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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Noranda Bauxite, located in St Ann, Jamaica has been appreciated by Mining Minister Robert Montague for optimum use of reclaimed bauxite lands for farming and the storage of water. Noranda Bauxite, now owned by Dada Holdings mines bauxite in St Ann and ships worldwide for both metallurgical and chemical use. Montague added that the ministry is also committed to its ‘Life after Bauxite’ programme in Jamaica. The minister stated this during Noranda Bauxite’s Agriculture Education Industry Exposition at the Port Rhodes Sports Complex in Discovery Bay, St Ann on Thursday, May 30. “We are committed to a programme that we call in the (mining) ministry ‘Life after Bauxite’, because… we have been mining bauxite for 60 years, (and) one day the bauxite is going to come to an end, and there has to...
Ghana’s president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assured that the government’s plan to mine bauxite in the Atewa forest, the country’s largest natural rainforest, would not harm the environment. He said this during the Sustainable Ocean Industries Conference in Ghana. He said that the latest mining technology applied by the bauxite miners will reduce the impact of mining operations on the surrounding environment and on the people whose livelihood depends on the forest resources. He added that the government is committed to bauxite mining keeping in mind the best interests of the people. He added that he was satisfied with the information and demonstration he had received about mining without disturbing wildlife in the forest. “Beginning now, the full scale exploitation of Ghanaian bauxite...
The Navratna PSU under Ministry of Mines, National Aluminium Company, has reportedly issued its performance report of fiscal 2019 ended on March 31, registering the best financial and production performance in a decade. With the net profit of INR 1,732 crore, Nalco posted a 29 per cent jump from the previous financial year. In fiscal 2018, Nalco’s net profit had come in at INR 1342.19 crore, INR 390 crore lesser than FY2019. Despite the year-on-year 9 per cent decline in net profit during the fourth quarter, amounting at INR 233 crore, the company has extended its soaring performance. Nalco’s net sales turnover for the financial year has come in at INR 11,386 crore, up 21 per cent over the year. Export earning of INR 4792.71 crore has also registered a growth of 18 per cent, compared to...
Australian Bauxite Limited’s Chairman Paul Lennon addressed shareholders at its 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM). Paul Lennon said that company has sold 120,000 tonnes of bauxite to date to its repeat customers. Australian Bauxite has supplied 110,000 tonnes of cement-grade bauxite and 10,000 tonnes of fertiliser grade bauxite. In April-May 2019, bauxite sale from Bald Hill Bauxite Project stood at 32,500 tonnes. “ABx’s cash at bank remains satisfactory and ABx stands ready to sell metallurgical grade bauxite as soon as possible whilst demand is strong and the Australian dollar exchange rate is attractive.” The company has a further 41,000 tonnes of product stockpiled at Bald Hill and sufficient broken ore stocks for quick delivery of the next sale. Australian Bauxite said that the...
The United States Forestry Service (USFS) has reportedly warned the Ghana government to be careful with its plan of bauxite mining in Atewa forest reserve, which is one of largest surviving rainforests in Ghana and considered to be one of the three areas for bauxite mining. The other areas are Nyinahin and Awaso. The USFS said, “There should be a comprehensive study of the costs and benefits of the plan, and development of a robust list of proven mitigation measures before any development takes place in Kibi.” After attending several meetings with stakeholders, residents, and traditional leaders within the Atewa enclave, the USFS thinks it is critical for the Ghana government to seriously evaluate other options to mining in the forest. According to a report by an agency, mining in Atewa...
The Port Authority of Bundaberg will reportedly support Australian Bauxite Limited (ASX: ABx) in investigating the opportunity to export bauxite in bulk tonnages through the port itself. On May 29, the Port Authority and ABx signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that gives an access to the latter to a vacant block of land to investigate its suitability for storage and loading large carrier ships at an annual volume of around 1 million tonnes per year. ABx has already worked with landholders, local government, state government, port authorities, mining contractors, and logistics companies to develop a viable strategy for this. Bulk sampling has also begun, according to the report, at the Binjour Project area, which ABx considers to be the best source of gibbsite-trihydrate (THA)...
Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) wholly-owned subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) has secured Guinea’s largest-ever project financing for its greenfield bauxite mining project in the West African country, which is expected to lift up Guinea’s economy significantly. The total US$750 million loan for a period of 12 to 14 years was funded by development finance institutions, export credit agencies and international commercial banks, first time for a project in Guinea. This loan for GAC opens up the way for international financing for Guinea and boosting the national economy. The fund will support the development of the mine and the supporting infrastructure like a port, railways during the first phase of the investment. The mine is supposed to have some of the world’s best quality...
Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite mine was announced winner of the ‘Best Company Indigenous Procurement Initiative Award’ at the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Indigenous Awards in Brisbane on Monday. The $2.6 billion Amrun recently transitioned from a construction project to a fully operational bauxite mine. Rio Tinto made the first shipment from Amrun in December 2018, six weeks ahead of schedule. Amrun bauxite mine will have a capacity of 22.8 million tonnes a year at full production. The company in March completed commissioning of the Amrun located on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. Rio Tinto Weipa Operations general manager Daniel van der Westhuizen said: “Since planning stages of the Amrun Project, our ethos has always been to employ local, buy local and grow local...
According to the latest data from China Customs, China’s imports of bauxite increased 24.5 per cent from a month ago to stand at 9.77 million tonnes in April 2019. Bauxite imports in April rose 68.2 per cent from the same period previous year. China’s bauxite import registered 35.9 per cent growth in the first four months of 2019 compared with the same period last year. Total bauxite import came in at 35.58 million tonnes in the mentioned period, showed Customs data under eight-digit HS code. The Republic of Guinea, Australia and Indonesia remained to be the top three bauxite suppliers to China. The three countries together exported about 33.08 million tonnes of bauxite to China in the four-month period of 2019. China’ bauxite imports from Guinea increased 32 per cent from January to...
The average Bauxite (6.0≤Al/Si ＜7.0) price in Henan increased from RMB 500 per tonne to RMB 530 per tonne on Monday, 27 May 2019. This records a growth of RMB 30 per tonne or 6 per cent. The average price is expected to stay within a range of RMB 510-RMB 550 per tonne. The average Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) price stood at RMB 420 per tonne, up RMB 30 per tonne or 7.69 per cent from RMB 390 per tonne. The average price is expected to stay within a range of RMB 390-RMB 450 per tonne. Price of bauxite remains unchanged in all the three major China markets (Shanxi, Guangxi and Guizhou). The average Bauxite CIF price dropped to USD 42 per tonne as on May 27. The average price is expected to hover between USD 41 per tonne and USD 43 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price declined from USD 380 per...
Metro Mining conducted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 23 May 2019. The company’s Chairman Stephen Everett and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Simon Finnis addressed shareholders at AGM in Brisbane, Queensland. Metro’s gross profit from the Bauxite Hills Mine for the financial year ended 31 December 2018 stood at $9.6 million and group profit before tax was $2.19 million. Metro Mining shipped over 2 million tonnes of bauxite in 2018 and met production guidance for the year. The company announced upgraded production guidance to 3.5 million tonnes for 2019. Addressing the AGM, Stephen Everett said: I think it is fair to say Metro is on its way! “Since the beginning of this year we have: ▪ Finalised works to upgrade the mine site and transhipping facilities and...
Ghana has been focusing towards developing its bauxite sector into a full-fledged aluminium industry and looking for domestic and international investors. The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) has started the process towards the engagement of strategic investors in different stages of implementation of the complete aluminium value chain. According to the GIADEC notice, all private sector entities/ consortium who would be interested in participating in the investor engagement rounds can complete and submit the necessary documentation to its office in Accra by the end of May 2019. A media publication also confirms that the investor engagements will comprise three progressive rounds. Interested investors will have to qualify in all three rounds. The corporation will...
Metro Mining Limited has responded to Chinese media reports about the temporary closure of Alumina refinery capacity following environmental audits by Chinese authorities. According to reports, Xinfa Group’s Shanxi Jiaokou Refinery is one plant impacted by the closure. Xinfa source 100 per cent of their bauxite to feed this refinery from domestic sources within Shanxi. But Metro’s bauxite is supplied to a refinery located in the coastal province of Shandong which is completely unaffected by any of the current environmental issues. “Xinfa is a very significant Aluminium Business that owns and operates six alumina refineries in China, of which Jiaokou is one. The other five refineries remain in operation with no restrictions, Metro Mining said through its press release. Metro is continuing...
The Rigel ship arrived at the port of Yantai in China last week carrying 300,000 tonnes of bauxite loaded at the port of Boké in Guinea. The Consortium and the shipping industry have considered the arrival of this bauxite shipment in China as a new record in terms of tonnage for bauxite transport. SMB-Winning Consortium is aiming at increasing Guinea’s bauxite production to more than 40 million tonnes in 2019 and is working on the production and transport infrastructure to facilitate the same. Commenting on the shipment, Sun Xiunshun, President of the SMB-Winning Consortium said: "The arrival of the Rigel ship with its 300,000 tonnes of bauxite at the port of Yantai illustrates the key role of logistics in the success of the SMB-Winning Consortium. As we aim for a continuous increase in...
According to the latest report from Consultancy group Fitch Solutions, Australia is set to drive growth in the global bauxite sector, currently holding 12 of the 29 new bauxite projects. Rio Tinto’s Amrun project is expected to drive Australia’s global bauxite business. “While bauxite accounts for less than 5% of Australian mining value, the country is the global top producer, accounting for an estimated 28.8% of total global output as of 2018,” reported Fitch. The country is expected to remain the top bauxite supplier to China in 2019. Fitch added that Rio Tinto’s US$2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project in Queensland is going to strengthen Australia’s position as the world’s top bauxite producer. Rio Tinto’s wider Weipa operation in Queensland is at the center of its Australia bauxite...
Global bauxite production is expected to rebound this year with new projects coming up in Guinea and Australia and with some expansions across India and Indonesia. Consultancy group Fitch Solutions notes that Australia is currently holding 12 of the 29 new bauxite projects, which is more than any other country. The consultancy firm forecasts that bauxite production in Australia will increase by 15 per cent in 2019, compared with 4 per cent in 2018. “While bauxite accounts for less than 5% of Australian mining value, the country is the global top producer, accounting for an estimated 28.8% of total global output as of 2018. Australia will remain a top bauxite exporter to China, although the country may lose some market share over the coming quarters to returning Indonesian supply,”...
On May 8, 2019, Australian Bauxite Limited (ASX:ABx) confirmed that it produced and loaded 32,447 tonnes of cement-grade bauxite onto the customer’s ship at Bell Bay Port. This was in the upper range of the contracted tonnage target of 30,000 to 33,000 of cement bauxite grade which ABX had achieved about a month ago, said the company itself. Till late April 2019, ABx continued to produce additional bauxite-products at its Bald Hill Bauxite Project. It received more orders for fertilizer-grade bauxite that gives a clear indication that ABx bauxite has clean chemistry ideal for acid-processing to produce high-quality fertilizer in demand. China’s metallurgical bauxite import in February 2019 had reached record levels of 8.9 million tonnes, provided mainly by Guinea amounting 4.4 million...
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry of Indonesia has officially cancelled the export permits of five mining companies as they failed to show progress in developing smelters as per the prevailing laws and regulations. The five mining companies are PT Surya Saga Utama, PT Genba Multi Mineral, PT Modern Cahaya Makmur, PT Lobindo Nusa Persada and PT Integra Mining Nusantara. However, the government will return the permits to these companies if they can show significant progress in building smelters, said the ministry’s mineral director Yunus Saefulhak in a statement. He particularly said, “This is a temporary revocation. We will activate their permits when they manage to show progress in smelter development. We have to be firm in enforcing the law on the smelter requirement.” He also...
