AlCircle News Edited By "Sarnali Chakraborty"
Sarnali Chakraborty is a content writer with 2 years of experience. She has written articles on various genres like technical, creative, medical, to name some. Here in Alcircle she will be curating articles on the metal industry, writing newsletters and other online and offline content.
Nigeria's ALSCON to resume operations as BFI & CNCEC forge $3.5 billion partnership
The Federal Government has facilitated signing a $3.5 billion agreement between BFI Group and China National Chemical Engineering Corporation (CNCEC) to revive the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State. The agreement, signed on Monday, November 11, aims to restart operations at the ALSCON plant. About the signing ceremony The signing follows a meeting between the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, top officials of CNCEC, and Dr Reuben Jaja, Chairman of BFI Group and the government-approved core investor in ALSCON, during President Bola Tinubu's state visit to Beijing earlier this year. CNCEC, China's largest petrochemical engineering company, serves as a technical partner to BFI Group, USA, on the project. "It goes...
Chinalco Zhengzhou Research Institute expands operation with its new fine alumina branch in Zibo
On October 28th, Chen Kaibin, Party Secretary and Chairman of Chinalco Zhengzhou Research Institute, along with Su Ruigang, Secretary of the Working Committee and Director of the Management Committee of Zibo Economic Development Zone, officially launched the fine alumina branch of Chinalco Zhengzhou Nonferrous Metals Research Institute Co., Ltd. Image Source: Itaforte The fine alumina branch is committed to Chinalco Group's guiding principle of "innovation drives development, and technology leads the future." It aligns with the national scientific and technological innovation strategy, aiming to overhaul the enterprise's innovation system. The branch seeks to advance the high-quality development of fine alumina and strengthen its position in the core industry. The branch now operates with...
Teamsters urge neutrality from ORBC amid unionisation efforts by employees
The Teamsters are calling on the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC) to maintain a neutral stance as employees at five sorting facilities and 27 redemption centres initiate efforts to organise with the union. The OBRC, a non-profit cooperative, is largely funded by Oregon’s Bottle Bill, which imposes a 10-cent deposit on most plastic, aluminium, and glass beverage containers. Oregon pioneered the deposit-return system for single-use beverage containers to boost recycling rates. This model has since been adopted by nine other U.S. states and much of Canada. The OBRC, a non-profit cooperative, is largely funded by Oregon’s Bottle Bill, which imposes a 10-cent deposit on most plastic, aluminium, and glass beverage containers. “Cooperative workers are concerned over low wages and...
Sparklo expands production capacity to meet rising demand for Sparklomats in Ras Al Khaimah
Sparklo, a cleantech leader, has significantly boosted its production capabilities at its Ras Al Khaimah facility to keep pace with soaring demand for its innovative reverse vending machines, known as Sparklomats. Image Source: Sparklo About Sparklomats Sparklo is a UAE-based global cleantech leader transforming the recycling industry and promoting sustainable practices worldwide. The company has introduced innovative reverse vending machines (RVMs) called Sparklomats, encouraging the recycling of plastic bottles and aluminium cans by offering exciting rewards. Established in 2022 within the Al Hamra Industrial Zone of the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), the facility has reached its planned full production capacity of 1,500 units annually, supporting Sparklo’s ambitious regional and...
Nigeria’s power woes deepen as vandals steal aluminium conductors from line one, says TCN
Regarded as one of the world’s top oil producers, Nigeria, with a population of more than 200 million, has struggled with significant challenges, including inadequate job creation, limited opportunities, mismanagement, etc. Out of these, electricity is one of the major issues of concern. Image Source - IndiaMART As per the latest reports, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated a new incident involving vandals targeting its 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line. As Nigerians are already under havoc impacted by the recent vandalism of the 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, this news comes as another blow to the region. Grid failures are frequent in Nigeria, where the power sector struggles due to insufficient investment. This year, the national grid has collapsed 10...
EEG wraps up its 28th ‘Can Collection Drive,’ promoting aluminium recycling & waste segregation
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) proudly announced the successful conclusion of the 28th cycle of its national initiative, the 'Can Collection Drive,' held on November 9th, encompassing all of Emirates. Under the theme "With a 'Can do' attitude, the future is in our hands," the programme aims to raise awareness about the importance of waste segregation at the source and the value of recycling aluminium cans. Image Source: Mid east information It also seeks to engage businesses and the wider community in adopting sustainable habits. Launched in 1997 as EEG's first action programme, this campaign was designed to actively involve all segments of society. It is part of EEG's ongoing dedication to fostering sustainable practices across various sectors in the UAE. Sustainable initiative...
HBMSU and EGA forge partnership to drive sustainability & digital transformation
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have formalised a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to enhance opportunities in talent acquisition, professional development, scientific research focused on sustainability, and initiatives in digital transformation. Image Source: HBMSU The MoU was signed by Khalid Essa Buhumaid, Senior Vice President of EGA, and Athba Al Kamdah, Vice Chancellor of Institutional Resources & Services at HBMSU. The signing ceremony was attended by college deans, university administrators, and key representatives from EGA. About the partnership The partnership also includes sponsoring talented learners and innovators and supporting the development of...
Odisha’s INR3,353 crore industrial project to include a new aluminium conductor & power cable pant
The Odisha government approved 15 new industrial projects on Friday, amounting to a total investment of INR 3,353 crore and expected to create 4,637 jobs. The decision was made during a State-Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja. Aluminium sector projects These projects span various sectors, including aluminium, chemicals or renewable energy, steel, manufacturing, textiles & apparel, tourism, pharmaceuticals and cement. The projects will be carried out in districts such as Koraput, Khurda, Baragarh, Puri, Cuttack, and Jharsuguda. The downstream aluminium sector will also see significant development as HM Power and Cables Pvt. Ltd. will set up a manufacturing plant for aluminium conductors, power cables, and wires in Jharsuguda....
China’s alumina price hikes by RMB50/t, reflecting a Y-o-Y surge of 81%; A00 aluminium ingot price loses RMB220/t
The SMM alumina price has experienced a challenging momentum since the beginning of September. The average alumina spot price has shown unprecedented growth, reflecting a Y-o-Y spike of RMB 2,435 per tonne or 81 per cent from RMB 3006 per tonne recorded on November 13, 2023. Image Source: Itaforte Region-wise price analysis As of today, the price has hiked to RMB 5,441 per tonne after growing by RMB 50 per tonne. The alumina prices have grown in all the provinces, with the highest in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, where it has surged by RMB 100 per tonne to reach RMB 5,700 per tonne. On the same day, the alumina prices in Shanxi and Henan have added RMB 50 per tonne to clock at RMB 5,550 per tonne and RMB 5,450 per tonne. The prices in Shandong, Guizhou and Guangxi have ascended by RMB 50 per...
Holland America Line drives circularity in marine design with aluminium reprocessing project
Holland America Line has launched a pilot project aimed at reprocessing aluminium cruise ship furniture, focusing on overcoming the challenges of disassembly as part of its broader commitment to promoting circularity in marine design. The initiative seeks to identify smelters specialising in melting down and repurposing this waste metal, which is classified as a critical raw material. Given its high economic value and potential supply risks in regions such as the US and Europe, the project underscores the importance of securing sustainable aluminium sources. Image Source: Holland America Line “We are heavily focused on what we do with our outdoor aluminium furniture. Cruise ships have tonnes of aluminium because it is one of the most durable products you can have when it is exposed to...
Anhui Lizhong’s Phase II aluminium alloy project expected to double its annual production capacity
On October 11, Anhui Lizhong Alloy Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as Anhui Lizhong) celebrated the grand commencement of its second-phase project. The Phase I project of Anhui Lizhong, with an annual output capacity of 60,000 tonnes, has been completed and is now operational. Image Source: Lizhong Alloy The second phase focuses on constructing the 2nd workshop and corridor, staff canteen, and additional supporting equipment and facilities. This phase is expected to be completed by March 2025 and will boost the company’s total annual production capacity to 120,000 tonnes. Anhui Lizhong, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lizhong Group, was established in November 2022. With a registered capital of RMB 50 million and a total investment of RMB 200 million, the company spans an area of 28,085...
Celebrating a decade of innovation & sustainability at Nachterstedt Aluminium Recycling Centre
In 2011, Novelis made a groundbreaking move by shifting its business model to focus on recycling, sparking significant investments in expanding recycling capacity and capabilities. This strategic shift led to the creation of one of the world’s largest aluminium recycling centres, fundamentally transforming the aluminium industry. Today, the Nachterstedt Aluminium Recycling Centre (NARC) celebrates its 10th anniversary, highlighting a decade of trailblazing innovation and sustainability, solidifying Novelis’ position as a leading force in aluminium recycling. Image Source: Novelis “At NARC, we can cast aluminium ingots for car bodysides made from 86% scrap. Aluminium ingots for beverage can bodies with a recycling content close to 100% showcase our way of decarbonizing aluminium for...
Alcoa halts bauxite shipments from Juruti mine amid port blockage, fuelling alumina price surge
On November 7, Alcoa announced the suspension of bauxite shipments from Brazil’s Juruti port due to a vessel stranded in the waterway. This marks the latest in a series of supply chain disruptions impacting the aluminium raw material market, contributing to record-high alumina prices and supporting elevated aluminium prices. Image Source: Alcoa Website Alcoa invoked force majeure at its Juruti bauxite mine on November 6, citing the blocked waterway as a barrier to fulfilling customer supply commitments, according to an emailed statement from an Alcoa spokesperson to Reuters. The statement did not provide an estimated timeframe for the resumption of shipments. A trader source indicated that a vessel has been stranded near the Juruti port since late October, halting bauxite movement for...
Jiaxin New Materials carries out trial production of its 7-series high-end aluminium alloy ingot
Jiaxin New Materials Company has conducted a trial production of its new 7-series high-end aluminium alloy round ingot product. The development of this much-awaited product marks a significant milestone for the China-based company. The newly developed product is a high-strength aluminium alloy with zinc as its primary alloying element. It exhibits excellent plasticity following solution treatment, allowing it to serve as a steel substitute in high-temperature environments. In addition to being lightweight, this alloy offers superior corrosion resistance and weldability, making it ideal for aerospace, mould manufacturing, mechanical equipment, and various other applications. To achieve the successful development of this new product, the company mobilized its management and technical teams...
Zhengzhou Research Institute of Chinalco sets new industry standards with remote centralised crane control system
The intelligent control R&D team at the Zhengzhou Research Institute of Chinalco has successfully developed and implemented a Remote Centralised Control System for cranes in raw material warehouses, which has passed enterprise-level acceptance with high praise from experts. Addressing challenges such as inefficiencies in material handling and mixing, harsh working conditions, and limited automation, the team upgraded the crane's mechanical and electrical control systems. The system is seamlessly integrated with the petroleum coke precise batching metering control system, independently developed by the R&D team. This integration enables the crane to grab materials automatically, facilitates intelligent raw material mixing, and ensures accurate, unmanned batching operations. The system...
Pilawa’s new solar energy plant sparks a significant step in AkzoNobel’s green energy initiative
AkzoNobel, a Dutch multinational company has installed its largest solar energy plant in Europe at its Pilawa site, marking significant step in the company's shift to renewable electricity across all production locations. This new installation is part of a series of major recent investments at the Pilawa site, which also include the automation of the solvent paint filling process and the raw material dosing system. Image Source: AkzoNobel Spanning nearly three hectares—equivalent to about four football fields—the plant features 3,551 solar panels with a total capacity of 1.9 MWp. These panels will supply nearly 25 per cent of the electricity required by the decorative paints facility. A recent solar project was also completed in the Czech Republic, where 1,300 panels were installed at...
SMM alumina price heightens to RMB5328/t; A00 aluminium ingot price expands by RMB260/t
According to the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) analysis, the average alumina spot price in China has continued its upward trajectory, reflecting a W-o-W hike of 5.37 per cent and a y-o-Y surge of 77 per cent from RMB 5,056 per tonne and RMB 3,010 per tonne. Image Source: Itaforte Alumina price change As of today, the alumina price has heightened to RMB 5,328 per tonne following a hike of RMB 75 per tonne. This continued price growth can be attributed to the ongoing supply disruptions following the suspension of GAC's bauxite exports from Guinea, a key source of imported bauxite for China. The alumina price has ascended the highest in Lianyungang and Bayuquan by RMB 100 per tonne, settling at RMB 5,500 per tonne. In Henan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, the alumina prices have added RMB 75 per tonne...
Weiwang Aluminum’s RMB 100 million project to foster sustainability & development in Inner Mongolia
On October 15th, Inner Mongolia Weiwang Aluminum Products Processing Co., Ltd. officially entered the trial production phase of its aluminium alloy ingot project. With a significant investment of RMB 100 million, the facility is set to produce 60,000 tonnes of aluminium alloy ingots annually, derived from 70,000 tons of recycled aluminium. This project began construction in August 2020 and has now entered the trial production phase following successful equipment debugging. Beyond its production capacity, the project is projected to generate annual sales of RMB 1.2 billion, with a total profit forecast of RMB 40 million. Furthermore, it is expected to create employment opportunities for over 50 people, fostering economic growth and contributing to the aluminium industry's advancement in...
