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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The United States bauxite imports in the second quarter of 2024 decreased year-on-year in response to a lower demand for raw materials on account of reduced output of primary aluminium during the same period. According to the United States Geological Survey, the United States' bauxite imports fell 28 per cent Y-o-Y, while primary aluminium production dropped 12 per cent in Q2 2024. The annual drop in the United States Q2 bauxite import volume also led to a fall in the total imports through H1 2024. From 1.2 million tonnes in H1 2023, the United States bauxite imports decreased to 1.03 million tonnes in H1 2024, reflecting a 14.17 per cent Y-o-Y fall. In Q2 2024, the United States bauxite imports stood at 527,000 tonnes, down by 28 per cent from 733,000 tonnes in Q2 2023. However, on a...
According to the General Administration of Customs, China's bauxite imports reached a historically high level for July 2024, with a month-on-month increase of 12.49 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 16.50 per cent. The import volume stood at 15.0007 million tonnes in July, compared to 13.3348 million tonnes a month ago. In June, the import volume was down by 1.58 per cent M-o-M, showed Customs data. From January to July 2024, China's total bauxite imports amounted to 92.3514 million tonnes, reflecting an annual increase of 8.7 per cent. Sources of imports In July 2024, Guinea, Australia, Turkey, Laos, Malaysia, Côte d'Ivoire, Montenegro, and Brazil were the major sources of China's bauxite imports. From Guinea, China imported 10.4897 million tonnes in July, up by 10.36 per cent M-o-M...
Over the weekend, Vietnam's Minister of Planning and Investment, Nguyễn Chí Dũng, inspected several Vietnamese-invested projects in southern Laos, acknowledging both the progress and the challenges these initiatives face. This transparency is crucial for our collective preparedness. The minister visited the construction site of the Kaleum coal mine and the proposed location for the Kaleum Coal-Fired Power Plant in Sekong Province. Phonesack Group will operate both projects. The coal mine boasts an annual production capacity of up to 20 million tonnes, of which three million tonnes are planned for export to Vietnam. The US$4.06-billion power plant project, led by the Petrovietnam Power Corporation (PV Power), is of strategic importance and is currently seeking financing partners for...
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development, popularly known as GIADEC, has announced its keen interest in expanding the country’s bauxite production and enhancing its capacity in line with the growing demand for primary aluminium raw materials. In June 2024, GIADEC received approval for a mining lease from the Ghana Parliament, which is expected to turn into a crucial development in the country’s mining sector. The approval for a new mining lease will likely boost local economies and employment, depending on how the mining operations are managed and regulated. Under the approval, GIADEC has added two new hills to mine bauxite in a bid to support the government and the people of Ghana. Bauxite mining at these two new hills will ensure to meet the most significant volume that GIADEC needs...
Ghana's President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has invited Chinese business leaders to participate actively in the country's ongoing economic transformation. Speaking at the China-Ghana Business Forum in Shenzhen, the President emphasised the strong and long-standing relationship between the two nations and highlighted Ghana's vast investment opportunities. With the country aiming to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on traditional exports like gold and cocoa, President Akufo-Addo stressed that Chinese investment would be pivotal in driving this shift. He noted that China, as one of Ghana's largest trading partners, plays a key role in the country's development strategy, and the active participation of Chinese investors can significantly shape Ghana's economic future. Ghana and...
The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, has announced considering expanding the country's mining operations with the help of U.S. Army engineers, focusing on the extraction of rare earth elements. Speaking at an event in New York, Abinader emphasised the nation's rich reserves of gold, silver, nickel, and bauxite, noting that rare earth elements—critical to high-tech industries—are often found within bauxite deposits. He underscored the importance of adhering to global mining standards, referencing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which the Dominican Republic adopted in 2016. The president pointed out that rare earth elements are essential for today's technology-driven world, making their exploration a priority for our country. He added that his...
Metro Mining Limited has significantly increased throughput rates at its Bauxite Hills operation in Western Australia. One of the biggest reasons was commissioning two new Cat 992 Wheel Loaders and installing a new screening system. The company introduced a new apron/wobbler feeder screening circuit in May, marking a key step in its expansion strategy. The integration and optimisation of the expansion are already yielding results, with Metro achieving a record monthly shipment of 720,000 tonnes (wet) in August 2024, a 13 per cent increase from July and a 29 per cent rise compared to July 2023, which AL Circle has already reported on September 6, 2024. This milestone came despite a two-day shutdown for conveyor belt replacements at the barge loading facility and planned transhippers...
The Australian bauxite miner Metro Mining achieved a new shipping milestone in August 2024, as expansion activities at its Bauxite Hills Mine in Queensland significantly boosted production. The company recorded a 13 per cent increase in shipments compared to July, with 720,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) shipped throughout the month. This marks a 29 per cent jump compared to the same period in 2023. Metro Mining sustained record shipments despite a two-day operational halt to replace conveyor belts at the barge loading facility and conduct planned maintenance on its transhippers. For the third quarter to date, shipments have reached 1.4 million WMT, while year-to-date production has climbed to 2.9 million WMT. The company also set a daily shipping record of 32,022 WMT. These achievements...
Brazilian mining company Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN), a joint venture between Glencore, Rio Tinto, and South32, announced on September 3, 2024, that it has received an initial license from the Brazilian environmental agency, Ibama. This approval marks a significant step towards extending the operational lifespan of its bauxite mining activities in northern Brazil. The license will enable MRN to continue extracting bauxite, a critical raw material in aluminium production, as the company seeks to maintain and expand its operations in the resource-rich region. Brazil's position in global bauxite production is noteworthy. It ranks among the top countries. However, as reported by USGS, Brazil's bauxite production stood at an impressive 31 million tonnes in 2023. Shareholding Structure of MRN...
The residents of Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua district of the Ashanti Region have made an urgent appeal to Parliament to ratify the Ashanti Bauxite Limited (ABL) Mining Lease as lawmakers assemble for an emergency session on September 3, 2024. During a protest march in Nyinahin, residents voiced their deep frustration over the ongoing delay in ratifying the lease, underlining the project's critical importance to the region's development. The demonstrators, led by spokesperson Dr Peter Twum, marched through the district capital, urging Parliament to expedite the ratification process. Dr Twum underscored the significance of the lease ratification, noting that it represents the final major hurdle in establishing a bauxite mine and refinery in Nyinahin and the surrounding communities. He...
The fourth largest railway network operator, Indian Railways' East Central Railway (ECR), reported a notable increase in income from all sources, including freight, during the first five months of the current financial year 2024-25. The railway zone's initial revenue reached INR 13,469 crore, marking a 5.75 per cent growth compared to the INR 12,737 crore earned during the same period last year. The East Central Railway (abbreviated ECR) is one of the 19 railway zones in India. From April to August 2024, East Central Railway successfully loaded 83.28 million tonnes of goods, a 2.46 per cent increase from the 81.28 million tonnes loaded in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. This growth underscores the railway's ongoing efforts to enhance its operational efficiency and...
The National Aluminium Company Limited’s subsidiary KABIL has reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Oil India Limited to explore and develop critical mineral projects jointly. Signed at NALCO’s headquarters in Bhubaneswar, the MoU aims to build a strong collaboration between KABIL and Oil India and foster teamwork in exploring critical minerals, domestically and internationally. According to the terms signed in the MoU, KABIL and Oil India will work together on existing and future projects, including identifying international critical mineral opportunities and jointly investing in selected ventures. This partnership will leverage the expertise of both companies to develop critical mineral projects and secure a reliable supply of these essential materials for India’s growing...
The Australian mining and exploration company based in Brisbane, Queensland, Metro Mining, is poised for significant growth as it moves towards increased production from Q4 2024. It has ambitious plans to expand its capacity to over 7 million tonnes per annum by 2025 and beyond. CEO Simon Wensley attributes the company's recent success to the strategic decision to mobilise and commission the offshore floating terminal (OFT) Ikamba. This key initiative was crucial in achieving record results in the second quarter. Despite its current market capitalisation of $231.64 million, Metro Mining remains steadfast in its commitment to driving organic growth, a strategy that will guide the miner as it navigates the future. The OFT, Ikamba, commenced operations on April 28, 2024. After an initial...
Guinea's bauxite exports have shown remarkable growth, marking a significant achievement in the global market. However, the country's bauxite exports are growing rapidly and being transported by Capesize bulkers. In 2023, Guinea exported a record 127 million tonnes of bauxite, an impressive increase of 25 million tonnes compared to the previous year. This surge represents a nearly 19.60 per cent year-on-year growth, bringing the country within 24.50 per cent of last year's total exports. Most of Guinea's bauxite is shipped to China, with the bulk of the exports departing from the ports of Kamsar, Boffa, Cap Verga, and Conakry. The continued expansion of Guinea's bauxite industry underscores the nation's growing importance in the global aluminium supply chain. According to research from...
The upstream sector of the global aluminium industry witnessed some important events this week. To begin with, LME aluminium price hit a 5-week high fuelled by the alumina shortage in China coupled with the weakening dollar that spurred fund buying. The price closed at US$2,435 per tonne after witnessing a growth of US$65.5 per tonne. The shortage of alumina, one of the key raw materials for producing aluminium, also created ripples in the China SMM market. China's domestic A00 aluminium ingot price had increased for the fifth consecutive day in tandem with the heightened price of the ore owing to tight supply and heightened demand. In July 2024, the world primary aluminium production saw a significant uptick, with strong output across all major metal-producing regions. According to the...
According to Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, the future of large-scale mining in Guyana appears increasingly promising. On August 21, 2024, Minister Bharrat highlighted the resurgence of the mining sector, particularly in Region 10, where bauxite mining is experiencing a significant revival. This turnaround is boosting the local economy and generating much-needed employment opportunities for residents. Additionally, the manganese industry in Region One (Barima/Waini) is on an upward trajectory, with increased production and job creation, especially in the sub-districts of Matthew’s Ridge and Port Kaituma. Minister Bharrat encouraged more individuals to seize the growing opportunities in the mining sector, underscoring its potential to drive economic growth and development...
The eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has taken a significant step toward imposing new taxes on mineral production, a move poised to increase the prices of key resources such as coal to bauxite. According to sources familiar with the matter, the state assembly has passed the Jharkhand Mineral Bearing Land Cess Bill, which now awaits the governor's assent before becoming law. Once enacted, the bill will impose a tax of INR 100 ($1.19) per tonne on coal and iron ore production. Jharkhand, a key player in the Indian mineral industry, is one of the nation's leading coal-producing states and rich in iron ore, bauxite, and manganese reserves. This legislative move follows a recent Supreme Court of India ruling that granted Indian states the authority to impose additional levies on mining...
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) 's decisive action against Mumbai-based Ashapura Meinchem Limited for environmental violations is a major development in India's mining sector. The tribunal's scrutiny comes in response to severe accusations of non-compliance with specific conditions outlined in the Environmental Clearance (EC) the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) granted to the company, as reported by Free Press Journal. Ashapura Meinchem Limited, a flagship entity of the Ashapura Group and India's leading mine owner and exporter of bentonite, has been carrying out bauxite mining operations in UmberShet, Dapoli, located in the ecologically sensitive Ratnagiri district since February 24, 2016. The NGT's intervention was prompted by reports of the company's alleged disregard for...
