International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) has completed a project examining aluminium and bauxite supply chains to improve transparency and traceability in materials supporting the renewable energy transition. The project brought together wind energy company Siemens Gamesa, Dutch cable manufacturer TKF, Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology provider Minespider, and project partner Responsible Trade. The initiative mapped selected upstream aluminium and bauxite supply chains and tested secure DPPs to organise and present traceability and sustainability information across multiple supplier tiers. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price...
Mount Ridley Mines has reported 94.9 per cent gallium recovery from a third-party bauxite sample using its patent-pending Selectro process, alongside recoveries of 92 per cent aluminium and 97 per cent iron in a single low-temperature leach. The test also produced a silica-rich residue instead of conventional red mud, highlighting the technology’s potential to recover multiple metals from bauxite through one processing route. The sample was provided by Australian Silica Quartz Group from its Darling Range bauxite project in Western Australia. It comprised material collected from 16 vacuum drill samples across four holes at the Athena and Ceres prospects. Containing 80 parts per million of gallium, the sample yielded an extraction rate of 94.9 per cent into solution. Mount Ridley said this...
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Global mining firm Rio Tinto has opened full-scope expressions of interest (EOIs) for three key work packages for its Kangwinan Project, part of a major expansion of bauxite operations on Cape York Peninsula. The EOIs, available from October 13, will cover the concrete batch plant, site survey services, and the supply of quarry materials, marking a key milestone in advancing the project to its next phase. Located on Norman Creek, around 60 km south of Weipa, the Kangwinan Project will establish a new bauxite mine and expand the Amrun port, potentially doubling output from Rio Tinto’s Weipa Southern Operations. The project aims to offset declining production as the Gove and Andoom mines approach closure. Feasibility and approvals are underway Rio Tinto is currently advancing a detailed...
Australian mining and exploration firm Western Yilgarn Limited has successfully raised AUD 698,000 (USD 460,680) through a placement of 17.45 million shares valued at AU$0.04 (USD 0.0264) each. Investors received one free attaching option for every two shares subscribed. The proceeds will fund exploration, metallurgical testwork, and project development across key assets: Julimar West, Cardea 2 and 3, and New Norcia Bauxite-Gallium Projects. The Julimar West project hosts a substantial inferred resource of 168.3 million tonnes of bauxite, containing 36.1 per cent alumina, while Cardea 2 and 3 collectively hold 36.67 million tonnes (Mt) under JORC (2012) estimates. New Norcia adds 39.27 million tonnes with 22.7 per cent alumina. Combined, the company’s portfolio totals 205 million tonnes,...
Metro Mining has just hit a significant milestone at its Bauxite Hills Operations in Queensland, reporting record shipments of 2.3 million wet tonnes for the third quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to an impressive 4.1 million wet tonnes. In September 2025, Metro Mining reported that it shipped 779,000 wet tonnes from its Bauxite Hills Operations, representing a solid 3.5 per cent increase compared to the 753,101 wet tonnes shipped in August. The company achieved a remarkable daily shipment record of 38,952 wet tonnes. It has also set impressive three-day and seven-day averages of 33,498 and 31,395 wet tonnes, respectively. Additionally, the firm has recently scheduled a 36-hour shutdown of OFT Ikamba to enhance the materials handling chutes. However, the availability of dozers has...
A single government decree has crystallised a conflict at the heart of modern extractive politics: how far can a resource state push for value-addition and control before it destroys the investment bedrock it claims to need? The answer (for now) may hinge on an arbitration filing lodged in New York that demands USD 1 billion in damages after Guinea revoked the mining licence of Axis Minerals, one of the country’s largest private bauxite operators. Image for referential purpose only Also read- Odisha's AL renaissance: Angul Aluminium Park sets the stage for a global manufacturing hub A purge was announced on television On 14 May 2025, Guinea’s transitional authorities moved to “clean up” the national mining cadastre. The action, deemed public, swift and sweeping, saw the cancellation or...
India’s clean energy push is constrained by its heavy reliance on imported lithium — the rare earth element vital for EV batteries, smartphones, and renewable power. Despite government initiatives, domestic reserves remain untapped, leaving recycling as the only near-term alternative. Image for representational purpose The irony is hard to miss. Lithium, now billed as “white gold,” was first identified in Jammu & Kashmir back in the 1990s — but at the time, it was overshadowed by the search for bauxite, then in heavy demand as the raw material for aluminium production. Lithium’s toxic reputation and limited industrial use meant geologists logged the find and moved on. Fast forward three decades in 2023, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) announced that nearly six million tonnes of...
India-based PRB Infraprojects Pvt Ltd has applied for clearances to carry out bauxite exploration across 1,100 acres of forest land in Karnataka’s Honnavar division, sparking concerns over potential ecological impact in a fragile coastal belt. Image for representational purpose The company has proposed drilling 25 boreholes and digging 25 pits in the Nittadgi block at an estimated project cost of around INR 1.4 crore. Bauxite , a critical raw material for aluminium production, has seen rising exploration interest nationwide. The move follows a technical committee under the Union Ministry of Mines approving the proposal earlier this year. PRB Infraprojects submitted its request to the deputy conservator of forests, Honnavar division, in March for a preliminary survey. Department sources...
Canyon Resources Limited, the Australian miner behind the Minim Martap project in Cameroon, has rolled out a funding package to support the launch of the large-scale bauxite development. The fund aims to raise AUD 215 million (USD 140 million), subject to shareholder approval, under the management of Cameroonian banking group Afriland and Canyon’s majority shareholder, Eagle Eye Asset Holdings (EEA). The package comprises a two-tranche placement worth AUD 205 million (USD 134.5 million) and an additional AUD 10 million (USD 6.6 million) from EEA. Institutional investors will provide AUD 36 million (USD 23.62 million) in the first tranche, while EEA will commit AUD 100 million (USD 65.6 million) in the second, raising its stake in Canyon to 56.5%. These funds will be combined with Canyon’s...
On September 15, 2025, one of Ashapura Minechem's mining subsidiaries located outside of India signed a multi-year strategic cooperation agreement (SCA) with China Railway. The deal focuses on developing the Boffa bauxite deposit in Guinea-Conakry, spanning over 200 sq km and estimated to hold more than 200 million tonnes of reserves. Under the agreement, China Railway will support mining operations, logistics, and port infrastructure development. Ashapura, on the other hand, pointed out that the partnership is aimed at enhancing production and boosting the economic growth of Guinea through job creation and infrastructure improvement. The companies also highlighted their commitment to sustainability and community advancement. MoU earlier in Kindia region This milestone builds on an...
The first half of 2025 showed a divided picture for the global bauxite trade. Some producers set new records, while others stumbled against logistical and policy headwinds. Guinea and Australia stayed firmly ahead, fuelled by Chinese demand and reliable supply chains. At the same time, Turkey and Brazil slipped back, leaving room for smaller exporters such as Malaysia and Guyana to carve out a bigger role. Export performance: gainers and losers Guinea, the world’s largest supplier, shipped about 99.8 million tonnes between January and June — a 36 per cent jump from 73.4 million tonnes a year ago. Export earnings hit roughly USD 8.9 billion, most of it from China, which alone takes around 60 per cent of the country’s ore. Australia also turned in a solid performance. Volumes rose 11 per...
Chinese demand for bauxite is restructuring the dry bulk market, with imports of bauxite hitting record levels in 2025. Between January and August, port discharges of bauxite in China reached 145.2 million tonnes, up 26 per cent year-on-year, according to AXSMarine. This marks an increase of 30 million tonnes compared with 2024, the strongest start ever for the trade. Guinea dominates supply, shipping 137.5 million tonnes and accounting for 77 per cent of China’s intake. Australia followed with 30.5 million tonnes, or 17 per cent, while Guyana, Turkey, Sierra Leone, and other exporters added smaller volumes. The long-haul nature of Guinean cargoes has boosted tonne-mile demand, with bauxite’s share of global dry bulk tonne miles rising from just 2 per cent in 2015 to 8.5 per cent this...
Nigeria's bauxite mining sector is on the brink of a major transformation, setting itself up as a key player in the growth of the country's aluminium industry in 2025 and beyond. Bauxite, being the vital raw material for aluminium production, is crucial for a wide range of industrial uses, including aerospace, transportation, packaging and infrastructure development. In recent years, Nigeria stepped up as a key player in the global critical minerals supply chain, for its rich reserves, growing industrial sector and commitment to sustainable extraction practices. While the country has long relied on oil, it's now making a strong push towards economic diversification by tapping into its wealth of mineral resources found in states like Benue, Cross River, Kogi and Edo. This strategic shift...
Rio Tinto has named Shiona Budby, a proud Thanikwithi woman and former participant of its Local Aboriginal Person (LAP) program, as the new manager of its Amrun bauxite mine in far north Queensland. Budby, who began her career with Rio Tinto more than a decade ago and formally joined the company in 2015, has been a long-standing and valued member of the team. She will now lead over 300 employees at the site. Reflecting on her journey, Shiona Budby said her goal is to inspire future LAP leaders to embrace their identity, take pride in their heritage, and step forward with confidence to lead with strength and cultural pride. Get your hands on - A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue - Red Mud “Building strong relationships through shared lived experiences is the foundation of...
TAKRAF India has secured a contract from Hindalco Industries to design and supply a complete bauxite handling system, extending the strong working relationship between the two companies. Image sources: TAKRAF Hindalco, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, is based in Rayagada, Odisha, and is India’s largest producer of copper and aluminium. It is also recognised as the world’s biggest aluminium company by revenue, with a growing presence in copper and speciality alumina. Building on past projects This contract follows earlier projects executed by TAKRAF for Hindalco. In 2021, the company delivered India’s longest overland conveyor system for the Utkal Alumina Refinery in Odisha. That project featured two conveyors measuring 14.5 km and 3.6 km, designed to move 4.5 million tonnes...
Metro Mining Limited, the Brisbane-based miner in Australia, shipped 753,101 wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite from its Bauxite Hills operation in Queensland during August. The figure marked a 6 per cent year-on-year increase and a solid improvement from July’s 714,000 WMT. Despite losing a few operational days to unfavourable weather, the company reported record throughput rates at its Barge Loading Facility, averaging over 1,700 tonnes per hour. Image source: Metro Mining In 2025, Metro has shipped a total of 3.4 million WMT to date, placing it in a solid position to achieve its target of 6.5 to 7 million WMT this year. After a seasonal shutdown during the first two months of 2025 owing to an annual wet season maintenance program, Metro Mining kickstarted its operations from March,...
The state of Kerala is on the cusp of entering India's bauxite mining sector, with plans advancing to auction off what are being described as among the richest new deposits discovered in the country in three decades. Found in the Kasaragod district, the high-grade bauxite deposits are poised to provide a significant new source of raw material for India's burgeoning aluminium industry and a potential revenue windfall of INR 5,000 crore (USD 600 million) for the state. Bauxite deposits of high quality The Department of Mining and Geology is preparing a detailed report for the state government, where mining work can be initiated as early as next year. A key revised survey is ongoing to map the deposits carefully, making sure that the forest lands and residential areas are kept out of the...
Arrow Minerals, the West Africa-focused bauxite explorer, has announced that it's putting a hold on operations at its Niagara bauxite project in Guinea. The reason is the ongoing dispute about whether its mining permits are valid. The Australian miner reported this in its September 8 half-year update. The Guinean military-led government annulled 129 mineral exploration licenses to reclaim inactive permits and transfer rights to more active investors. The licenses were cancelled without prior discussion to tighten government control over resources. The move may shut down idle projects, cause losses for inactive license holders, and shift the regional mining investment landscape, creating opportunities for operators that actively engage and meet local development expectations. First EGA,...
Odisha’s mineral-rich Rayagada district is once again at the centre of debate over how far industrial growth can go without damaging local lives and fragile ecosystems. The operations of Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a key player in the state’s bauxite industry, have drawn fresh scrutiny after villagers reported rising dust, noise, and water contamination linked to the company’s facilities. Image used for representational purpose A rejoinder affidavit submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on August 11, 2025 pointed to persistent dust, noise, and water contamination in and around Lachhuguda village, situated close to UAIL’s long-distance conveyor belt and red mud pond. A joint inspection led by the Rayagada District Magistrate acknowledged the presence of dust...
Canyon Resources is strategically pushing forward in the global bauxite market, with its Minim Martap project in Cameroon taking centre stage. CEO Peter Secker describes this project as "the largest high-grade undeveloped bauxite deposit worldwide". The company is positioning this asset as a prime opportunity for investors aiming to get a piece of the aluminium supply chain, especially as demand from the electric vehicle and aerospace sectors keeps ramping up. The Minim Martap bauxite project stands out for over a billion tonnes of reserves, each grading at 51.2 per cent alumina with less than 1.7 per cent silica. That's impressive by any industry standard. Compared to other projects in the global market, these numbers give Minim Martap a solid edge. The Minim Martap project has been on...
