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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TraxIQ, a groundbreaking initiative by Anglo American Plc, a British multinational mining company with headquarters in London, has recently been introduced, aiming to revolutionise conventional quarrying and mining haulage practices. The project is spearheaded by Luke Smith, who serves as the Principal of Technology Development at Anglo American. Collaborating with key team members such as Anglo-American Venture Builder Aljoscha Gleser, TraxIQ is poised to bring innovation to the forefront of the quarrying and mining industries. Smith asserts that TraxIQ is advancing significantly towards a more intelligent, secure, and environmentally friendly future for the mining and quarrying industry. According to him, idle trucks translate to financial losses, and TraxIQ's autonomous vehicles are...
On December 7, 2023, BHP, one of the world's largest diversified mining companies, announced a significant reorganisation of its top leadership, forming a team equipped with the "optimal blend of skills and expertise" to execute its strategy and advance its growth initiatives. The new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be Vandita Pant, who currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). She will take over from David Lamont on March 1. Lamont, in turn, will continue to be associated with BHP until February 2025, serving as a senior executive officer in an advisory and projects capacity. Rug Udd is set to assume the role left vacant by Pant as the new chief commercial officer. Currently serving as BHP President of the Americas, Udd has successfully led the Jansen project to sanction...
As part of the long-term global decarbonisation strategy, Rio Tinto has approved the construction of a new 12.4 MW solar farm and 8.8MVa/2.1MWh of battery storage for renewable energy supply to Amrun bauxite mine near Weipa in Queensland. This initiative also represents Rio Tinto's ongoing efforts to reduce emissions at its Pacific bauxite, alumina, and aluminium operations. The solar farm and battery storage are jointly expected to substitute about 37 per cent of Amrun's diesel electricity consumption and cut annual CO2-equivalent emissions by 14,000 tonnes while adding to the existing 5.6MW of solar and 4MWh of battery power built for Rio Tinto's Weipa operations. Combined with the existing Weipa renewable power generation network, the solar farms will reduce Weipa Operations' diesel...
National Trust (NT), the largest supplier and importer of raw and value-added minerals in the United Arab Emirates, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Pakistani firm to establish a strategic partnership. The partnership aims to invest 30 million UAE Dirhams in the mining, acquiring, and processing bauxite (aluminium ore) in Punjab. This collaboration will potentially open up opportunities for exporting processed aluminium ore to the Middle East, thereby boosting bilateral trade and stimulating economic growth in the region. On November 27, the declaration was made by Kohinoor Spinning Mills Limited (KSML), keeping the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) as an audience. The statement released said: "We are in serious discussions with UAE and Pakistan-based stakeholders to...
On Thursday, November 23, Metro Mining Limited reported that its record production at Bauxite Hills mine made the sales target easily achievable. CEO and MD Simon Wensley said that the phased expansion to 5 million wet metric tonnes in August and September 2023 helped Bauxite Hills mine meet the annual sales target of 4.5 to 5 million tonnes by shipping 1.61 million wet metric tonnes through Q3 2023. This new production milestone gives confidence boost to achieve the 7 million tonnes a year output rate by 2024, said Simon Wensley in a statement. “The Metro team, together with our contract partners, have worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone. The rates currently being achieved provide high confidence that the 7mtpa production rate will be achieved in 2024.” Metro Mining achieved...
As the backbone of industries worldwide, aluminium is pivotal in modern technology, from laptops to spaceships. However, the key ingredient, bauxite, necessitates sustainable mining practices to mitigate adverse environmental and social impacts. Let's delve into the intricate world of bauxite mining, exploring its current landscape, challenges, and the promising realm of sustainability. Global production: According to AL Circle research team, there will be a 2.6 per cent increase in global bauxite production in 2023, with Australia and Guinea leading the charge. However, shifts in China's output and the decline in Malaysia's mining underscore the industry's evolving geography. India's growth highlights the sector's expanding footprint. If you want to know more about the top producers of...
The global bauxite mining industry is expanding due to many causes, including the increasing demand for aluminium products. Aluminium is a highly adaptable and low-density substance used in diverse sectors such as automotive, aircraft, construction, packaging, and consumer products. As the sectors mentioned above see ongoing expansion, there is a foreseeable rise in the demand for aluminium and its primary raw material, bauxite. As per AL Circle's "Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023" , the global bauxite supply is set to tread a growth path in 2023 with an estimated production of around 393 million tonnes. This is a 2.6 per cent increase over 2022, and this will be driven mainly by the two largest producers of bauxite in the world, viz. Australia and Guinea. Capacity ramp-ups and...
Ghana's efforts to enhance the value of its bauxite mining industry have taken a significant stride forward with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and its partner, Rocksure International, revealing the results of the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for Nyinahin Block B to President Akufo-Addo. Photo: GIADEC This specific block, covering Hills 4, 5, and 6 in the Ashanti region, plays a crucial role in Ghana's aspirations to improve its bauxite mining sector. President Akufo-Addo, recognizing the completion of the MRE, emphasized its pivotal role in advancing the establishment of a bauxite mine with a refining solution. The initiative aligns with Ghana's national objective of adding value to the bauxite mining industry. He commended the collaborative efforts of...
Suppose all currently operational mining sites in Brazil persist in their activities over the next few decades. In that case, it is projected that their emissions will amount to approximately 2.55 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 e), primarily attributed to the depletion of vegetation (0.87 Gt CO 2 eq) and soil (1.68 Gt CO 2 eq). In a research article featured in Communications Earth & Environment, scientists from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture at the University of São Paulo made calculations. They deduced that this quantity of CO 2 e is equivalent to approximately 5 per cent of the global yearly greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Brazil possesses vast mineral reserves, however, many of which remain underutilized. These resources encompass iron ore,...
Hydro Paragominas has come up with a smart solution for managing waste. The company is the country's second-largest bauxite producer and mines in Paragominas, Pará. They have found an innovative way to handle tailings (waste material from mining), which doesn't involve the risky use of tailings dams. This new approach is called the TDB (Tailings Dry Backfill) method. Here's how it works: Instead of traditional tailings dams, Hydro Paragominas now lets the tailings naturally dry in designated areas. Once dried, they use this material to fill in the pits from where they extracted the bauxite. This approach is the first of its kind in Brazil's bauxite industry and earned Hydro Paragominas the title of Company of the Year in the Mineral Sector's Environmental Governance category. Anderson...
Suriname's government has announced its intention to seek potential investors to develop bauxite projects in the Bakhuis area in the western part of the country. This move comes after several unsuccessful attempts dating back to the 1970s to initiate such projects in Suriname. The government cited the growing global population and the increasing need for climate adaptation as factors driving higher demand for aluminium in the coming decades. World Economics estimates Suriname's GDP to be $13 billion - 38 per cent larger than official estimates. Using IMF growth rate estimates, World Economics GDP data are used for 2023. The country started seeing a moderate economic recovery in 2022, with real GDP expanding by 2.4 per cent. However, high inflation and rapid currency depreciation remain...
ABx Group, an Australian company, is making big plans at its DL130 Bauxite Project in Tasmania. They are ready to dig up an extra 1,000 tonnes of bauxite in the December quarter. This bauxite will come from a new pit and go to two customers. This news follows their announcement in the September quarter about a deal with Adelaide Brighton Cement (ABCL) to supply bauxite over five years. ABCL is set to try out the bauxite material at their cement manufacturing site in Birkenhead. However, there are some delays with the mine lease application for DL130, pushing bauxite mining to the second quarter of 2024. In Queensland, at the Sunrise Bauxite Project, survey reports for the Bundaberg port lease area will start in December. The application to adjust the site boundary at the Bundaberg port is...
The Australian government has decided to double the funding for its Critical Minerals Facility, increasing it to A$2 billion (equivalent to $1.3 billion). The main aim of this move is to attract mining and processing companies, especially those from the United States, to set up their operations in Australia. This change in strategy comes as Australia expects a decrease in revenue from fossil fuel exports due to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Data from the government shows that Australia's exports of lithium were worth A$20 billion ($12 billion) in the year ending in June. According to government predictions, earnings from this sector could soon be on par with the earnings from thermal coal exports by 2028. Australia is also discussing creating a critical minerals task force...
In a recent development, the West Australian government has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding robust environmental standards in Alcoa's mining operations within the state's Jarrah forest. This commitment aims to prevent a potential legal issue impacting Alcoa's operations. This year, Alcoa faced challenges that prompted this proactive approach, including concerns about its impact on Perth's water supply, incomplete rehabilitation of cleared forest areas, and unauthorised construction near a vital drinking water dam. The state's environmental authority is set to decide by the end of the year whether to assess Alcoa's mining activities. By taking this step, the government is working to ensure that Alcoa can continue its operations without any legal impediments, thereby safeguarding...
The Anthony Albanese-led Australian government plans to re-evaluate the definition of 'critical minerals' to align with the strategic requirements of the nation's defence and trade allies. This revision may include domestically abundant resources such as bauxite, coking coal, and iron ore in the critical minerals list, as reported by an Australian business-focused, compact daily newspaper covering Australia's and the world's current business and economic affairs. In the last five years, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union have broadened their catalogue of minerals essential for national security and economic development. This expansion directly responds to apprehensions that China could exploit its control over mineral supply chains through coercion. Madeleine...
China’s primary aluminium input prices have resumed the market from a week-long Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Holiday on a high note. After remaining restrained for almost two months, China’s domestic bauxite prices have recorded a rise, particularly bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) Shanxi and bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) Henan, according to the Shanghai Metals Market. As of Monday, October 9, the former has increased by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 490 per tonne, and the latter has grown by RMB 5 per tonne to peg at RMB 500 per tonne. The average prices of the former are likely to range between RMB 480-500 per tonne, while that of the latter is estimated to hover around RMB 490-510 per tonne. The imported bauxite price has marked a rise of US$1.29 per tonne on October 9 to start the week at...
The Lam Dong Aluminium Company faces challenges in compensating and clearing sites, which could impact its future bauxite ore exploitation. The company's report reveals that, from 2020 to 2024, they planned to use 320.12 hectares of land, but only 248.8 hectares have been approved for land recovery. Out of this, 223.4 hectares are owned by individuals, and 25.4 hectares are forest land. Approximately 71 hectares, mainly forest land, remain uncompensated, managed by the Dam B'ri Protection Forest Management Board (13.4 hectares) and Vinh Tien Company and Vinh Loc Company (30.4 hectares). Currently, 7 out of 21 households have yet to accept the compensation and site clearance support plan, even though it was approved by the Bao Lam District People's Committee. In the 30.4 hectares of land...
Hindalco Industries Limited has officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Odisha Mining Corporation for long-term bauxite supply. This agreement marks the commencement of a sustainable partnership set to strengthen Hindalco's vision of excellence in the aluminium industry. Hindalco Industries, a powerhouse in aluminium production, unveiled its strategic plan to establish a cutting-edge 2 million-tonne alumina refinery and a state-of-the-art 150-MW power plant at Kansariguda in the Rayagada District. The heart of this collaboration lies in the long-term supply of bauxite ore, the lifeblood of aluminium production. Odisha Mining Corporation, renowned for its commitment to excellence, will play a pivotal role in fuelling Hindalco's ambitious venture. This MoU, a testament to...
