Caustic soda plant setup in India: How aluminium growth is reshaping demand, costs and opportunities
Caustic soda may not be the most visible ingredient in aluminium production, but without it, the journey from bauxite to alumina would look very different. The chemical, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a crucial reagent in the Bayer process, where it helps dissolve alumina-bearing material in bauxite and separate it from impurities. The dissolved material is then processed to recover alumina, which ultimately feeds aluminium production. That makes caustic soda more than just another industrial chemical. Its availability, price and efficient use can influence the economics of alumina refining and, by extension, the wider aluminium value chain. As India expands its alumina and aluminium capacity, the requirement for this chemical is also becoming increasingly important. For companies...
Aluminum investment across North America and Asia: Who leads reshaping the next phase of growth?
Aluminum investment has been spreading across the entire value chain, from primary smelting and alumina refining to recycling, rolling, extrusion and battery foil, building more integrated and higher-value supply chains. During the past 5 years, the US and Canada in North America and China in Asia have been grabbing headlines pertaining to the aluminum industry. These updates have involved growth stories or have shed light on volatile market situations. How have these headlines contributed to a greater picture for the benefit of the aluminum industries of the two continents? Between 2021 and 2026, major projects across North America and Asia have targeted new primary capacity, lower-carbon production, recycled aluminum and higher-value downstream products. But the investment pattern is...
Grow with
AL Circle
Bunting cross belt overband magnet eases sorting for recycling
Vulcanis has designed and built a new recycling plant to receive and recover steel and aluminium cans in Barking, UK, and purchased a Cross Belt Overband Magnet for steel can recovery from Bunting Magnetics Europe Ltd. Presently, consumers in the UK use approximately 13 billion steel cans and 50 billion aluminium cans per annum and recycling rates are 61% for steel (Tata 2014) and 57% for aluminium (Alupro 2014). For steel in particular, the UK government has set a target of 76% recovery by 2017 and to achieve this objective more recycling plants and initiatives are needed across the UK. The inspiration for the new plant came from Vulcanis Managing Director, Mena Ramsis. He explained, “I was not involved in the recycling industry and only became interested when I was attending a wedding...
Microwaves can turn muck into aluminium
Researchers have devised a way to use microwaves to turn aluminium-laminated plastic waste into aluminium for smelting and hydrocarbons for fuel in just three minutes. It started with a bacon roll and a microwave oven, and now it's poised to transform the recycling of a packaging material that has been as unrecyclable as it is useful. The bacon roll, as the story goes, was microwaved for so long it turned into a charred mass of carbon that began to glow red-hot. What was happening was an intense heating process called microwave-induced pyrolysis. On hearing about the 'over-microwaved' bacon roll from an acquaintance, chemical engineers Howard Chase and Carlos Ludlow-Palafox from the University of Cambridge wondered whether the process could be exploited to recover useful materials from...
Alba is a Gold sponsor for MaintCon 2014
Highlights: • The four-day conference is being held at the Gulf Hotel from December 7 to 10, 2014. • Bahrain’s Minister of Energy, Dr. Abdul-Hussain Bin Ali Mirza officially inaugurated MaintCon 2014. Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), a leading aluminium producer in the world, provided Gold sponsorship for the 3rd Middle East Maintenance Conference & Exhibition (MaintCon) 2014, thus underlining the Company’s commitment to promote a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends, developments and technologies in the field of maintenance. Organised by the Gulf Society of Maintenance Professionals in co-operation with the Bahrain Society of Engineers, MaintCon2014 is being held from December 7-10, 2014 at the Gulf International Convention Centre, Gulf Hotel, Kingdom of Bahrain. Bahrain’s...
“I as well as Vedanta’s Chairman Anil Agarwal share the same long term vision that everyone nurtures for India, that is, to be one of the most powerful economies in the world…” Tom Albanese, CEO, Sesa Sterlite.
Sesa Sterlite, a Vedanta Group company is a global diversified natural resource conglomerates, with operations across aluminium, zinc-lead-silver, oil & gas, iron ore, copper and commercial power. It was a privilege for AlCircle to speak to Mr. Tom Albanese, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Sesa Sterlite on the 1st day of the 3rd International IBAAS Conference at Vizag. Being a Mining Engineer and a Mineral Economist himself and with his valuable experience in the Mining industry with some of the top listed companies worldwide including Alcan, he has a lot to contribute towards the information needs of the industry. We are pleased to share with our readers his current and future agenda for Vedanta, his company’s vision for India and how he hopes to regain investor confidence on...
Lexus uses more aluminium in new RX line of cars
Lexus, which is the luxury arm of the Toyota brand, is all set to launch a new-look RX SUV later in 2015, as a part of the company’s 2016 line-up. There will be two new models from the RX line called RX350 and RX 450. The unique thing about these SUVs is their light weight, despite being from the same platform as the Toyota Highlander and this has been achieved through the use of aluminium. Aluminium has been used in the hood, tailgate and closures in both the RX350 and RX450 models. Although the use might not seem to be much, it does a good deal to cut down a big percentage of the weight of the vehicle. The use of aluminium in a luxury line like Lexus could start a trend as future vehicles from the company could see more use of the lightweight metal. Lexus, however is not alone in...
Press Metal shares dipped due to weak aluminium prices
Press Metal shares fell on Tuesday to a low of RM2.91 as weaker demand pulled down aluminium prices. The share fell to RM2.95, down by 11 sen at 11.43 am while the turnover prices for 656,300 shares ranged between RM2.91 to RM3.04. FBM KLCI fell by 0.33% or 5.73 points to 1,735.11 while turnover was 623.99 million shares valued at RM604.79mil. It was seen that 231 counters were unchanged and the losers beat gainers 521 to 140. According to Reuters’ report, the Shanghai aluminium is on a downward slide reaching the lowest level since May on Tuesday. This is primarily caused by the waning demand in China, growing overcapacity and fewer buying towards year-end. The most traded February aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange had fallen as far as 13,300 yuan (US$2,151) a tonne by...
Jaya Jind Industries tops with ‘Best Foundry 2014 Large Scale Sector’ ALUCAST award
Jaya Hind Industries, the Pune-based aluminium die casting company, has been conferred with the ‘ALUCAST Best Foundry 2014 Large Scale Sector‘ award at the International Exhibition and Conference ALUCAST 2014 held at Bangalore from December 4-6. The international exhibition and conference is a biennial event organised by the Aluminium Casters’ Association of India, Alucast. The ALUCAST Best Foundry 2014 award is based on specific parameters on which the nominated die casting organizations are judged. Parameters like commitment to quality in all aspects of manufacturing, improvement projects and continuous investment in new technologies are amongst the criteria considered. Jaya Hind Industries (JHI) qualified for the large scale sector foundry awards based on its production of over 4000 T...
Recycling is a way of life in Ivory Coast
Recycling is gradually becoming part of the way of life in Ivory Coast. It is already common practice to sort plastic bottles and now beverage can recycling has made its appearance. Yehni Djidji, an Ivorian blogger, tells us more. Once the beverage cans have been melted down, they can be used to produce kitchen utensils for daily use such as pots and pans, ladles, strainers and ovens. It must however be noted that not every type of can is suitable for this type of recycling. There are two types of cans: 100% aluminium cans and heavier, steel-and-aluminium cans. The aluminium cans are the ones which, at present, are sought by foundries. Hélène B., who is familiar with recycling, explains: "Generally the type of cans which are recycled are beer cans. They really are 100 % aluminium. You...
BHP Billiton’s spin-off is named South32
BHP Billiton has finally announced the name of its spin-off company to be ‘South32’, which will hold all of BHP’s non-core assets like aluminium, nickel, silver and manganese mines, as well as some of its coal assets. The name was suggested by an employee driven by the fact that most of the company’s assets are located in the southern hemisphere with the 32nd latitude connecting Australia and South Africa, the two most important countries in terms of presence. Graham Kerr, the chief executive elect of the South32 says that the name reflects their heritage and the places where they operate and it is a very important part of their identity. BHP had first announced the $15 billion worth spin-off company featuring all of its non-core assets in April. South32 will have a primary listing in...
Rio Tinto Alcan Iceland and Landsvirkjun review their power contract
Rio Tinto Alcan Iceland and Landsvirkjun have today agreed on a modified power supply agreement to better reflect the power requirements of ISAL, Rio Tinto Alcan’s aluminium plant at Straumsvik. In 2010 Landsvirkjun and Rio Tinto Alcan Iceland signed a power contract, for power delivery extending to 2036. To fulfil the contract Landsvirkjun built the Budarhals hydro power project and Rio Tinto Alcan entered into a US$500 million investment to be able to produce higher valued products and increase the capacity of the ISAL plant. Most aspects of the ISAL investment project have been successfully completed: • Transforming the casthouse to produce higher value-added products. • Improved environmental control facilities (installed; on track for full completion next year). • Improved power...
Saudi- Maaden increases investment in aluminium
The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) is playing a key role by developing the mining sector as the third pillar of Saudi industry beyond oil and petrochemicals. Through its investments Maaden is turning the Kingdom into a major player in global markets for phosphate, aluminum, gold, copper and industrial minerals. Since its inception Maaden has invested over SR85 billion across all of these product lines building fully integrated projects that extract Saudi minerals and produce finished product for local regional and global customers. According to the report in 2009 Maaden established a joint venture with Alcoa the world's third-largest aluminum producer to build the world's most efficiently integrated aluminum project in Saudi Arabia. This 10.8 billion (over SR40 billion) project...
QDB training for SMEs dwells on aluminium industry’s prospects
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) recently concluded its second training course for 2014 as part of a series of Qatar-based “comprehensive industrial training programmes.” The event saw the participation of 30 Qatari small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the four-day course, which focused on the country’s aluminium industry. Held from November 23 to 26, the training detailed the dynamics of the aluminium industry and its prospects in Qatar. It also discussed available investment opportunities and showcased local and regional achievements. The course discussed the challenges and opportunities the industry faces and the importance of overcoming them through innovative and non-traditional business solutions. It also reviewed aluminium industry projects and products based in Qatar and in...
Fiji land minister confirms rehabilitation work at Nawailevu
As recommended by the Environmental Impact Assessment report, the Nawailevu Bauxite Mining site in Vanua Levu is going through rehabilitation works that is being carried out by the Aurum Exploration Fiji Limited. The Lands Minister, Mere Vuniwaqa has confirmed this in the parliament on Monday after she was questioned by the opposition on the status of the mining site. Vuniwaqa explained that the reason for conducting the EIA report is to see the productivity capacity of the soil and whether it can grow pines now as it did before bauxite mining took place. The site is already being used to grow legumes, watermelons and vegetables, she says. She also clarifies on the reason why large volume of soil is being carried out from the mining site. The soil in the area of the first mine was very...
Work set to begin on bauxite mine near Campbell Town in northern Tasmania
Work on a bauxite mine in Tasmania's northern midlands is expected to start next month. The Bald Hill bauxite project, near Campbell Town, has been approved by the Northern Midlands Council. It will employ 45 people and is expected to extract more than 1 million tonnes of bauxite over five years. Australian Bauxite's Ian Levy said shipments were expected to being early next year. "We're hoping in January that we can do some trial test work to make sure that our design is optimum," he said. "During January we will start earthmoving, during February we'll start shipments of the product down to the port and hopefully we'll get a ship away either in late February or in early March." The company also plans to mine bauxite, which is used in the production of aluminium, at Conara and in the...
Norsk Hydro: Changes in Hydro's Corporate Management Board
Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro ASA will implement several changes in its Corporate Management Board, effective January 1, 2015. Kjetil Ebbesberg will become the new executive vice president (EVP) for the Rolled Products business area, Hanne Simensen the new EVP for People & HSE (health, safety and environment), Anne-Lene Midseim the new EVP for CSR & General Counsel, and Inger Sethov EVP for Communication & Public Affairs, all joining Hydro's CMB. Ebbesberg, 43, is currently head of Hydro's Holmestrand rolling mill in Norway and former EVP for Metal Markets. Ebbesberg, who holds an MA in business economics, has had a variety of senior commercial and operational jobs in Hydro since he started in 1996 and has also worked as CFO for Norwegian retailer COOP. Hanne Simensen, 47,...
Alcoa calls for urgent RET resolution
Aluminium company Alcoa has called for a deal to be made on the Renewable Energy Target, saying the policy uncertainty is weighing on the industry which is struggling in Australia, ABC Online reports. The aluminium sector is presently exempted from about 70% of the cost of the RET, but both Labor and the Coalition have agreed they are willing to fully exempt the industry under a compromise deal. However, Labor walked away from talks on the RET last month due to disagreements in other areas, most notably the overall 2020 gigawatt-hour target. Tim McAuliffe, Alcoa Australia's head of government relations, called for a solution to the impasse so that the aluminium industry – whose RET cost is about 2.5% of revenue – could have certainty. "[It's] a very, very significant cost that comes on...
Tosta Aluminium announces specialized aluminium discs for multiple uses
Aluminium is often recognized as one of the best recyclable metals. This is the reason why it is used in many industries. China based Tosta Aluminium is one of the leading aluminium suppliers that specialize in a wide variety of aluminium parts to be used in a variety of industries. The company announces the availability of lithographic coils and discs made of aluminium that are in high demand for home appliances, printing and construction industries. The spokesperson of the company reveals that they maintain a ready stock of aluminium discs and lithographic coils to be shipped at any time to anywhere across the globe. "The coils and discs are made of high quality aluminium to help meet the desired requirements of the industries. One can always find aluminium products available with us...
Ultrasound cuts costs in producing aluminium alloys
Molten aluminium alloys at 700 °C naturally contain a high percentage of dissolved hydrogen, left untreated, the resulting solid metal is highly porous. The most widely- used method of hydrogen removal – argon rotary degassing - is energy intensive and requires costly components. In pilot scale trials funded by EU Framework Seven Programme, the team, led by Prof Dmitry Eskin of the Brunel Centre for Advanced Solidification Technology, found that ultrasound was just as efficient as the standard method but produced far less waste material (dross) and was much greener. Said Prof Eskin: "We know from industry that the price of argon gas continues to rise because making it requires producers to liquefy air which takes a lot of energy. There are also issues with the graphite impellers used. If...
