AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Jamaica's Alpart alumina refinery set for phased modernisation under JISCO plan
Jamaica's Minister of Agriculture, Floyd Green, has announced that the reopening and modernisation of the Alpart alumina refinery has moved a step forward following meetings with officials of JISCO and the Government of Gansu Province during his recent visit to China. Speaking in Parliament, Green said JISCO has confirmed its plans to carry out a two-phase modernisation programme to bring the refinery back into operation and upgrade it into a modern alumina production facility. The first phase of the project will involve an investment of about USD 490 million. Planned work includes upgrading major processing units, improving plant infrastructure, modernising the power generation system, introducing dry-stacking technology for bauxite residue management, and rehabilitating rail and port...
Modern aluminium recycling advances through new processing technologies: GME among industry contributors
Recycling non-ferrous metals like aluminium, lead, and plastics is becoming more important because it reduces the need for raw materials, improves recovery, and supports circular production. Aluminium recycling is especially valuable because it uses much less energy than primary aluminium production and helps cut emissions while supplying material to construction, transport, packaging, and engineering. Modern recycling plants use mechanical separation, shredding, decoating, melting and casting technologies to improve metal recovery and reduce waste. Italian engineering company GME Technology (Gianni Mori Engineering) designs recycling plants for aluminium scrap, used lead-acid batteries and plastic recovery, with a major focus on aluminium processing equipment. Its systems are used to...
Aluminium du Maroc positions itself as a key supplier to Morocco's construction industry
Aluminium du Maroc is a Moroccan company that makes aluminium profiles and related products for the construction and industrial sectors. It turns raw aluminium into finished and semi-finished products for builders, manufacturers and installers in Morocco, and also sells to some export markets. Its business is closely linked to construction activity, infrastructure spending and industrial growth in North Africa. The company's main activity is aluminium extrusion. In this process, aluminium billets are heated and pushed through dies to create different shapes. These profiles are used in windows, doors, façade systems, curtain walls, partitions and other building applications. By processing primary aluminium into finished products, Aluminium du Maroc connects metal suppliers with companies...
$4B Oklahoma Aluminium Smelter Project moves ahead with technical studies and permitting
A proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminium smelter at the Port of Inola in northeastern Oklahoma is moving through technical studies and regulatory approvals, with developers aiming to begin construction in 2027. If completed, the project would become the first new primary aluminium smelter built in the United States in nearly 50 years and significantly expand the country's domestic aluminium production capacity. The project, known as Oklahoma Primary Aluminum, is being developed through a partnership between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) of the United Arab Emirates and Century Aluminum of the United States. Company officials said technical studies began in December last year and are continuing alongside engineering work and regulatory approvals. Project Director Ziad Fares said, "We...
Egypt delays decision on EgyptAlum stake sale as expansion plans aim to raise valuation
The Egyptian government is aiming to increase the valuation of EgyptAlum by three to four times before deciding whether to sell a stake in the state-owned aluminium producer or transfer it to the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (SFE), according to a senior government official. The official said the decision has been deferred until the company advances a series of expansion projects and secures the necessary approvals, which are expected to enhance its market value. EgyptAlum, listed on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), currently has a market capitalisation of approximately EGP 118 billion (USD 2.4 billion). Two options are being considered. The first involves reassessing the company's fair value before increasing its free float through either a strategic investor or a public offering. According to the...
Aluminum Association calls for comprehensive strategy to strengthen US aluminium supply chain
The Aluminum Association has urged US policymakers to adopt an "all-of-the-above" strategy to strengthen the country's aluminium supply chain, arguing that expanding both primary and secondary aluminium production is essential to meeting rising demand across transportation, packaging, defence, energy and advanced manufacturing. According to the association, discussions often present primary and secondary aluminium as competing options, whereas both are complementary and necessary for a resilient domestic industry. Charles Johnson, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association, said growing production of both materials will be critical if the United States aims to strengthen its manufacturing base. The association noted that aluminium is one of the few materials designated as a critical...
Eldorado Civic Association promotes aluminium can recycling during holiday weekend
The Eldorado Civic Association is encouraging residents, holidaymakers and picnic-goers to recycle aluminium cans by depositing them at the organisation's collection site at 5939 California Avenue. According to commodities coordinator Ed Shrift, the association accepts aluminium cans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, making recycling accessible throughout the year. Shrift said the initiative has grown steadily since it was launched more than 10 years ago, with the volume of aluminium cans collected nearly doubling each year. Revenue generated through the recycling programme has helped support local community projects, including baseball teams such as the Miracle League and the Teener League at Seitz Field. Shrift thanked residents for their continued participation in the initiative and...
Hydro signs 10-year renewable power agreement with Eviny to support low-carbon aluminium production
Hydro Energy has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Eviny Fornybar to secure a long-term supply of renewable electricity for its Norwegian operations, supporting the company's low-carbon aluminium production strategy. Under the agreement, Eviny will supply 0.5 TWh of renewable electricity annually between 2031 and 2040, amounting to a total of 5 TWh over the contract period. The electricity will be delivered in Norway's NO5 electricity price area. According to Kari Ekelund Thørud, Executive Vice President of Hydro Energy, predictable long-term access to renewable power is essential for Hydro's operations and will help the company continue supplying low-carbon aluminium and aluminium solutions from its Norwegian plants to European customers. Explore: The most...
Moody's reviews South32 for possible downgrade after aluminium asset sale
Moody's has placed South32's credit ratings under review for a possible downgrade after the miner agreed to sell most of its aluminium, alumina and bauxite assets to Alcoa in a transaction valued at up to USD 5.6 billion. The ratings agency said the proposed divestment would significantly reduce South32's operational scale, commodity diversification and geographic footprint, increasing concentration risk within the company's portfolio. Under the agreement, South32 will sell most of its aluminium assets, including aluminium smelters, alumina refineries and bauxite mines, such as the Hillside Aluminium smelter in South Africa. Following the transaction, the company's only remaining aluminium-related asset will be the Mozal Aluminium smelter in Mozambique, which entered care and maintenance...
Ashok Leyland launches commercial vehicle scrappage programme with Rosmerta
Ashok Leyland has partnered with Rosmerta Recycling to provide organised scrappage services for old commercial vehicles across India. Through its dealer network, customers can reach authorised scrappage centres to scrap vehicles and complete deregistration and other required paperwork. Rosmerta Recycling operates Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) across the country. The facilities dismantle end-of-life vehicles in accordance with regulatory requirements while recovering recyclable materials. The partnership comes as the government promotes the replacement of older, more polluting vehicles through its voluntary vehicle modernisation programme. It also follows the launch of the Naya Safar Scheme, which aims to reduce transport-related emissions in the Delhi-NCR region. Attend...
Hydro selects Skanska to build new aluminium wire rod production plant worth $111M in Norway
Skanska has been awarded a contract worth around NOK 1.1 billion (USD 111 million) by Hydro to build a new aluminium wire rod production plant at Hydro's existing Karmøy site in Norway. The new facility will have an annual production capacity of 110,000 tonnes of aluminium wire rod and is scheduled for completion in March 2028. The project includes the construction of a new production building housing furnaces and a wire rod production line, along with maintenance facilities, storage areas and office space. The scope of work also covers civil construction, installation of technical systems and integration of the new plant with Hydro's existing infrastructure. Construction has already started, and Skanska said the contract will be included in its Nordic order bookings for the third quarter...
LME aluminium cash and three-month prices gain nearly 1%; opening stocks fall 0.5%
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) recovered at the close of the July 6 session. Moderate gains were reported across the pricing and contract segments, while the declining trend in inventory continued to persist. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,104.5 per tonne on July 6, up 0.81 per cent from USD 3,079.5 per tonne on July 3. The cash offer price also increased by 0.81 per cent to USD 3,105 per tonne from USD 3,080 per tonne. The LME aluminium three-month bid price rose by 0.84 per cent to USD 3,112 per tonne on July 6 from USD 3,086 per tonne on July 3. The three-month offer price increased by 0.84 per cent to USD 3,113 per tonne from USD 3,087 per tonne. In the longer-dated contracts, the December 2027 bid price stood at USD 3,048 per tonne on July 6, up...
Vedanta Aluminium conducts emergency mock drill at Jharsuguda hydrogen plant
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, has carried out a comprehensive onsite emergency mock drill at the hydrogen plant within its Jharsuguda power plant operations as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen workplace safety and emergency preparedness. The exercise simulated a hydrogen gas leak during routine maintenance activities, allowing the company to assess its emergency response procedures, interdepartmental coordination and operational readiness under controlled conditions. The mock drill also included a simulated technician injury, with emergency response teams deploying protective safety equipment and firefighting resources to contain the incident, secure the affected area and declare an "All Clear" after completing the response. The exercise was observed by...
CMR Green Tech: Demand for EVs to drive growth in aluminium recycling
Demand from the automotive, electric vehicle (EV), construction and packaging sectors are likely to increase which would support long-term growth in aluminium recycling, says CMR Green Tech Chairman and Managing Director Mohan Agarwal. Mohan Agarwal said that aluminium demand is coming from both conventional vehicles and EVs. EVs use aluminium three times more than conventional vehicles because of the strength-to-weight ratio of the metal. Recycled aluminium was the same quality product as primary aluminium and could be recycled over and over again without losing performance, he said. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 The recycling business will grow at a faster rate than the...
Ukraine transfers seized containers from Mykolaiv Alumina Plant to ARMA for sale
A court in Ukraine has authorised the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) to take over and sell more than 3,000 specialised containers linked to the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, concluding that continued storage would further reduce the assets' economic value. According to a ruling by the Central District Court of Mykolaiv, the seized property comprises 3,045 reusable textile containers used to transport bulk materials. The containers, owned by Russian company Novitni Tekhnologii v Perevozhennyakh, are valued at approximately USD 304,500, or more than UAH 11.1 million at the exchange rate applicable when they were seized. The containers were imported into Ukraine under a temporary import regime and were used at the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant. They have been treated as evidence in a...
European aluminium foil deliveries decline in Q1 despite signs of market stabilisation
European aluminium foil producers experienced a weak start to 2026, with total deliveries declining in the first quarter despite indications of gradual market stabilisation as the period progressed. According to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), total deliveries by its members reached approximately 225,000 tonnes during the first quarter, representing a 6.6 per cent decline compared with the same period last year. Shipment volumes also remained below average levels recorded before 2020. Within Europe, aluminium foil deliveries fell by 4.3 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. While demand remained subdued at the beginning of the year, March recorded an improvement over the previous two months, supported primarily by the flexible packaging sector. Stable or growing demand...
Adani-IHC aluminium project to be powered by Adani’s 4,000 MW captive capacity
The high-profile Adani-IHC aluminium project will reportedly draw electricity from a 4,000 MW captive power plant and a green energy component of about 400 megawatts for running 4 million tonnes per annum of alumina, 2 million tonnes per annum of aluminium and 1 million tonnes per annum of downstream production. This entire project will be a 50:50 joint venture between Adani and Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC). The USD 11.5 billion-worth project in Odisha is seen as a strategic step by Adani to expand its position into the commodity space after an investment in a USD 1.2 billion greenfield copper smelter and refinery in Gujarat. The investment in aluminium comes as India works to expand domestic aluminium production. India produced about 4.2 million tonnes of aluminium...
Alcoa targets a larger aluminium, alumina and bauxite portfolio with the South32 acquisition
Alcoa will acquire South32's aluminium, alumina and bauxite business in a deal worth up to USD 5.6 billion, expanding its position across the aluminium value chain. According to Wood Mackenzie, the acquisition will raise Alcoa's aluminium smelting capacity by around 26 per cent and make it the world's largest equity-attributable bauxite producer. The consideration includes USD 3.1 billion in cash, about USD 1 billion in Alcoa shares through the issuance of approximately 17 million shares, around USD 750 million in assumed net debt and lease liabilities, and up to USD 750 million in contingent payments linked to aluminium and alumina prices through 2030. Cash flows from the assets will transfer to Alcoa from 1 April 2026. Wood Mackenzie estimates the portfolio is worth about USD 10.9...
