Nimba Mining Company SA has appointed Patrice L'Huillier as Director General and Djiba Diakité as Chairman of the Board of Directors, with both appointments confirmed through separate presidential decrees. The announcement was made on Friday, October 23, 2026, during a national television news broadcast. L'Huillier, a civil engineer specialising in bridges and roads, will serve as Director General for an initial three-year term, which is renewable. According to his appointment decree, he will work under a performance contract with the Ministry of Mines and Geology. The contract will establish his objectives, the methods for assessing his performance and his obligations regarding the transfer of skills to national staff. In a separate decree, Diakité, Minister Director of the Cabinet of...
Rio Tinto’s planned USD 1.9 billion investment in the Kangwinan bauxite project is expected to support more than 1,300 construction jobs in Queensland, while helping secure the long-term future of its Weipa mining operations as existing sources of production approach the end of their lives. Located on Western Cape York Peninsula, Kangwinan will add 20 million tonnes of annual bauxite production capacity, with first output targeted for 2029 and full production expected by 2032. The project will raise Weipa Operations’ annual capacity to around 44 million tonnes from current production of approximately 38 million tonnes. Construction is scheduled to ramp up in 2027. Beyond the immediate employment boost, the investment is expected to help sustain Rio Tinto’s residentially based workforce of...
Grow with
AL Circle
<p>Indian PSU National Aluminium Company (Nalco) has reported 18 per cent growth in its bauxite production in 2016. Since the inception of the company, this was Nalco’s highest recorded growth in bauxite output, according to T K Chand, the company’s chairman and managing director (CMD).<br /><br />While addressing Nalco's Foundation Day, Mr. Chand commented: “During the financial year 2016-17, Nalco will surpass its production capacity of 6.82 million tonne (MT) and will achieve 7.32 MT productions.”<br /><br />Nalco’s share price rose 68 per cent from INR 40.20 to INR 67.60 on achieving the production milestone.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"...
<p>Indonesia’s government revised draft may lift ban on bauxite ore from the country, offering easiness in the export of bauxite and nickel ore.<br /><br />According to spokesperson, fourth revision of The Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister submitted to Government Regulation No. 23/2010 might permit partly-processed bauxite and nickel ore exports. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry will decide which mineral ore can be exported.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/indonesia-mining.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />As per an official, “It’s like giving the energy and mineral resources minister carte blanche in determining which...
<p>Simon Finnis has been promoted from CEO to Managing Director of Metro Mining Ltd.<br /><br />Metro Chairman Stephen Everett said Finnis had made a significant contribution as CEO and would add increased value as the company transitions from explorer to producer.<br /><br /> “Simon has 30 years’ experience in underground and open cut mining operations in Australia and overseas. The Metro Board looks forward to the important contribution he will be making in his new capacity as MD,” Mr Everett said.<br /><br /><br /><br />Under Finnis’ stewardship Metro has achieved many milestones including:<br /><br />• The successful takeover of Gulf Alumina Limited, increasing the Company’s bauxite reserves and paving the way for the combination of the...
<p>Despite the decision taken by Pahang's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to extend the bauxite mining moratorium by three more months, until March 31, uncleaned stockpiles of bauxite ore were traced at abandoned mining sites of the region. This indicates at the fact that fresh mining of the aluminium ore is still continuing in the affected areas of Pahang. <br /><br />While making the moratorium extension announcement on December 22, last year, Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had mentioned that it was meant to allow legitimate bauxite miners to clear the remaining ore stockpile at the mining sites of Felda Bukit Kuantan, but it seems that his reminder has fallen to deaf ears.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto;...
<p>According to USGS’ recently published bauxite and alumina industry survey for the Third Quarter 2016, imports of crude and dried bauxite by USA in the third quarter of 2016 were 1.14 million tons (Mt). This records a 20% drop from those in the second quarter of 2016 and 61% drop from the third quarter of 2015.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/bauxite%20import%20usa.png" alt="News" width="376" height="300" />Jamaica and Brazil were the key exporters of crude and dried bauxite to the U.S. during Q3 2016 accounting for 67% and 32% of export respectively. Imports from Jamaica in Q3 were 27% less than those in Q2. The drop was attributed to the shutdown of Sherwin Alumina...
<p>Australian Bauxite Ltd (ABx) currently sells bauxite into cement and fertiliser markets at prices higher than could be achieved in the over-supplied metallurgical bauxite market.</p> <p>There have been developments in the metallurgical bauxite market in the last few days which indicate that the metallurgical bauxite market could worsen further due to a glut of new supply during 2017.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/bauxite(1).jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /></p> <p>ABx diversification avoids the metallurgical market glut.</p> <p>The clean chemistry of ABx's bauxite allowed ABx to sell cement-grade bauxite which:</p> <p>1.Consistently increases the late strength of...
<p>With the growing demand for aluminium in the end user market and the growing aluminium production in Asian countries including China and the Middle East region, demand for bauxite grew manifold during 2016. Countries competed with each other to supply bauxite to China, the largest aluminium producer in the world. Unregulated bauxite mining created havocs in a number of countries. On the other hand some countries took measure to regularise mining sector. Companies expanded bauxite mining operations, new projects came up and companies invested in mergers and acquisitions to capitalize on the growing demand. Here is recap of the major happenings that took place in the bauxite industry during 2016.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto;...
<p>According to a report by Fiji Times, The Ministry of Land in Fiji is awaiting clarifications from its permanent secretary on questions by the same newspaper regarding the total royalties which were received by landowners in Nawailevu, Bua for giving bauxite mining rights on their lands.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/mine%20minister.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />In an earlier interview by this newspaper, landowning units of Bua informed that they were keen on receiving their future generation funds which would be invested on various community projects. However, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Mereseini Vuniwaqa informed Fiji Times that the...
<p>CBIX gained US$0.6/dmt (1%) to US$50.8/dmt with higher ViU-priced cargos from Australia more prominent. As we foreshadowed, Malaysia again extended its mining ban, for another three months (to end-March 2017), with reports of nearly three million tonnes of stocks still needing to be cleared before the ban will be lifted. Having nudged higher over recent weeks, Malaysian prices remained steady at US$27.5/dmt FOB (unwashed) and US$40.5/dmt FOB (washed).</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Bauxite%20graph%2027.png" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />Chinese alumina prices eased, with the north index down 1.0% (RMB31/t or US$4.5/t) to RMB2,963/t (US$427/t) and the south...
<p>Fuziah Salleh, Kuantan MP said in a press announcement that extension of bauxite mining ban in Pahang will deteriorate environmental crisis and this could lead to erosion at the bauxite mines.<br /><br />According to Fuziah, this erosion can contaminate river water as well as drinking water. “Our river and drinking water are at risk of being polluted. In fact, health ministry reports have confirmed that there are worrying levels of pollution caused by bauxite mining.”<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Fuziah-Salleh1.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="294" /><br />Fuzia’s statement came after the announcement by the Natural Resources and Environment...
<p>Metallica Minerals Ltd. Australia has successfully completed an independent pre-feasibility study (PFS) towards the development of the Urquhart Bauxite project in Queensland’s Cape York.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Metallica%20Minerals.png" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />According to the study, the estimated pre-tax net present value of the project would be $78.4 million on sales of 6.5 million tonnes of bauxite (proved and probable reserves). The base case of the PFS indicates a potential revenue stream nearing $300 million across 5.5 years of production with a payback period of just five months.<br /><br /><br /><br />The bauxite project is...
<p>Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the natural resources and environment minister has announced on Thursday December 22 that bauxite mining ban is extended by another three months effective from 31 December at a press conference.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/bauxite(4).jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /><br />In January, Malaysia levied first of its three months ban on bauxite mining activities which further extended by three month. The moratorium on bauxite mining, slated to end on December 31 yet again is extended by government.<br /><br />Bauxite mining operation was suspended on 15 January 2016 in order to clean up environmental...
<p>On a positive update on the bauxite mining situation in Malaysia, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has expressed content on the progress of cleanliness operations in Kuantan mining sites before the expiry date of the bauxite-mining ban on Dec 31 during a press conference in Kuantan yesterday.<br /><br />Junaidi said that the environment looks healthier and more beautiful nearly after a year of mining ban in the area by the Ministry on Jan 15.<br /><br />According to him, Kuantan Port had shipped out all stocks of legally-mined bauxite before the imposition of the moratorium on Jan 15. The port had spent RM30 million to ensure the shipment takes place with all environmental regulations.<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle;...
<p>Alcoa Corporation, the world’s largest bauxite miner, today announced that Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) has secured its first major third-party contract to supply approximately 400,000 bone dry metric tons (bdmt) of bauxite from its Huntly mine in Western Australia (WA), furthering Alcoa’s strategy to grow its third-party bauxite business.<br /><br />“This Western Australian contract comes just months after our first trial bauxite shipment from WA to China in mid-2016, which successfully introduced our WA product to the global market,” said Garret Dixon, President of Alcoa Bauxite, who is based in Perth.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"...
<p>Metro Mining Ltd has taken control of 99.7% of Gulf Alumina Ltd and will compulsory acquire the remaining shares.</p> <p>Metro today announced it will immediately combine Gulf’s neighbouring Skardon River Bauxite Project within its flagship Bauxite Hills Project creating one of the largest independent operations within the internationally acclaimed Weipa bauxite region.</p> <p>Metro has also commenced work on a bankable feasibility study (BFS) which is expected to reflect synergies and other benefits of combining the two projects. The combined projects are expected to double Metro’s reserve of direct shipping ore (DSO) bauxite from 48 to 96.5 million tonnes.</p> <p><strong></strong><br /><br />Metro CEO Simon Finnis says combining the projects will benefit all stakeholders,...
<p>The year 2016 has been a year of transition for the global bauxite industry. While the sector fared slightly better than the alumina and aluminium industries- both of which faced severe pricing woes since 2016 beginning, numerous changes in the rankings, rather fluctuations, were noted as far as production of bauxite and exports to the international market was concerned.</p> <p>{newsStudioGallery}<br /><br />Malaysia, for example, though started the year on a positive note soon faced a setback as the government went on to impose ban on Pahang’s unregulated bauxite mining that was allegedly causing widespread environmental destruction in the region. Then there was Guinea putting up a strong competition against Australia to become China’s top bauxite supplier. Brazil zoomed...
Bauxite has been a priority sector for the upstream aluminium value chain players for some time now. The supply certainty of the ore plays a crucial role in controlling the logistics cost of the sector which in turn helps in optimising the overall cost of production of aluminium. With China’s appetite for bauxite growing bigger combined with supply-side concerns arising from Indonesia, and now from Malaysia, it was expected that the sector would herald in a new phase of higher profitability. But, the global downturn which struck the alumina and aluminium industry this year did not spare bauxite sector totally, and it ended up faring only a little better. As of January 2016, the worldwide bauxite reserves stood at 27.5 billion tonnes (Bnt). Global bauxite production was estimated at 279.7...
<p>Bhagwan Marine, which owns and operates marine vessel servicing oil and gas, resources, port services, towage, and construction industries in Australia, has won a contract to supply marine vessels and crew to support construction at Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite project in north Queensland.<br /><br />“Winning this new work couldn’t have come at a better time,” Bhagwan’s Geraldton - based managing director Loui Kannikoski said in a statement. <br /><br /> “Creating new work opportunities for some of the local community is also very satisfying for us.’’<br /><br /><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/Bhagwan-Marine-.jpg" alt="News"...
