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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Rubix Resources has recently signed a non-binding agreement with Nyos Metals and Yoro Metals to leverage the bauxite projects of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. This is quite a major step, especially when Rubix is all set to expand its portfolio in untapped bauxite mines across Central Africa. A deep dive into the projects The deal involves two licence applications – one in Cameroon and the other involving six contiguous concessions in Congo. Practically, this is going to encompass about 3000 square kilometres of bauxite mines. Sources said these two regions are highly prospective but have been unexplored so far, especially due to no improvement in terms of exploration work post-1960s. In this context, Rubix certainly wins a significant first-mover advantage, thus offering the company...
The Union Environment Ministry has delayed its decision on Vedanta Limited's proposal to divert more than 700 hectares of forest land in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts in Odisha, for the Sijimali Bauxite Mines. The delay is, according to government records, related to pending issues concerning community consent, compensatory afforestation measures and biosphere concerns. During the meeting of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) on August 25, 2025, the Environment Ministry noted that the reports from the Odisha government did not address the issues raised by local villagers and petitioners currently before the Orissa High Court. As per the proposal, the mine is intended to partly meet the raw material requirements of the firm's six million tonnes per annum alumina refinery at Lanjigarh....
The bauxite market is expanding steadily, with analysts predicting the market will be worth nearly USD 126 billion by 2033. This sharp climb from USD 84.5 billion in 2025 is equal to a compound annual growth rate of 5.11 per cent. Aluminium demand lies at the heart of this surge. Yet, the outlook is not all smooth. Supply bottlenecks, tougher environmental rules and geopolitical rivalries are there. Aluminium’s expanding reach Most of the world’s bauxite, about 85 per cent, ends up as alumina, which is then refined into aluminium. The metal has become hard to replace. In cars, the story is striking. Back in 1980, an average vehicle carried only about 120 pounds of aluminium. By 2030, that figure is expected to hit 252 kilograms. For a broader view of the global bauxite market click: A...
Over 100 mining licences were cancelled in Guinea, where big names like EGA have made headlines. But how many China-owned firms have been the target of Guinea’s ‘mine here, refine here regime’? The answer is a big-n-bold ZERO. The only report that deep search found when AL Circle was investigating the matter was of the single active operation affected by this crackdown of a joint venture in the Boffa-Fria corridor that included the Chinese-backed company SD Mining SA, which held a 42 per cent stake. Naturally, the question arises as to why Guinea has been cooperating with China when it comes to mining (we are mainly concerned about bauxite). For over 30 years, China has actively supported Guinea in various aspects. But why? As we dig deep, it seems to be clearing layer by layer. Also...
Bauxite and alumina can be considered as one of the most essential parts of Western Australia’s mining industry, underpinning the production of aluminium used worldwide in transport, infrastructure, and packaging. As one of the State’s most vital commodities, the sector is also closely monitored for worker safety, with new data shedding light on injury rates across major mining operations. Image Source: South32 website As per the WorkSafe WA data by The West Australian , bauxite and alumina recorded the highest injury rate among the State’s major commodities over two years, with Nickel bagging the second spot (recording 7.51 injuries per million hours worked, followed by iron ore at 5.14 and gold at 4.98). But the recent data shows a different picture altogether. South32 achieves 60%...
Terra Goyana Mining (TGM), one of the largest bauxite producers in Brazil, is leading the way with sensor-based sorting (SBS) technology in bauxite beneficiation, establishing a benchmark for mineral research, development, and commercialisation. TGM represents 5.5 per cent of Brazil's national output and operates within the Barro Alto mine in Goiás, with a commercial hub established at Goiânia and trade links maintaining their international relationships across South America, Europe and Asia. As a member of the Supergram group, TGM leverages vertical integration through Bautek (a calcined bauxite producer), thus achieving greater value capture in the supply chain. Locating its operations in Poços de Caldas in the State of Minas Gerais provides additional geographic coverage of the...
Canyon Resources has confirmed the significant economic potential of its Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon, after completing a definitive feasibility study (DFS). The Australian miner has also begun early works on the project, which started in July. The definitive feasibility study (DFS) outlines a Stage 1 capital expenditure of USD 96 million, with a pre-tax net present value of USD 835 million and a pre-tax internal rate of return of 29 per cent. Production & shipment capacity The firm is currently aiming for first ore production in the first quarter of next year, with the first bauxite shipments expected in the first half. Stage 1 of the project is designed for 1.2 million tonnes of annual capacity, with the possibility of expanding to a yearly capacity of 2.1 million tonnes...
A key announcement has been made by one of the biggest mining companies of Australia, Canyon Resources Limited, a bauxite development and exploration company, regarding the results of a definitive Feasibility Study alongside an upgrade in the ore reserves for the ongoing Minim Martap bauxite project, with the status being at a tier-one operation. The company, in relation to the Minim Martap bauxite project, is set to boost the total present net value of USD 835 million with the internal return estimated to be 29 per cent, reflecting a crucial increase in ore reserves. In addition, Canyon is under the plan to begin production of the Minim Martap bauxite project in the first half of 2026. For commencing the project, the firm shall leverage existing rail and port infrastructure with the...
Metro Mining, an Australian mining and exploration company, has shown a strong turnaround for the first half of 2025, ending on June 30. The report directly reflects the company's expansion at the Bauxite Hills operation, where the shipment record rose to 1.9 million wet tonnes. The firm's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation totalled AUD 23 million (USD 15.04 million), representing an improvement of 248 per cent if compared with the previous year's same period, which projected a loss of AUD 15.5 million (USD 10.14 million). Concerning the balance sheet, the firm books impairment reversal worth AUD 47.7 million (USD 31.2 million) along with the recognised gross tax loss of AUD 204.5 million (USD 133.7 million). A gain of AUD 33.2 million (USD 21.7 million),...
Guinea is tightening its grip on the global bauxite trade, shipping record volumes even as its own alumina refining sector lags far behind. According to sources, Guinea mined about 123 million tonnes of bauxite in 2023, up from 103 million tonnes the year before. Exports grew even faster, jumping to 127 million tonnes—a year-on-year rise of nearly 25 per cent. The momentum carried into 2024. Output rose to roughly 141 million tonnes, while exports reached 145 million tonnes, cementing the West African nation’s place as the world’s largest exporter. The surge has continued this year. In just the first half of 2025, Guinea shipped 99.8 million tonnes, almost as much as its entire 2022 total. For a broader view of the global bauxite market click: A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue -...
Maaden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC), a subsidiary of Maaden, one of the world's fastest-growing mining companies, has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Emerge. Emerge is a joint venture between Masdar, a global leader in clean energy, and EDF Power Solutions, renowned for low-carbon, innovative solutions. Al Baitha Bauxite Mine moves towards sustainability Through this agreement, Emerge will spearhead the development of a solar power project designed to provide clean, renewable energy to the Al Baitha Bauxite Mine over the next 30 years. This initiative not only supports Saudi Arabia's energy transition but also contributes to the Vision 2030 objectives by reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainable industrial growth. Ali Al-Qahtani , Executive...
Guinea exported 99.8 million tonnes of bauxite in the first half of 2025, a sharp 36 per cent rise from 73.4 million tonnes in the same period of 2024. That figure is almost equal to the country’s entire output in 2022. The rise is a result of strong run, with exports up 19.6 per cent in 2023 to 127 million tonnes, followed by another 14 per cent increase in 2024 to 145 million tonnes. What makes the latest surge stand out is the backdrop, Guinea is in the middle of political turbulence, a tightening grip on mining rights by the junta, and rising unease among investors. Export boom and China’s role The export boom has several drivers, but China is at the center. Roughly 60 per cent of Guinea’s ore goes to Chinese buyers, and Beijing’s aluminium production was up about 4 per cent in the...
An Australia-based mining and exploration company, Metro Mining, have charted their ambitious target of ramping up its production to 7 million tonnes by the end of 2025. This plan has been drafted with consideration of the expansion capacity and lowering of the overall costs in the production process. Well known by all the industry experts, bauxite is a primary ore that is heavily used for aluminium production , which is deemed to be a lightweight and valuable metal and a vital aspect for the global energy transition. Moreover, the demand for aluminium is expected to double in the coming years, with sectors like transportation, clean energy, and electric vehicles being the key drivers. In Q2 FY2025, the mining company successfully delivered record-high bauxite shipments, which surpassed...
The tribals near the Serubandha Hills of Koraput district in Odisha, India, have been continuing their opposition to the bauxite mining project to be undertaken in the area by National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO). Concerning the opposition, public representatives for the residents residing in Semiliguda and Pottangi blocks of the district have come forward to save the Serubandha Hills. The protest includes voices and slogans stating "NALCO Go Back" with threats stating no kind of natural resource mining would be permitted, irrespective of whatever may come. NALCO received the permission to conduct the bauxite mining in the Serubandha Hills back in 2024, but had not commenced it yet. As of now, all the mining operations under NALCO in this region have been continuing under the...
In a significant move impacting the global bauxite supply landscape, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a leader in global aluminium production, has confirmed the complete cessation of its bauxite mining activities in Guinea, following the government's expropriation of its mining assets. The firm's Guinea Alumina unit will wind down its bauxite mining operations, along with associated employee and on-site service contracts, in the Republic of Guinea. Tracing back to May 2025, the Republic of Guinea has initiated proceedings to revoke EGA's mining license for the Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC). This move follows a suspension of G AC's bauxite exports in October 2024 over customs duties concerns . It further includes the discussion upon finalisation, the revocation could significantly...
With a demand for the immediate opening of bauxite mines, the residents of Kalahandi, a district in Odisha, led by Lanjigarh Anchalik Vikash Parishad (LAVP), have set up a large-scale rally this Friday, August 22, 2025. The motto of the rally was securing local livelihoods and catalysing regional development. Local leaders rallied against policy paralysis For quite some time, there has been widespread frustration regarding the inaction over resource utilisation. It was more evident from the demonstration led by LAVP president Sridhar Pesnia and supported by community leaders, including the Lanjigarh Block vice-chairman, Zilla Parishad members, tribal elders and transport associations. Protestors in the rally further pointed out that Kalahandi’s own resources remain untapped due to...
Alcoa’s plan to expand its bauxite mining operations in Western Australia’s jarrah forest is undergoing detailed environmental review. A recent study by engineering consultancy GHD highlighted potential risks to Perth’s water supply while also recognising measures the company has proposed to mitigate them. The research, commissioned by Alcoa in relation to its application to mine 67 sq km of forest, identified 22 potential pathways to dams serving the city's 2.3 million people. The key risks that were identified included sewage-borne pathogens, hydrocarbon contamination from oil spills, and turbidity due to erosion of soil, which might render water treatment plants ineffective. Potential contamination of Perth's water supply The government-owned Water Corporation has been warning about...
Saudi Arabia’s mining sector is fast emerging as a cornerstone of the kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 transformation. With SAR 246 billion (USD 66.4 billion) in committed investments and untapped mineral wealth estimated at USD 2.5 trillion, the industry is poised to become the nation’s third economic pillar, complementing oil and petrochemicals. But to unlock its true potential and remain competitive on a global scale, the sector must go beyond expansion. It must embed cost discipline, operational transparency, and financial resilience at its core. A new report from Alvarez & Marsal (A&M), Optimising Cost Control in the Industrial Sector , highlights how a culture of cost excellence could redefine the future of mining in Saudi Arabia. The report introduces a four-part strategy designed...
