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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On the afternoon of March 15th, 2024, the inaugural meeting for the Qingzhen City Bauxite Recycling Project (Phase I: 500,000 tonnes Desulfurisation) of Guiyang Industrial and Commercial Assets Management Co., Ltd. took place successfully in the conference room of the project department situated at the construction site. The successful gathering of the project kick-off meeting signifies the commencement of the Qingzhen City Bauxite Recycling Project by the Municipal Industrial and Commercial Assets Company, propelling it into full-fledged construction mode. All company employees are committed to "focusing on deadlines, accelerating progress," and diligently advancing each task. They are dedicated to constructing a project of exceptional quality, marking a firm and significant initial...
The Chiefs and residents of Nyinahin-Mpasaaso recently convened for a vibrant durbar, extending a warm welcome to the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and Mytilineos S.A. into their community. This gathering marked the official announcement of Mytilineos as the strategic partner for developing select portions of Nyinahin's bauxite resources and constructing a refinery known as Project 3A. About Mytilineos S.A Mytilineos S.A, a multinational company specialising in industry and energy and listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, was greeted with great enthusiasm by the people of Nyinahin-Mpasaaso and neighbouring communities. The durbar grounds were excited as senior executives from GIADEC and Mytilineos were welcomed by the community. The Omanhene of the Mpasaso...
Hydro Paragominas, a mining enterprise centred on bauxite extraction in Paragominas (PA), marks its 17th anniversary this March with a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability. Spearheaded by Industrial Director Anderson Martins, the company is renowned for its continual pursuit of cutting-edge technologies that enhance its operations and foster sustainable growth within the region. Among its trailblazing initiatives is the remote operation of the D11 tracked tractor, one of the world's first experiments. According to Mine Operations Manager Edil Pimentel, this pioneering approach signifies a technological leap forward and fosters a more inclusive work environment. It opens doors for greater participation of women and individuals with disabilities in operating the equipment,...
According to US Geological Survey data, the United States crude and dried bauxite imports during the fourth quarter of 2023 amounted to 380,000 tonnes, reflecting a decline of 41.36 per cent over the quarter. The downtrend in quarterly imports continued from the third quarter, showcasing a drop of 11.59 per cent from 733,000 tonnes to 648,000 tonnes. Intermittently, in the second quarter of 2023, the United States crude and dried bauxite imports increased Q-o-Q by 58.66 per cent to stand at 733,000 tonnes, following a plunge of 38.97 per cent in the previous quarter to 462,000 tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, the US crude and dried bauxite imports in Q4 2023 slumped by 49.8 per cent from 757,000 to 380,000 tonnes. In the full-year 2023, the United States crude and dried bauxite imports...
In a groundbreaking development poised to transform the mining and shipping sectors in West Africa, Cosco Shipping Bulk Co., Ltd, CTC Mining (SL) Ltd, and Baometal Minerals International Trade Ltd have unveiled their collaboration on the ambitious CTC Port Loko Port Project. This trilateral pact represents a pivotal moment in advancing mineral resources and infrastructure in Sierra Leone and the wider region. Cosco Shipping Bulk Co., Ltd, China's premier state-owned shipping enterprise, stands out with its expansive fleet dedicated to dry bulk shipping. The company is renowned for its exceptional proficiency in worldwide dry bulk cargo logistics and port operations and is a pivotal force in the industry. CTC Mining (SL) Limited, headquartered in Sierra Leone, manages a significant bauxite...
The nationwide strike in the bauxite kingdom Guinea , which had brought the nation and its mining sector to a standstill since February 26, 2024, has been suspended by the country's trade unions, according to a statement released on February 28. The Guinean Trade Union Movement, representing various workers' unions, announced the suspension in light of the release of Sekou Jamal Pendessa, a detained union leader and a crucial demand of the unions. The unions expressed readiness to reopen negotiations with the government concerning their outstanding concerns . These encompass reducing food costs, easing internet constraints, and implementing a wage agreement established with the government in November. The strike caused disturbances at numerous mines in the world's leading bauxite...
The mining sector in Jamaica experienced an approximate 23.6 per cent growth during the final quarter of 2023. Crude bauxite production in the island nation experienced a notable decline of 27 per cent, leading to a decrease in the bauxite capacity utilization rate to 32.7 per cent, marking a drop of 12.1 percentage points. Dr Wayne Henry, the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), stated, " Alumina production grew by 32.9 per cent due to increased capacity utilisation at the Jamalco refinery. The alumina capacity utilisation rate increased to 39 per cent, up 9.6 percentage points compared with the corresponding quarter of 2022." Dr Henry remarked that this indicated a rise in alumina production.
During his State of the Nation address in Parliament on February 27, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, announced several initiatives to accelerate the nation's industrialisation agenda and ensure value for money. Among these measures, the government will establish a $450 million refinery dedicated to processing locally produced manganese. Additionally, a new Legislative Instrument will be enacted to prohibit the export of raw bauxite . Moreover, priority will be given to Ghanaian investors interested in acquiring Newmont Corporation's Akyem Mine, located in the Eastern Region. Indonesia has also banned bauxite export from the country in 2023. The President said, "We are implementing the Four Project Agenda of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation...
On February 26, 2024, workers in Guinea initiated a nationwide strike, causing closures of businesses and significant disruptions in the mining sector . Commencing an indefinite general strike marks a crucial challenge for the junta, which took control in 2021, instituting a ban on protests and stifling dissenting voices. Their demands included: Increased wages. The removal of internet restrictions. The liberation of a detained trade union leader. The strike ensued a week following the abrupt dissolution of the transitional government, which had been in power since July 2022, by the military junta without explanation. The junta additionally instructed the seizure of government members' passports and froze their bank accounts. In the seaside capital on February 26, 2024, police maintained...
Metso has secured an order for a single-stage semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) solution for a low-carbon aluminium industry project in China. Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for global aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries. It can improve its customers' energy and water efficiency, increase their productivity, and reduce environmental risks with its product and process expertise. Although the exact value remains undisclosed, the order has been recorded in the minerals segment's first-quarter 2024 orders received. The delivery from Metso encompasses six SAG mills boasting a total installed power of 45MW alongside a Mill Reline Machine (MRM). Comprehensive services ranging from engineering and manufacturing to...
Guinea is poised to secure approximately $4 billion in funding from the United Arab Emirates this week. Under the junta ruling since 2021, the government has strategically engaged with development funds and investors in Dubai to support key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Rose Pola Pricemou expressed optimism, confirming that the nation is on track to meet its financial goals. Pricemou is the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation. Notably, the funds include contributions from Gulf state investors, with major support from UAE state-owned Emirates Global Aluminium, a pivotal player in Guinea's bauxite-rich landscape. "We are in a good way to raise what we expect," Rose Pola Pricemou said to reporters late on February 15, after the meet-and-greet with...
Danaos, a Greek-owned company led by John Coustas and renowned for its container ship fleet, has extended its presence in the dry bulk sector by acquiring additional Capesize vessels. The company, which already operates seven such vessels, has purchased two more, built-in 2010 and 2011, for a total of $52.8 million. These vessels, known as Xin Hang from Jiangsu Steamship and Guo May from Foremost, are scheduled for delivery in April and July 2024, respectively. Danaos Corporation stands out as a prominent entity in large-size containership ownership, operating independently. Its primary business model involves leasing these vessels to major liner companies under secure, long-term agreements at predetermined rates. Distinguished by its cutting-edge shipping technology and an extensive...
A report revealed on Tuesday, February 6, that Shanghai Ace Investment & Development Co., Ltd., a China-based company engaged in supply chain logistics and supply chain implementation of the trading business, mulls over signing bauxite purchase and sale contracts with Alcoa World Alumina LLC and Shanxi Aokaida Chemical Co., Ltd. This contract's signing and smooth implementation is expected to enable Shanghai Ace Investment & Development Co., Ltd. to generate potential operating results. According to the deal, the company will provide transportation services before the cargo rights shift. The contract mentions a few clauses, such as, in case of any significant changes in the external macro environment, like alternations in relevant national policies, fluctuations in bauxite demand and...
In 2023, Chinalco Guinea's bauxite production and return volume reached a new high, leveraging the strategic deployment of overseas resources of Chinalco Group and Chinalco shares. As per the report, the company achieved 104.8 per cent of the annual target task, marking a new chapter in the development of the Bofa project in West Africa. This achievement was possible as Chinalco Guinea seized all favourable production opportunities. Chinalco Guinea also improved its supply capacity through various measures such as precise management, residual ore recovery, and strengthened technological transformation. The company deployed a team of personnel at the production line, scientifically designed more than 1400 mining machine operation belts, and efficiently improved work efficiency to ramp up...
The recent accident in Guinea with the fuel depot happened back in the middle of December, but the impact on bauxite deliveries to China has not yet come through. China recorded an increase in bauxite imports in January. The month saw about 12 million tonnes brought in, mainly from Guinea and Australia. The volume imported from Guinea rose compared to last year, with an increase of almost 180,000 tonnes compared to January 2023. However, the cargoes that arrived in China in January were shipped from Guinea in November or early December. We won't see the impact the accident had on the import statistics until the February numbers come in. We are not expecting or hearing of problems, even though there was an initial panic when the news came through. The market settled again fairly quickly....
On February 5, 2024, the Greece-based industrial conglomerate Mytilineos, focused on energy and metals, revealed that it secured a prospecting license from the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to explore and extract bauxite deposits in the Ninayhin-Mpasaso region. The signing event, graced by Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, occurred in Accra on January 26, 2024. Mytilineos emphasised the effectiveness of its Energy & Metals model and the positive synergies it brings. With a thorough grasp of Ghana's energy sector from numerous past projects, Mytilineos aims to replicate this successful model in Ghana. During the first 18 months of implementation, the company will conduct essential feasibility studies to verify reserves and establish mine operations. A...
Societe Miniere de Boke (SMB), the leading bauxite producer and exporter in Guinea, announced plans to invest up to $1 billion over the next five years. On February 5, 2024, Frederic Bouzigues, the CEO of SMB, stated that the investment aims to enhance its river terminals and acquire vessels. This initiative seeks to bolster exports, which achieved a record high in 2023. On the sidelines of an African mining conference, the CEO stated, "We can expect to increase exports by 10 million (metric tons) a year, starting at the end of this year." The company achieved a remarkable milestone in the previous year by producing and exporting a record 48 million tonnes of bauxite ore. This significant contribution aided the West African nation Guinea, which is prominently ranked among the world's...
Where does China get its bauxite from? Ask most industry people; the answer will likely be Domestic, Guinea and Australia. Other sources, such as Malaysia, are tiny, and Indonesia has disappeared from the import data. But another country has started to appear in the industry. The China team did a survey of alumina refineries in Shanxi and Henan the other day. The survey was about something else, but in the data, Ghana has become a bauxite supplier in at least 3 refineries. Other sources mentioned by the refineries included Sierra Leone and Brazil. The survey was looking at the inventory situation and production plans. The plants reported holding anything from 15 days supply up to about 75 days. The refinery running the high inventory level was also one of the smallest. Almost all...
