AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Rio Tinto considers reopening aluminium potline at NZAS
Rio Tinto is looking at bringing part of the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter in Tiwai Point back into use after several years of inactivity. The company has announced plans linked to the possible restart of Line 4, a potline that has been shut down since 2020. The proposal depends on a planned power agreement with Contact Energy. Both sides have signed a letter of intent, opening the door for the arrangement to move forward ahead of a possible restart in 2030. If the project goes ahead, the smelter is also expected to purchase electricity from Contact Energy’s Southland Wind Farm over the long term. Reactivating the line would lift aluminium production at the site by about 30,000 tonnes a year. Rio Tinto believes the move could provide a sizeable economic benefit as well, with estimates...
Kolkata Metro completes aluminium third rail upgrade on Blue Line underground section
Kolkata Metro Railway has completed the aluminium third rail upgrade across the underground section of its Blue Line, replacing the older steel-based traction system that had been in use for more than four decades. The upgrade is part of the metro’s broader infrastructure modernisation programme aimed at improving train frequency, operational efficiency and energy performance. The underground stretch covered under the project includes sections from Noapara to Dum Dum and from Belgachia to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station. According to the metro authority, the earlier steel third rail system, manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited, had been supplying power to metro trains since the early years of Kolkata Metro operations. Also read: Kolkata Metro joins international standards,...
Remote-controlled demolition robots help improve safety in foundries
Remote-controlled demolition machines are becoming more common in foundry operations as companies look for ways to improve workplace safety and reduce physically demanding maintenance work. According to Brokk, robotic demolition systems allow workers to operate equipment from a safer distance instead of carrying out hazardous manual tasks directly inside foundry environments. The company said the technology can help reduce the risks linked to handheld equipment, which often exposes workers to heavy vibration, dust, falling material and injury hazards. Fracture injuries remain one of the more common problems faced by operators using traditional handheld demolition tools, with workers reportedly missing an average of 32 days of work after such injuries. Brokk said remote-controlled machines...
LME aluminium cash offer price eases 0.08% to $3,735/t on May 28, as opening stocks dip marginally
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices edged lower on the May 28 session compared to May 27. While cash prices recorded a marginal decline, the 3-month closing reference price continued its upward movement. The LME aluminium cash bid price slipped 0.08 per cent from USD 3,737.5 per tonne on May 27 to USD 3,734.5 per tonne on May 28. The cash offer price also eased 0.08 per cent from USD 3,738 per tonne to USD 3,735 per tonne. LME aluminium 3-month prices eased on May 28 compared with the previous session, with the bid price declining by 0.68 per cent to USD 3,638 per tonne from USD 3,663 per tonne on May 27. The 3-month offer price also slipped by 0.66 per cent to USD 3,640 per tonne from USD 3,664 per tonne. Longer-dated aluminium contracts also edged lower. The Dec-27 bid...
Atlas Metals issues new shares as it advances silica-alumina acquisition plans
Atlas Metals Group has issued new shares as the company continues work on its planned acquisition of Universal Pozzolanic Silica Alumina Ltd. The acquisition is expected to expand Atlas Metals’ presence in industrial minerals. According to the company, 3,368,394 new ordinary shares were issued following a partial conversion of its Yorkville-managed funding facility, along with additional issuance under its at-the-market arrangement with Axis Capital. Atlas Metals said proceeds raised through the share issuance will mainly be used to repay part of the existing funding facility and support financing linked to the proposed acquisition. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows &...
USMCA review talks begin as aluminium and steel tariffs continue to pressure North America
Fresh talks around the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are set to begin as tariffs on aluminium, steel and other goods continue to create uncertainty across North America. Jamieson Greer said tariffs will likely remain in place as long as the United States continues running a trade deficit with major trading partners. The comments come ahead of a broader USMCA review scheduled for July, with negotiations involving Mexico beginning this week in Mexico City. The current tariff environment is already affecting industries across the region, especially sectors tied to aluminium, steel, autos and manufacturing supply chains. The United States currently maintains 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian aluminium and steel imports, including products that comply with USMCA rules. In...
India and the US sign a rare earth partnership to strengthen supply chains and reduce dependence on China
India and the US have signed a new framework agreement focused on rare earths and critical minerals as both countries push to strengthen supply-chain security and reduce dependence on China. The agreement was signed during the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting and covers cooperation across the full critical minerals chain, including mining, processing, refining and recycling. The framework also includes plans for joint investment, infrastructure development and financing support tied to strategic mineral projects. Officials said the partnership is intended to support industries such as clean energy, semiconductors, electric vehicles and defence manufacturing. The deal comes after China’s export restrictions on rare earth magnets in 2025 exposed vulnerabilities across global technology and...
Sunkind targets manufacturing expansion through $156m solar cell agreement
Sunkind India is set to take its next step in the renewable energy business by beginning the manufacturing of solar modules. The company has already installed a 1 GW production line near Jaipur in Rajasthan. The facility is expected to start commercial operations in June, once the ongoing trial phase is complete. Until now, the firm has mainly worked on solar EPC projects along with independent power producer projects for commercial and industrial customers. According to the company, manufacturing modules in-house will help improve project execution and reduce dependence on outside suppliers. Managing Director, Hanish Gupta, said the company has also secured the supply of solar cells needed for the new manufacturing business. Sunkind has signed an agreement with a domestic manufacturer...
Dushyant Kumar to head AGI Greenpac’s Aluminium cans operations
As AGI Greenpac starts working on its expansion in sustainable packaging, the company appoints Mr Dushyant Kumar as Chief Operating Officer for its aluminium cans division, strengthening its leadership team to drive future growth ambitions. Kumar has over three decades’ experience in metal packaging and beverage cans, having worked across a wide range of operational and commercial roles in his career. His previous leadership experience at Canpack India, coupled with a strong engineering background and exposure to international markets, will give him the experience to lead the company’s next phase of growth in this fast-growing category. The appointment comes as AGI Greenpac is expanding its footprint beyond glass packaging to aluminium cans, a category that is witnessing rapid growth in...
Odisha to review Vedanta’s INR 100,000 million projects every 15 days: CM Mohan Majhi
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday held discussions with Anil Agarwal regarding the progress of Vedanta Group’s proposed projects in the state, which together involve investments of more than INR 100,000 million (USD 10,400 million). The meeting reviewed several key projects planned by Vedanta Group, including a 6 million tonnes per annum alumina refinery in Rayagada, a 3 MTPA aluminium smelter and a 6,000 MW power plant in Dhenkanal. The discussions also covered plans for a downstream aluminium park and integrated coal and bauxite operations linked to the broader project pipeline. According to the Chief Minister, the state government will now review progress on Vedanta’s projects every 15 days to ensure faster execution and timely commencement of work. Majhi said the...
Aluminium price surge hits US solar industry amid rising Gulf tensions
Rising aluminium prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East are increasing costs for the US solar industry, adding fresh pressure on developers already dealing with higher silver prices, tariffs and policy uncertainty. Commercial solar companies in the United States are reporting higher installation costs as disruptions linked to the Iran conflict affect aluminium supply chains and increase the cost of solar mounting systems. Aluminium is widely used in rails, clamps and brackets that support solar panels. Damage to refining facilities in the Gulf region and shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz - a route that handles more than 5 million tonnes of aluminium annually - have pushed aluminium prices sharply higher in recent months. London Metal Exchange aluminium prices...
US rare earth stocks improve as Trump-backed policy reshapes the sector
Rare earth companies in the United States are seeing new investor interests after the Trump administration rolled out a broader strategy to strengthen domestic critical minerals supply chains. The initiative, called “Project Vault”, was formally introduced in February 2026, and it mainly focuses on reducing US dependence on foreign rare earth supplies. Under the plan, the federal government has started taking direct stakes in selected domestic rare earth companies, supported through financing from the US Export-Import Bank and measures linked to the Defense Production Act. USA Rare Earth has emerged as one of the main beneficiaries of the policy shift, with investors closely watching the company’s upcoming magnet manufacturing operations. The move marks a major change in the government’s...
Does aluminium foil help WiFi speeds? Experts break it down
A sheet of aluminium foil propped behind a Wi-Fi router has become one of the internet “life hacks” that people either swear by or laugh off immediately. At first glance, it sounds like nonsense — the sort of advice that used to circulate in old forwarded e-mails. Yet the idea is not baseless. There is legitimate research behind it. The discussion can be traced back to research carried out at Dartmouth College in 2017. A team of engineers explored whether specially designed aluminium reflectors could control the way wireless signals travelled through indoor spaces. Their project, called WiPrint, relied on software that calculated the best possible reflector shape for a particular room layout. Once the design had been generated, the reflector was produced with a 3D printer and then coated...
Vedanta’s Sijimali bauxite project gets environmental panel approval amid tribal opposition
Vedanta Limited has moved a step closer to developing its Sijimali bauxite mine project in Odisha after the Union Environment Ministry’s expert appraisal committee recommended the project for environmental clearance. The proposed mine, located across Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, is expected to tap high-grade bauxite reserves estimated at around 311 million tonnes. Vedanta plans to use the bauxite from the block to supply its alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. The mining project will cover around 1,549 hectares across Thuamul Rampur and Kashipur tehsils and affect 18 villages in the two districts. According to official documents, the project will require diversion of around 709.72 hectares of forest land. The expert appraisal committee recommended the project during...
Shanxi bauxite mines continue production as market watches for stricter safety checks
Bauxite mines in Shanxi are still operating normally despite increased safety inspections launched after a gas explosion at a coal mine in Qinyuan County. Authorities in Shanxi recently started a special safety inspection campaign focused mainly on coal mines following the accident. So far, bauxite mines in the province have not received any official notice asking them to stop production. Most of the larger bauxite mines in the region belong to companies such as Aluminum Corporation of China and State Power Investment Corporation, which already have relatively established safety and environmental systems in place. Even though production is continuing, companies have reportedly started internal safety checks and inspections as a precaution. At this stage, the government’s investigation...
Aluminium prices advance as industrial metal demand holds firm
Aluminium prices rose higher this Monday, owing to the stronger overseas markets and improved confidence among traders in industrial metals all over again. The broader mood across commodity markets remained positive, helped by expectations of stable demand and easing global uncertainties. At MCX, the actively traded May aluminium contract climbed by roughly USD 0.01 (INR 1.15) to about USD 4.65 (INR 387.10) per kilogram, marking a gain of 0.3 per cent. Trading activity stayed healthy, with turnover reaching 1,712 lots during the session. The June contract also moved upwards, rising by nearly USD 0.01 (INR 0.7), or 0.18 per cent, to around USD 4.61 (INR 384.25) per kilogram. Volumes in the June delivery contract stood at 3,140 lots, reflecting continued participation from market players....
GM recognises WBTL’s excellence in high-quality aluminium chassis components
General Motors has once again recognised Bethel Automotive Safety Systems (WBTL) for its manufacturing standards, awarding the company the 2025 Supplier Quality Excellence Award for its aluminium chassis components. The distinction marks the fifth occasion since 2017 that the Tier 1 supplier has secured the accolade, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the US carmaker and its premium and mass-market vehicle programmes. The award ceremony took place on May 22, 2026, and acknowledged WBTL’s performance during the 2025 calendar year. WBTL supplies aluminium steering knuckles and control arms for a range of vehicles across the Cadillac, Buick and Chevrolet portfolios. During the year alone, WBTL delivered approximately 4.935 million lightweight chassis parts to GM production lines...
LME aluminium prices rise above USD 3,750/t after holiday break; stocks remain stable
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices moved higher on the May 26 session compared to May 22 after the market remained closed on May 25 due to a holiday. Cash prices, 3-month contracts and longer-dated contracts all recorded gains during the session, while aluminium stocks largely remained unchanged. The LME aluminium cash bid price increased 1.42 per cent from USD 3,705.5 per tonne on May 22 to USD 3,758 per tonne on May 26. The cash offer price also rose 1.43 per cent from USD 3,706 per tonne to USD 3,759 per tonne. On May 26, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price stood at USD 3,680 per tonne, rising 1.06 per cent from USD 3,641.5 per tonne recorded on May 22. The 3-month offer price increased 1.10 per cent from USD 3,642 per tonne to USD 3,682 per tonne. Explore: The most...
