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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The Guinea Alumina Corporation’s (GAC) bauxite mine project has reportedly achieved a major construction milestone. Engineering and construction firm Fluor Corporation, which has been serving as the African project’s engineering and programme management partner, has safely set the car dumper facility’s 450 tonnes rotating assembly into final location. The facility took three days, two750 tonnes cranes, and multiple self-propelled modular transporters for the installment of the assembly. Fluor noted that some special preparation was required to elevate the assembly over the walls of the car dumper facility into its final location. The team that worked behind this massive project consisted of 200 people. “This milestone was achieved due to the collective efforts between the GAC and Fluor...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has posted its year-round achievements for fiscal 2018-19, where it mentioned about recorded capacity production of bauxite at Panchpatmali Mines totalling 74.14 lakh tonnes, which is the highest since inception. The transportation of the ore has also been ever-highest totalling at 72.31 lakh tonnes. Besides, the Navratna CPSE achieved the distinction of lowest-cost producer of bauxite and alumina in the world (as per the Wood Mackenzie report). The production of NALCO’s alumina hydrate, as well as cast metal also scored highest since inception at 21.53 lakh tonnes and 4.40 lakh tonnes respectively, for the fiscal period of 2018-2019. Further, Steam & Power Plant (SPP) of Alumina Refinery achieved highest ever net power generation. Per the...
According to the latest US Geological Survey report, the US imported about 4.5 million tonnes of bauxite in 2018, up about 1.5% from 2017. When we look at the figures of last five years, we can observe the sharply declining trend. From 11.8 million tonnes in 2014, the volume dropped to 4.5 million tonnes in five years. The continuous fall in bauxite imports were attributed to the 2016 shutdowns of the alumina refineries in Gregory, TX, by Sherwin Alumina Co. and in Point Comfort, TX, by Alcoa Corp. {newsStudioGallery} The sharp fall took place when Alcoa temporarily shut its 2.3 mtpy alumina refinery in Point Comfort, TX, in the second quarter of 2016. In August, Sherwin Alumina Co. LLC announced that it would temporarily shut down its 1.65-Mt/yr alumina refinery in Gregory, TX, in...
Australian Bauxite Limited has announced that the company has executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tianshan Aluminium for the supply of 0.5 to 1.5 million tonnes of bauxite per year from Binjour Project, Queensland. Australian Bauxite’s Marketing Partner, Rawmin Mining and Industries Pvt. Ltd (Rawmin) is also a part of the MoU. Australian Bauxite said, “Subject to satisfactory results from the planned trial mining and processing testwork at Binjour, ABx… (Rawmin) are planning to commit to project development in late 2019, commencing with a mining lease application.” Under this agreement, Tianshan's new low temperature refinery in southern China will received bauxite from ABx's bauxite mines in Australia and Rawmin's bauxite mines in India. “Coordinated production and...
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry of Malaysia reportedly unveiled the proposed rigid standard operating procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining and export activities in Pahang on March 31. The SOP, which was uploaded in the ministry’s website yesterday, stated that the Malaysian government capped its monthly bauxite exports at 600,000 tonnes. The Kuantan port authority, which exports the bulk of the ore from the country, fixed this capacity, said the Ministry. According to the draft proposals, “This capacity has taken into consideration various aspects including issues of cleanliness and the environment.” The draft includes regulations for buffer zones between mining sites and residential areas, mining rights application planning, bauxite mining site management, stockpile and port...
Romain GIRBAL, General Manager of IB2 , a Paris based innovative solution provider that works towards producing alumina with low grade bauxite announced the launch of an innovative and breakthrough technology for low grade bauxite refining during the Bauxite & Alumina Conference that took place in Miami, USA on 25-27 December. “We are happy to announce that after several years of development and testing we came up with an innovative and easy to implement technology that will answer the multiples challenges faced by the industry. IB2 will allow alumina refineries to process low-grade bauxite generating less red muds and allowing huge operating expenses consuming less raw material,” Romain GIRBAL said. A dedicated team of 10 experienced professionals with experience in Bayer process and...
Metro Mining Ltd’s Managing Director Simon Finnis will talk expansion plans of Bauxite Hills Mine project with investors at the Proactive CEO Sessions in Sydney on Monday, April 8 and Melbourne on Tuesday, April 9. Simon Finnis will discuss how Metro Mining is transitioning to owner operator status at the project, Proactive Investors reported. Metro Mining targets 3.5 wet metric tonnes (wmt) of production in 2019. The company expects to recommence the production at the site as soon as wet season ends. The mining operations had ceased in late December 2018. “The inclement weather hasn’t dampened the performance of our site maintenance and operations team, and I congratulate them and the support teams working in Cairns and Brisbane for their efforts. Everything is on track to achieve our...
The Queensland Parliament has reaffirmed a royalty decision on bauxite in the parliament. But the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has raised concerns over thelegislation to amend the royalty rates on bauxite exports. The Parliament maintained the existing minimum royalty rate on bauxite for export at A$2 per tonne and a minimum rate of A$1.50 per tonne for bauxite used domestically for alumina production. Expressing their concern, QRC CEO Ian Macfarlane said on Wednesday that the Queensland government should have consulted with the industry before introducing the legislation to state Parliament. “There is no suggestion the industry has not honoured its royalty obligations,” Macfarlane said. He said that it is “extremely concerning” that the government failed to explain the purpose of...
Miners Rio Tinto and BHP Group said today, on March 26, that they resumed operations at some facilities that were stopped because of the cyclone-hit at Australia’s northern coastline over the weekend. In response to the Bureau of Meteorology report, Rio had suspended its Weipa bauxite operations after cyclone Trevor made landfall. However, now mining operations have recommenced and staffs started returning to ports and rail operations in Western Australia, according to a statement by Rio Tinto. In a separate statement, it said operations at its bauxite mine in Weipa, Queensland, have been ramped back up after they closed last Wednesday ahead of the bad weather. “Rio Tinto Weipa Operations have returned to normal activities with both ports fully operational by Sunday afternoon,” it said in...
Canyon Resources Limited’s Managing Director Philip Gallagher has reportedly confirmed that the existing Camrail rail network located adjacent to Minim Martap Project is capable to transport commercial tonnages of bauxite to Cameroon’s largest city, Douala. This he confirmed after completing an initial independent assessment. An assessment has also been carried out on the proposed rail extension from Douala to the Kribi Deep Water Port in order to ensure ground conditions. Canyon’s managing director Phillip Gallagher said: “A logistics solution is a crucial component of the Minim Martap Bauxite Project and we are pleased with the very positive feedback from this assessment of the existing rail infrastructure, in particular, that ongoing maintenance and upgrade works are underway.”...
The average Bauxite (6.0≤Al/Si＜7.0) price in Henan dropped RMB20 per tonne to stand at RMB530 per tonne on Monday, 25 March 2019. The average price is expected to range between RMB510-550 per tonne, as updated by Shanghai Metals Market. The average Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) price stood at RMB440 per tonne, down RMB20 per tonne and 4.35 per cent from RMB460 per tonne. The average price is expected to range between RMB400-480 per tonne. Prices of bauxite remain unchanged in all the three major China markets (Shanxi, Guangxi and Guizhou). Australian alumina FOB price increased from USD398 per tonne to USD406 per tonne on Monday, representing an increase of USD8 per tonne or 2.01 per cent. The average A00 aluminium ingot price declined RMB50 per tonne or 0.36 per cent on Monday, 25 March 2019....
According to the latest data from China Customs, China’s imports of bauxite increased about 14% to stand at 9.41 million tonnes in February from 8.27 million tonnes in January. This is one of the record numbers as far as month bauxite import is concerned. Bauxite imports from Australia, Indonesia and the Republic of Guinea increased 1.26 million tonnes in February, contributing to the gains in overall imports. The three countries together exported about 5.6 million tonnes of bauxite to China in February 2019. Bauxite import by China is estimated to stand at about 89 million tonnes in 2019. China, the world's biggest aluminium producer, relies heavily on bauxite imports, bringing in around 83 million tonnes in 2018, according to China customs data. The country imported about 69 million...
Gas and iron ore operations on Australia’s west coast are likely to be affected by an approaching cyclone just as a severe storm in the nation’s northeast dumps heavy rain on Rio Tinto Group’s biggest bauxite mine. The tropical cyclone Veronica is taking place at 545 kilometers (339 miles) north of Port Hedland, a key export point for Western Australia’s iron ore shipments. The storm is forecast to intensify according to the Bureau of Meteorology. In response to the Bureau of Meteorology report, Rio suspended its Weipa bauxite operations after cyclone Trevor made landfall. Bauxite mining operations at the north-eastern tip of the country is likely to get severe effect of the cyclone. “Operations have been suspended at Weipa as Cyclone Trevor approaches the coast, as per standard...
Ghana Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia reportedly announced to the press that both Guinea and Ghana are all set to begin discussions over bilateral cooperation for developing bauxite industries, similar to trade co-operation between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the cocoa sector. “You know what we are trying to do in the extractives sector as far as bauxite is concerned is quite similar to Guinea, but different in many perspectives,” Dr. Bawumia told reporters. He further said, “Guinea has the bauxite resources and they have the mine. We are trying to move up the value chain by not just doing mining but also refining. After refining we have VALCO to smelt.” In his opinion, co-operation of this kind will help both the countries, through knowledge-sharing, drawing of synergies and enhanced...
JAG Bhd has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Empire Mining Sdn Bhd to set out intentions and mutual understanding in connection with the possible joint venture. The parties will look at the possibility for JAG or its nominated subsidiary to enter into joint venture with Empire Mining to extract, process and produce bauxite in Pulau Langkawi, Kedah. The parties have agreed to negotiate exclusively with each other during a period of three months from the date of the MOU and a further extension period of three months or such later date as may be agreed in writing. JAG said the MOU is not expected to have any material effect on the consolidated earnings and EPS of JAG for the financial year ending 31 December 2019. Empire Mining is principally involved in bauxite mining.
Public sector National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is reportedly eyeing Jerrela block of bauxite ore in Visakhapatnam district for allotment. The news came after Nalco Chairman and Managing Director T.K. Chand told The Hindu that company requested the Centre to allot it Jerrela block that homes huge reserves of high-grade bauxite ore. The navratna company had revived its proposal for bauxite mining and investment on aluminium complex in Visakhapatnam district generating a lot of interest among various circles in the mid-last year. It had even proposed to establish a greenfield refinery with a capacity of 1.4 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes in Visakhapatnam with an investment of ₹7,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore. However, the proposal is still pending before the Centre. The company hopes that...
Contract workers at Ghana Bauxite Mining Company Limited have reportedly demanded improved working conditions; or else, threatened to walk off the job. Labour spokesperson Issahaku Yakabu said the general condition under which they work is unsafe and retrogressive. Over the last eight years since in operation, the site showed no sign of improvement. Moreover, the management is not paying them the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions. He further updated that a dozen of workers at the site have accepted the invitation to the company’s headquarters in Accra for negotiations, while warning that should the delegation not bring a better deal upon return, the aggrieved workers will implement a strike for three to six month. As per local reporting, Ghana Bauxite...
Guinea is the most significant bauxite supplier to the world with 7.4 billion bauxite reserve which is about 25% of the world’s total bauxite reserves. The country accounts for 95% of African bauxite production and 15% of world bauxite production according to the latest data from the US Geological Survey. {newsStudioGallery} With the highest bauxite reserves and a solid export-oriented growth plan, Guinea has been racing past many countries to become the key bauxite exporter globally. A four-year historical data set clearly indicates at that trend. According to our third-party data, the African nation is estimated to export 62 million tonnes of bauxite in 2019, compared with the estimated export amount of 55 million tonnes in 2018. This marks a growth of 13 per cent year-on-year. In 2016...
