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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Metro Mining Limited (Metro) has been registered as the latest member of the Australian Aluminium Council, representing Australia’s bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting and downstream processing industries. Globally acknowledged Western Cape York bauxite region in Queensland houses Metro Mining’s forerunner, the Bauxite Hills mine, which is one of the largest independent projects in the area. The Bauxite Hills mine has a calculated 101.5 million tonnes reserve and a total mining capacity of 131.2 million tonnes. Metro has forecasted production of 3.8 million tonnes in 2022 from its flagship, Bauxite Hills and a future escalation to 6 million tonnes per year. Since 1955, the aluminium industry has been flourishing in Australia, and over the last ten years, it has been the...
According to the data published by the US Census Bureau, the United States crude and dried bauxite imports amounted to 736,000 tonnes during the first quarter of 2022, which registered a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 48,000 tonnes or 6.12 per cent from 784,000 tonnes. However, on a year-on-year basis, the import volume rose 5.90 per cent or 41,000 tonnes from 695,000 tonnes. Jamaica continued to be the highest exporter of bauxite to the United States during 1Q2022, although it recorded a fall in the volume. Compared to 709,000 tonnes in Q4 2021, bauxite exports from Jamaica to the US in Q1 2022 stood at 622,000 tonnes. That was a sharp fall of 87,000 tonnes or 12.27 per cent on a quarterly basis. According to the Bureau’s data, Jamaica’s bauxite exports to the US also dropped over the...
The Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon has undergone a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), determining that it has a primary twenty-year mine life, with the endeavour estimated to produce high-grade bauxite worth 6.4 million tonnes per year. The CEO of Canyon, Jean Sebastien Boutet exclaimed: “The BFS demonstrates that the Minim Martap bauxite project is a robust and profitable long-term mining project that will be exporting some of the world’s highest grade alumina combined with low silica for many years. Despite the difficulties of Covid-19 and current global inflationary pressures, the Canyon team along with our project partners have produced a study that has reduced the project risk and will increase the confidence of potential strategic partners looking to invest in the Minim...
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been urged to reject South32's plans to expand its Worsley bauxite and alumina project in Western Australia’s (WA) South West which would clear more than 4000 hectares of native vegetation. The updated plan, which the EPA made available for public comment on June 20, highlighted mainly expanding Worsley's Boddington bauxite mine but also laid emphasis on the removal of land for brand-new transportation routes and storage and upkeep activities at the alumina refinery farther north. “The Environmental Protection Authority must make a decision that is in step with the views of ordinary West Australians in rejecting this proposal – not just on conservation grounds, but to avert the considerable pollution and emissions that will result and hold...
According to the data revealed by the General Administration of Customs on Wednesday, June 22, China’s bauxite imports recorded a historical high, totalling 11.97 million tonnes in May 2022. That was an increase of 7.6 per cent month-on-month and a hike of 31.4 per cent over a year. Australia stood as the leading exporter of bauxite ore to China in May, providing 3.09 million tonnes. On a month-on-month calculation, that was down by 0.95 per cent but registered a hike of 26.6 per cent over the year. As per General Customs, bauxite supply from Australia to China was relatively stable in May after seasonal fall at the beginning of the year. During the second quarter of 2022, Australia’s bauxite production increased, hence, the imports to China. Guinea, the second-largest exporter of bauxite...
Bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5 and alumina content of 58 per cent was sold between RMB 425 per tonne to RMB 450 per tonne (including VAT, except resource tax, delivery to factory) in north Shanxi as of June 17. On the same day in Xiaoyi, Shanxi, it was traded between RMB 435 per tonne to RMB 475 per tonne. Bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 4 and alumina concentration of 58 per cent was traded between RMB 435 per tonne to RMB 480 per tonne in Sanmenxia, Henan (excluding resource tax, including VAT, delivery to factory). Domestic bauxite prices in the northern areas have risen somewhat this month, from RMB 5 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne, since obtaining bauxite has become increasingly difficult for alumina mills. Bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5.5 was sold for RMB 325 per tonne to RMB 370...
As per our report from Guinea, the leader of the union, Yamoussa Bangoura on 6th June 2022, announced the strike at Rusal's subsidiary in Guinea, Compagnie des Bauxites de Dian-Dian (COBAD) has ended indeed. After a week of protest action, the mine employees returned to work on 2nd June. COBAD workers went on strike on May 26 calling for better wages and conditions. “We obtained a 5% increase on our base salary, housing allowance and guarantees for medical treatment,” Yamoussa Bangoura said. Guinea ranks within the top three in the global bauxite production and stands at number one when it comes to bauxite exportation. The nation is the key supplier of bauxite to China, the world's largest aluminium producer and also supplies the aluminium ore to Russia, UAE, etc. According to statistical...
The world’s largest bauxite exporter and with huge reserves of other minerals, Guinea has made public the infrastructure development of a $300 million phased Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) provision and distribution network which incorporates a full-service LNG receiving terminal, a liquefaction plant and an export terminal. The large-scale project, classified the Guinea LNG Project, will be positioned at the Port of Kamsar on the northeastern coast of Guinea and is being unfolded by the West Africa LNG Group – a comprehensive natural gas-based fuels products and services company specializing in customized turnkey solutions for its customers and a purpose-built corporate entity by a development firm, AfricaGlobal Schaffer (AfGS). As a result of new government-led incentives, the move aims to...
According to the aluminium industry experts, Indonesia's decision to ban sending out bauxite, an essential input for aluminium, will have no genuine effect on the Chinese aluminium sector, as aluminium producers have expanded their sources and fortified the utilization of aluminium recycling. Bahlil Lahadalia, the Minister of Investment/Chairman of Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board lately said, “The government would ban exports of bauxite this year to support the development of the downstream mining industry. The minister did not give an exact time for the ban to take effect.” The communication apprehended the consideration of the industry precisely for the potential interruptions in China's aluminium supply, particularly for a few downstream businesses such as electric vehicles and...
The Jamaican Transport and Mines Minister, Audley Shaw stated that the Russian aluminium giant and one of the leading producers of aluminium in the world, Rusal has kept its commitment to payments to Jamaica as a part of a 2021 agreement to pay off production taxes it obliges to the government. The minister further added by saying “Rusal has so far paid about 45% of a $35 million bauxite production tax it owes Kingston. They are up to date with their payments and they have been consistent." “As part of the 2021 deal, Rusal paid the government 40% of the debt upfront last fall and then agreed to make 30 monthly payments starting in November 2021. They stuck to the deal.” The geopolitical tension has levied international sanctions on some Russian-based companies. However, Rusal does not...
Rio Tinto and British Petroleum (bp) have agreed to collaborate on a one-year biofuel trial to assist Rio Tinto's marine fleet to reduce carbon emissions. British Petroleum will supply marine biofuel to Rio Tinto as part of the trial for approximately 12 months. The findings from the trial will be used to research strategies to minimise carbon emissions from its marine fleet and shape its future biofuel strategy. The fuel will be tested on Rio Tinto’s RTM Tasman vessel on a mix of Transatlantic and Atlantic-Pacific itineraries. This will be one of the longest-duration marine biofuel trials to date. The project is employing a B30 biofuel blend made by bp that contains 30 per cent fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and extremely low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). When compared to regular marine...
The Andhra Pradesh state government has achieved a major victory against Ras-Al-Khaimah Investment Authority’s (RAKIA) $273 million damage claim by over cancellation of the Bauxite Supply Agreement (BSA) inked by AP Mineral Development Corporation in October 2008. RAKIA, Penna Group and the Andhra Pradesh government signed a memorandum of understanding in 2007 to supply bauxite ore to the alumina refinery at Makavarapalem near Visakhapatnam. However, according to the BSA undertakings, it was to supply 224 million tonnes from Jerrela Group of Mines located in the Chintapalli Reserve Forest. The agreement was discarded when the state government was replaced in April 2016 alleging irregularities in the allotment. A notice calling for arbitration was served citing violations of the UN-UAE...
The Finnish industrial machinery company focusing on providing technology and services for mining, Metso Outotec and the national science agency of Australia, CSIRO, have joined hands to sign a treaty delivering SwirlFlow agitation technology for the bauxite and alumina sector beyond the Chinese territory. Both companies with elevated levels of proficiency in their respective genres will arm the partnership to introduce the best offers for the market concerning the usage of the SwirlFlow technology in the refinery precipitation tanks, as was narrated by Metso Outotec. Dr. Alessio Scarsella, the Director of Light Metals at Metso Outotec, exclaimed: “Sustainability is a top priority for Metso Outotec.” “In addition to our investments to develop technology for sustainable alumina processing,...
According to a report published on Friday, May 13, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Chhattisgarh Council of Science and Technology (CGCOST), Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), and Ministry of Mines on Wednesday, May 11, for conducting a geotechnical evaluation of bauxite deposits in Chhattisgarh. The project is called Geotechnical Evaluation of Bauxite Reserves in Chhattisgarh. As part of the project, CGCOST and JNARDDC will together prepare a district-wise digital database of bauxite and laterite deposits using a geo-referenced map and make an assessment of the deposits leveraging space technology. The reason behind this project is to explore more bauxite deposits as the domestic aluminium industry is facing a...
New mineral reserves costing over US$ 28.7 billion have been unearthed in Iran by data submitted through the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). Rigorous mining expeditions for eight years in Iran have accumulated in IMIDRO’s latest exploration data which shows that the country is fostering 977 million tonnes of virgin iron ore reserves, 496 million tonnes of untouched coal reserves and 182 tonnes of new gold reserves. The excavation began in the year 2013, March 21st (1392, Iranian Calendar) and continued till 20th March 2022 (1400, Iranian Calendar). The mined area also has been conserving other mineral reserves such as 363 million tonnes of brine, 103 million tonnes of barite, 85 million rare earth elements, 6 million tonnes of antimony...
The principal raw material used in the production of aluminium is bauxite and it is used for both metal supply and non-metallurgical needs. As residually enriched rocks, bauxites are composed primarily of Al-hydroxides (gibbsite, boehmite, and diaspore), kaolinite, Fe-oxy-hydroxides, and Ti-oxides, which are produced by the lateritic weathering of aluminosilicate protoliths. Humid, tropical, and subtropical climates are generally conducive to lateritic weathering and bauxite formation. In addition to its multipurpose uses in metallurgy and chemical industries, bauxite is also used as a raw material in building and road construction. Aluminium is made only from bauxite, the best and only material. There are many uses for bauxite, including the chemical industry, refractory bricks,...
The Perth, Western Australia headquartered mining and metal company, South32 Limited has unveiled the accomplishment of acquisition of an additional 18.2% stake in the Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) bauxite mine in the northern part of Brazil from Alcoa Corporation (Alcoa). However, the acquisition of the additional stakes excels the ownership of the mine to 33% and secures the bauxite requirements for South 32’s integrated aluminium supply chain in Brazil. On 6 th January 2022, the company formed by spun out of BHP Billiton, South32 disclosed the plan to participate in the resumption of the Alumar aluminium smelter in Brazil in cooperation with joint venture partner Alcoa, with its first production to be achieved in the June 2022 quarter. The Brazilian aluminium smelter will be powered by...
In the West African nation Ghana, Rocksure International Limited, a contract mining company has over the years developed a substantial capacity and flexibility for executing measures to encounter the challenges of planning, equipping and staffing several mining sites. The Accra headquartered company, Rocksure International has manifested not to transport bauxite by road to save the country’s road network from shattering by heavily loaded trucks. Kwesi Enyan, the Executive Director of Operations for Rocksure International publicized this in Tarkwa when the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) held a special convocation for 27 students. “The Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) had selected Rocksure International to develop one of the three blocks, block ‘b’ of...
