giant Rusal and oligarch Oleg Deripaska commented by saying that Russia will seek to foster trade and investment liaison with India, China and Southeast Asian nations. Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska, a Russian billionaire and industrialist, was once Russia's richest man but lost a substantial part of his fortune amid the 2007–08 financial crisis. Deripaska further added that following Russia’s geopolitical setback with Ukraine, Russia’s ingress to its conventional destinations of exports and imports is eminently restricted. Hence, Moscow glancing to mature new trade and investment ties with allies in Asia, including India, China and Southeast Asian countries. While speaking at the 25 th -anniversary edition of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum...
Darren Taylor Holdings acquires five-decade-old Dorset Aluminium
The Dorchester, England-based aluminium products manufacturer that was founded more than 50 years ago, has been reported sold out for an undisclosed amount. The aluminium products-making company located on Poundbury Road is acquired by Shaftesbury-based Darren Taylor Holdings. Founded in 1971, Dorset Aluminium provides in-house manufacturing, metal spinning, and finishing services. The company currently employs 30 people. In the midst of the pandemic, Dorset supplied essential components required in the Covid testing machines. With an annual turnover of around £1.5 million, it was previously owned by Tim Perry, who retired in 2007 and Noel Hope. However, Hope will remain in the business as managing director. According to Darren Taylor Holdings, there will be no change to the running of...
European Parliament’s plenary vote for CBAM leaves European Aluminium dismayed
On 22 nd June 2006, European Aluminium, the industry association representing the aluminium value chain in Europe has been down-casted by the outcome of the European Parliament’s plenary vote on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). MEPs opted to incorporate indirect emissions in their proposal, ensuring an increase in global carbon emissions from aluminium production. The vote comes without any enterprising procedure to calculate indirect carbon costs on imports, and without the realisation that the European electricity grid must be much closer to decarbonisation before Europe can draw any benefit from a CBAM on indirect emissions. During the upcoming interinstitutional negotiations with the EU Member States, European Aluminium urges for a more cautious approach to phasing in...
Chile’s aluminium scrap export during 2019-21 unveils mercurial movement; a further marginal drop is predicted for 2022
Aluminium is a highly durable metal that can be recycled again and again without losing its inherent value. Compared to making the same amount of aluminium from scratch, recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy. Metal recycling isn't always as straightforward as it should be. Among the metals recyclable, steel is the most challenging to recycle, while aluminium is the easiest. Even though aluminium recycling is easy, it isn't the most recycled metal. Chile is one of the most industrialized economies in Latin America, with key industries including mining, manufacturing, and agriculture . The nation exported aluminium scrap in the volume of 62,273 tonnes during 2019-21, which raised earnings of around $77.69 million from the export. In 2019, Chile exported 17,692 tonnes of aluminium...
Century Aluminium to idle its Hawesville smelter temporarily due to high energy costs; staff to be laid-off momentarily
The largest producer of primary aluminium producer in the United States of America, Century Aluminum has made public that it will idle its aluminium smelter in Hawesville, Kentucky, temporarily due to the propelling high energy prices which are causing a direct impact on the business. On 27 th June 2022, the aluminium smelter is anticipated to initiate the idling process. Until energy prices return to their normalized levels, the company expects to suspend operations for a period of approximately nine to twelve months. Century is constantly investigating all options to prevent the temporary curtailment. Century Aluminium's facility in Hawesville is the largest smelter in North America producing military-grade aluminium. Over 600 staffs employed by the company, most of whom received notice...
Gränges launches its product brand 'Endure' for sustainable and circular solutions
On 21 st June 2022, the aluminium rolled product manufacturer Gränges rolls out its product brand for sustainable and circular solutions, Gränges Endure. The brand allows customers to select sustainable aluminium products and solutions of the highest quality with the least impact on the environment. The materials used in Gränges Endure products are low-carbon and recycled. Sofia Hedevåg, the SVP Sustainability at Gränges, said, “We are very proud to announce Gränges Endure, our new sustainable product brand. The brand will help our customers decarbonize their products and meet the demands of climate-conscious end-users. By choosing Gränges Endure, our customers help us make the aluminium industry and society at large more sustainable.” According to third-party verification, Gränges Endure...
Gränges to raise its sustainability ambition, eyes 2040 for carbon neutrality
The aluminium technology company, Gränges which drives toward more sustainable aluminium products and solutions has manifested to raise its sustainability ambition and eyes to become climate neutral by 2040. Now as a part of its responsibility, Gränges commits to set science-based targets through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and re-commits to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Over the previous five years, Gränges has delivered robust progression towards enterprising sustainability targets. The total carbon emissions magnitude has been diminished by 19 per cent versus baseline 2017, which peers to an annual slash rate of 5 per cent. The emission reduction has primarily been driven by increased circularity, and recycled volumes more than tripled in the same period....
Iranian aluminium semi-finished goods import during 2019-21 illustrates sharp decline followed by a marginal increase; 9% further plunge is predicted for 2022
In the Aluminum Association's definition, sheet aluminium is defined as being 0.008 inches thick to less than 0.25 inches thick. The thinnest aluminium is foil, 0.250 inches thick and the thicker aluminium is plate. Strips are sheets that are machined into units with smaller widths for specific uses. According to an overview by World Bank, slowly but surely, Iran's economy is emerging from a decade of stagnation due to two rounds of economic sanctions, oil price cyclicality, and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020/21, real GDP almost reached the level of 2010/11, and real GDP per capita fell to its 2004/05 level. The resurgence of the global and domestic activity in 9M-21/22 led to 5% year-on-year growth in the oil and service sectors (respectively 11.7% and 6.5% growth). The Western Asian...
