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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After a long wait of over two years for a bullish metal market, added with a recent push from the central government, the government of Odisha has given in on the approval of the proposal of the Steel and Mines department for the auction of 10 mineral blocks in the state. Among the ten blocks, the state government has nodded on the auction of four iron ore mines - Koira in Sundargarh district, and Roida-1, Putulipani and Jalahuri in Keonjhar district. These mine blocks lost their leasing tenure in 2021. Apart from these, a virgin mine, the Jhumka-Pathiriposhi West iron ore block in Sundargarh is put up for auction this time. The auction is also to feature two virgin bauxite blocks at Karlapat in the Kalahandi district and Nunapaimali in the Rayagada district. “The decision to go for...
This week has been highly eventful for the upstream aluminium industry, especially the bauxite sector, which has dominated the headlines. Key highlights include Metro Mining's record-breaking bauxite production, Ukraine's seizure of $50 million worth of raw materials from Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, an increase in bauxite shipments on Capesize vessels surpassing coal, and the successful completion of Canyon’s RC and diamond drilling program at the Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon. Alumina and primary aluminium sectors also did make to some of the top headlines this week, such as Vedanta’s 1 lakh crore dream project of an alumina refinery and aluminium smelter coming to fruition, a 2.6 per cent year-over-year increase in alumina production in 2024,, NALCO’s share price rising by...
Canyon Resources Limited, an Australia-based bauxite resource development and exploration company, has reportedly completed Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling and Diamond drilling programme at its Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon. The RC and Diamond drilling program involves conducting reverse circulation drilling first to obtain preliminary geological data, followed by diamond drilling to collect high-quality core samples. Image source: Canyon Resources Within the four months since the signing of the Mining License for its Minim Martap Bauxite Project, Canyon Resources has successfully accomplished its initial drilling targets and recovered outstanding drill core samples upon completing the RC & Diamond drilling programme. By the first half of 2025, the results of the drilling...
Ukraine has confiscated raw material worth 2.11 billion hryvnias (US$50.3 million) from Russian aluminium magnate Oleg Deripaska, reports Moscow Times. On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny (SBU) or the Security Service of Ukraine said that the incident ensued after two years of blocking their shipment. The security service has also disclosed that it seized close to 500,000 tonnes of bauxite and alumina that were stored at the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, which Ukraine nationalised alongside other Deripaska-owned factories following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The ore was produced in Ukraine before Russia launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, mentioned the security service agency. Image Source: Wikipedia In early 2023, Ukrainian law enforcement, with the Security...
Arrow Minerals Limited, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company, has announced that it has secured firm commitments from institutional and sophisticated investors for a capital raise of approximately $7 million through a Placement. Arrow Minerals Limited is a dynamic exploration and development company dedicated to creating long-term shareholder value by uncovering and advancing economically viable mineral deposits in West Africa. *According to a survey by the Australian government, Australian firms have nearly tripled their commercial interests in Africa over the past few years. This expansion has been remarkable, with 48 companies and 143 new projects launched in 2010 alone. The continent now hosts more Australian mineral and resource projects than any other region, spanning...
Technical advancement in any industrial sector is the secret agent steering the business forward. From implementing artificial technology to indulging in advanced machinery, the aluminium industry has similarly progressed through the path of time, overcoming numerous snags along the route. Here, we are to recapitulate the top five technological advancements that have shaped the growth of the industry in one way or another. Metso’s innovative single-stage SAG mill solution In February 2025, Metso secured a landmark order for a single-stage semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) solution for a low-carbon aluminium project in China. The comprehensive delivery includes six SAG mills with a total installed power of 45MW, along with a Mill Reline Machine (MRM). Metso’s commitment to technological...
The Australian mining and exploration company Metro Mining Limited has published its Q4 2024 operational update. As announced on January 6, 2025, the Bauxite Hills Mine has successfully demonstrated its capability to consistently operate at the expanded target rate of 7 million wet metric tonnes (WMT) per annum. However, despite challenging weather conditions in December 2024, which led to the cancellation of the final vessel in the shipping schedule, total shipments for Q4 reached 2.1 million WMT . For the full calendar year, the Company achieved total shipments of 5.7 million WMT. Another important aspect that happened during the quarter was that Metro successfully refinanced its senior debt and private royalty obligations held by Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund I, LP and Nebari...
According to shipbroker Arrow, the surge in bauxite demand in China has resulted in capesize fleet carrying more bauxite than coal for the first time. The capesize vessels are traditionally used for coal shipments, but now, due to increased demand for the ore in the Chinese market, they are being repurposed to carry larger volumes of bauxite. Image source: MarineLink Arrow stated in a report that bauxite shipment from Guinea to China surged at the beginning of the year as panamaxes vessels cannibalised capesize coal cargoes. That made bauxite the second-largest capesize commodity after iron ore. In 2024, China imported 159 million tonnes of bauxite, up by 18 million tonnes from 2023, with 77 per cent of all shipments carried out on capes, leading to Guinea's higher capesize share of...
The conversation around bauxite mining in Western Australia (WA) is heating up, with politicians and stakeholders engaging in a spirited debate over its future. The Greens have proposed a bold plan to phase out bauxite mining in WA’s native forests, aiming to preserve the region's rich biodiversity and water resources. AI generated image for referential purposes only However, industry leaders, workers, and the state government see a different path — one that balances environmental stewardship with economic vitality. A vision for sustainability The Greens have committed to banning new bauxite mining in WA’s native forests and gradually winding down existing operations over the next decade. They emphasise the irreplaceable value of WA’s South West forests for climate regulation, water...
The share value of a leading mining company, based in India, specialising in the extraction, manufacturing, and trading of minerals and their derivative products, surged by 10 per cent following the signing of a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Railway. Price hike stance With a market capitalisation of INR 5,075.30 crore (approx. US$618.94 million) as of Monday, shares of Ashapura Minechem Ltd (NSE: ASHM) rose by 10 per cent, reaching a high of INR 571.55 (USD 6.62) per share compared to the previous closing price of INR 519.60 (USD 6.02) per share. The back story Ashapura Minechem Limited, through its overseas subsidiary, has been bound in a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Railway. The company specialises in the mining, manufacturing, and...
Bauxite mining rights across two blocks in Kasaragod are set to be auctioned soon. The State government is finalising the auction process for bauxite deposits in the Narala block, covering an area of 1.5 square kilometres in Mulleria and a 2.8 square kilometres area in the Ukkinadka block located in the villages of Badiyadukka and Enmakaje in Manjeswaram taluk. Both government agencies and private entities will be eligible to bid for the mining rights. Additionally, the State government is actively considering a proposal to explore minerals from the platinum group. The decision to auction bauxite mining rights was taken after studies conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) confirmed the presence of commercially exploitable mineral deposits. Bauxite, a naturally occurring...
Metlen Energy & Metals, an Athens-listed group, has asserted a substantial investment of 295.5 million euros aimed at the development of an incorporated bauxite, alumina and gallium production line. Image Source: https://www.metlengroup.com/ The investment was approved on January 16, 2025, during the joint session with the enterprise’s Capital Allocation Committee (CAC) and is going to be for the historic Aluminium of Greece plant in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia. Evangelos Mytilineos, Metlen President and CEO stated: “Metlen’s decision to proceed with the implementation of a new, emblematic industrial investment for the production of bauxite, alumina and gallium strengthens Europe’s self-sufficiency in critical raw materials, as well as Greece’s strategic position on the world map. It also...
On January 17, 2025, the India-headquartered Ashapura Minechem Ltd, a leading bauxite exporter, announced that its overseas subsidiary had signed a long-term memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Railway. The agreement establishes a strategic partnership to collaboratively develop the bauxite deposit in Guinea's Kindia region. This strategic alliance reflects Ashapura's vision of expanding its footprint in the global bauxite market. It highlights the increasing importance of cross-border collaborations in the mining sector to meet global resource demands. In a regulatory filing, Ashapura Minechem stated, "We wish to inform you that the company’s overseas subsidiary has entered into a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Railway, a Global Fortune 500 Company, to...
Rio Tinto, a leading global mining group focused on finding, mining and processing the Earth's mineral resources, has wrapped up another year with impressive operation growth, as highlighted by its CY2024 results. From production volume to energy efficiency or safety measures, the company has demonstrated tangible improvements across all areas. Production overview In the full year 2024, Rio Tinto's bauxite production summed up at 58.7 million tonnes, reflecting a 7.5 per cent year-on-year rise from 54.6 million tonnes in 2023, following an annual increase of 2 per cent in the final quarter (Q4) output to 15.4 million tonnes, attributed to the implementation of the Safe Production System, delivering record annual production at Amrun and Gove. The company's aluminium production also grew in...
The Guyana Government has revealed that the bauxite mining business is back with a bang as 2024 witnessed a new high of production inflation amounting to 225 per cent as compared to 2023, with 1.7 million tonnes produced from the two overseas companies that mine in the nation. “Bauxite has been a success story over the last few years. In 2023, the production of bauxite was at 523,732 tonnes,” Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said during his ministry’s annual review press conference. Image Source: https://www.kayak.co.in/Guyana.103.dc.guide Earlier in January, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali , President of Guyana, proudly commented during his official statement on the substantial improvement of bauxite production in the country during his tenure. In his statement, he mentioned the...
While bauxite plays a crucial role in the global economic and trade landscape, the mining of the substance should not ideally pose a threat to humanity. Guinean bauxite mining, especially when coming to German firms, has long seen a different reality. Image Source: https://www.energymonitor.ai/ For quite some time, Germany’s lion’s share of its bauxite import has been from the African state of Guinea. In 2016, the German commercial bank ING DiBa provided the largest single credit of a consortium (including the World Bank Group) loan of over €248 million for the expansion of a bauxite mine through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, also known as BMWK, through ‘guarantees for untied financial loans’, reserving 15 per cent of the mine’s annual output. According to...
This week the upstream sector of the global aluminium industry witnessed many significant events. News of new highs, marginal misses, financial results, etc, have kept the industry on its toes. To begin with, Metro Mining has reached a new annual milestone, shipping 5.7 million tonnes of wet bauxite in 2024. This reflected a 24 per cent increase in yearly shipments, driven by consistent month-on-month growth since August. Vedanta Aluminium has proudly secured second place in the esteemed S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) for the global aluminium industry. Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has once again set a new record for aluminium production in 2024. On Thursday, January 9, the company achieved 1,622,261 tonnes of net finished production for the year. Metro Mining has...
Alaska boasts deposits of 49 of the 50 minerals deemed critical to the United States economy, national security, and clean energy ambitions. Yet, many of these vital resources do not reside within traditional ore deposits. Instead, they are often byproducts of conventionally mined metals such as copper, gold, silver, and zinc or are associated with vast coal and carbon ore reserves scattered across the state. Image Source: https://www.ey.com/ To unlock Alaska’s potential as a major domestic supplier of critical minerals, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated $7.5 million to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). This funding will support regional-scale assessments of critical minerals across Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, which includes the states of Oregon and...
