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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In protest over stalled pay negotiations, Rio Tinto workers at the Gove bauxite mining operation have planned to take industrial action. According to the union, workers have not been paid a raise in three years as the company has put off talks on a new enterprise agreement. Lloyd Pumpa, the United Workers union organiser, said, "All our members in Gove wanted out of this bargaining process was a few clauses tidied up and a reasonable wage increase afforded to them, at a mine which has constantly met or exceeded production targets for years." "Workers are completely fed up with the blown-out process”, Pumpa added. Pumpa said that protected industrial action across Gove operations was now ‘imminent’. Gove Operations in Australia’s Northern Territory has been supplying the global aluminium...
On October 25, 2022, International Materials LLC (IMI), the dry commodity trading company sourcing and shipping raw materials globally, like bauxite, among others, announced the appointment of Michael R. Kirby as Chief Financial Officer, w.e.f. October 31, 2022. Kirby will succeed Dan O’Bryon, who stepped down from his position after seven years of service to IMI. Michael Kirby brings over 25 years of experience across the financial services, commodities, banking, and technology industries. He was in the U.S., London, and Hong Kong while holding Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer positions within Noble Group, James Alpha Liquid GSE, and RBS Sempra Commodities. However, he successfully led the divestment of four Noble Group businesses at Noble, three of which generated...
On October 24, 2022, Luhut Pandjaitan, the Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Indonesia, stated that the island nation's export is anticipated to cross $300 billion by 2024 as the government is getting ready to ban bauxite exports, among other commodities, to encourage investment in local manufacturing sectors. He further added that exports could surpass a record $280 billion this year, with nickel-based steel shipments growing sharply after the country banned nickel ore exports. In contrast, loads of other commodities got a boost from high prices. Indonesia lacked alumina production due to a lack of infrastructure development. However, in 2015, Indonesia’s first alumina refinery started its commercial operations. The second phase of a China Hongqiao Group alumina...
The African-focused mineral exploration company Canyon Resources has been granted a 'Certificate of Environmental Compliance' (CEC) for its world-class Minim-Martap Bauxite Project by the Ministry of Environment. A detailed Environmental Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was conducted by Canyon Resources (Canyon) through its 100% owned subsidiary Camalco S.A. The ESIA included extensive public consultation of multiple stakeholders and related communities. Jean-Sebastien Boutet, the Chief Executive Officer, said: “It is gratifying to see the steady progress occurring because of our rigorous and systematic approach. Signing the Certificate of Environmental Compliance is another demonstration of the momentum the company is building through our positive interaction with all stakeholders in...
Lately, intuitiveness and acuteness combined with exhaustive experience in conveyor belt maintenance and repair tasks shaved off prospective mishap proceedings just before the last minute. The Rio Tinto Australia Gove (RTAG) bauxite operations in Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, are bound by only one vital conveyor belt connecting the mine pit to the port. Accidental maintenance failures outside usually lined-up downtime stoppages for this crucial conveyor system established enhanced safety risks to onsite teams and are incredibly big-budgeted and unwanted. At the high end of Australia, Rio Tinto’s Gove operation exports just less than 12 million tonnes of some of the world’s premium quality bauxite globally. The C6-7 artery belt delivers 1750 tonnes per hour from the mine to the port to...
On 7 th October 2022, Canyon Resources announced the commencement of resource definition activities on the Makan Bauxite Permit (Permit), an adjacent exploration to the Minim Martap Bauxite Project. As of yet, the Makan Permit hasn't been explored as extensively as the Ngaoundal and Minim Martap Permits, so exploration activities will focus on defining sufficient bauxite mineralization for the Minim Martap Bauxite Project's sustainable long-term Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) operations. In accordance with the terms of the extension granted in February 2022, the exploration activities planned will satisfy the requirements to maintain the permit. The program aims to increase the contribution of the permit to the Minim Martap mining schedule by improving the resource on this ground. A target...
Norsk Hydro's local unit, Hydro Paragominas, is investing 590 million reais ($114 million) in the M5 bauxite mining project in northern Brazil's Pará state. Norsk Hydro-owned Hydro Paragominas has contributed significantly to the economic and social development of Paragominas for 15 years and intends to continue its sustainable bauxite mining operations. Miltônia 5 (M5) represents the objective of an investment of approximately BRL 590 million (about US$114 million) in a new mining front beginning in 2023 while remarking by ensuring that mining is conducted with respect and care for the environment. Anderson Martins, the Director of Hydro Paragominas, said, "This new mining front consists of the construction of an access road and infrastructure to support the operation." "The work is...
As part of a fast-track EPC project in Guinea, TAKRAF will supply two conveyors to Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG). In Phase 2 expansion, this conveyor system package was brought forward, and TAKRAF's award follows the successful execution of an EPC contract for Phase 1 of that project at the end of 2016. Earlier this year, the EPC order was received. One conveyor is expected to be commissioned at the end of the year, followed by the second shortly thereafter. The contract's scope covers replacing two existing conveyors to serve for the upcoming and planned Phase 2 expansion, which aims to increase bauxite production capacity to 5,400 tonnes per hour. TAKRAF supplies both conveyors as complete new installations from the head to the tail end, packed with various other unique...
On 21 st September, the President of the West African nation Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, declared during the 77 th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Ghana is developing an integrated bauxite and aluminium industry. He added that Ghana was refining its natural resources - especially gold- and processing more of its cocoa. The President also said Ghana is committed to exploiting its lithium deposits. "We are building an integrated bauxite and aluminium industry, an integrated iron and steel industry, and new oil refineries. We have already enticed six (6) of the biggest automobile manufacturers to set up assembly plants in Ghana before assembling and manufacturing them there," he stated. "Creating a single market is a key to achieving the country's industrialization...
General Administration of Customs showed China’s bauxite imports continued to total above 10 million tonnes in August 2022. As per the data revealed, the country imported 10.75 million tonnes of the ore, which reflected an increase of 1.48 per cent month-on-month and 23.53 per cent over the year. Guinea, Australia, Indonesia, and Montenegro were the key suppliers of bauxite to China in the said month. From Guinea, China’s bauxite imports in August stood 5.39 per cent higher month-on-month and 43.46 per cent year-on-year to 6.26 million tonnes. Newly established alumina refineries in China, such as Bosai, Wanzhou, and Wenfeng are using Guinea ore, contributing to the growth in bauxite imports. Moreover, due to the repeated ban on Indonesian bauxite exports, China’s domestic refineries have...
The United States imports of crude and dried bauxite continued to roll down through the past three quarters, starting Q4 2021. According to the data shown by the US Census Bureau, the country’s crude and dried bauxite imports has recorded a quarterly fall of 92,000 tonnes or 12.50 per cent for 2Q2022 to 644,000 tonnes. In Q1 of the year, the imports stood at 736,000 tonnes, down by 6.12 per cent from 784,000 tonnes in the previous quarter. On a year-on-year calculation, the United States’ crude and dried bauxite imports edged 9,000 tonnes or 12.26 per cent lower than 734,000 tonnes. In the first half of 2022, the United States imports totalled 1.38 million tonnes, which reflected a fall of 3.5 per cent from 1.43 million tonnes. Jamaica continued to be the primary provider of crude and...
The Guinean government hosted mining operators at the Prime Minister's office at the initiative of Prime Minister Bernard Goumou, accompanied by the Minister of Mines and Geology Moussa Magassouba and senior executives from his office. This meeting aimed to re-establish trust between mining operators and the government and restore confidence in the Guinea mining sector business. As a result, the government has initiated reforms promoting SME creation and environmental protection. The West African nation Guinea has the world's largest bauxite reserves and is also the biggest exporter of bauxite. The government's main request to operators now is to declare the quantity of bauxite leaving the country and follow the method introduced since the advent of the junta in power. The Minister of...
The Australian bauxite mining company Metro Mining has posted a loss of A$29.4 million for H1 2022 and as a result of poor weather conditions in Far North Queensland, production expectations have been marginally decreased for the entire year. Throughout 2022, Metro has experienced bad weather, with output also being negatively affected in May and June. Even so, Metro has taken proactive steps to reduce "uncertainty and volatility" by signing new freight contracts and foreign exchange agreements. Additionally, the company is planning to increase the capacity of the Bauxite Hills operation from 4Mt to 7Mt per annum, subject to financing. Simultaneously, the H1 2022 report showcases Metro Mining had improved figures from the previous period when the miner suffered an A$87 million loss. The...
The country in the South Pacific, Fiji, has reported that its bauxite exports to China have been halted for about three years. Jone Usamate, Fiji's Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, stated, "There have not been any shipments to China since 2019, and there are no shipments scheduled any time soon. Bauxite export depends on the world market price; if the price goes down, it affects the whole chain." "We had COVID-19 in China. That means the things you do, such as manufacturing, slow down a bit, and so when all that happens, it impacts whether it economically makes sense to send because transportation from here to China is quite expensive. When that happens, the bauxite payment is also affected", he added. Arum Exploration (Fiji) Limited is the company that holds the bauxite mining...
The curious part about the bauxite sector has always been what happens to a site when its mineral potential is lost. This week we had a chance to get answers to that question. Spread over 6 hectares of Hindalco’s Samri bauxite mine was transformed into a tea garden, bio-diversity park and grove. West Africa LNG Group (WALNG) has developed an LNG import terminal and distribution network in Guinea, enabling them to run for equity financing after getting a feasibility test funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). An environmental NGO, A Rocha Ghana, urged the Ghana government and the Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) to repeal the decision to mine bauxite in the Atewa forest. To know more:...
As Adani Group charts an entry into the alumina refining sector and existing players seek to expand capacity, the following auction for bauxite blocks in Odisha may see strong interest. Hemant Sharma, the Principal Secretary of the Odisha Industries Department, said three bauxite blocks had been scheduled for auctions this year. Adani Group will be establishing a 4-MTPA alumina refinery and may enter aluminium production; hence it is anticipated to bid for mines. However, raw material linkages will be available to Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). Raw material security may be necessary due to the scale of the proposed project. Jayanta Roy, the Senior Vice-President at ICRA, said, "Securing bauxite supply will be a key success factor for the alumina project since almost 3 tonnes of bauxite...
NALCO-operated Panchpatmali Bauxite Mine has secured the prestigious Greentech Quality and Innovation Awards 2022 for its outstanding achievements in the 'Quality Improvement in Processes' category. Greentech Foundation presented the award during its occasion at Taj Vivanta, Guwahati. Greentech Quality and Innovations Awards have been instituted to encourage and motivate to boost improvements and implementation of processes in manufacturing process/service delivery aligned to stakeholders. Greentech "Quality and Innovation Awards" is presented to companies/organizations to recognize their outstanding achievements in total quality and innovation. On Panchpatmali hills of Koraput district in Odisha, a fully mechanized opencast mine has been operating since November 1985, serving feedstock...
The Akufo-Addo government in Ghana has inked an agreement with Messrs Thelo DB Consortium of South Africa and Ghanaian firm Transtech Consult Limited for upgrading the Western Corridor railway track to simplify the coherent movement of freight as well as passengers. As part of the government's integrated aluminium industry promotion, the $3.2 billion project is a critical component of the first phase of the railway master plan. John-Peter Amewu, the Minister for Railway Development, stated, "The move would enable the government to extend the haulage of minerals resources to bauxite." "An efficient rail transportation system along the Western Corridor would reduce freight transport costs and fuel consumption", he added. In order to leverage West Africa's bauxite resources, GIADEC sought to...
