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...
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Florence Vial’s abaya sculpture highlights the importance of aluminium recycling
Nespresso, the popular at-home espresso machine brand, has been taking back used pods for recycling for a year now at its Abu Dhabi and Dubai stores. However, the French artist Florence Vial, who spent four years living in the UAE before returning home, explained that making a comment on recycling was only part of her motivation in creating the piece. “When I first arrived in Dubai, I was a bit lost and at that time everything was big and shiny and very attractive so I somehow related the Nespresso caps with that. They are brightly coloured, metallic and commercially attractive,” she says. “Recycling was also new in Dubai so I decided to talk about that issue.” After deciding on the material, Vial went to the Nespresso shop in Dubai and asked if she could collect the empty capsules. She...
Kobe Steel begins deliveries of aluminum extrusions to Hitachi for use in UK train cars
Kobe Steel, Ltd. announces that it has begun deliveries of aluminum extruded shapes to Hitachi, Ltd. for use in the railway car body for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP)1 in the United Kingdom. Kobe Steel has received an order to supply nearly the total amount necessary to build the fleet of trains. Rolling stock for the IEP will total 866 cars. A portion of each car will be manufactured by Hitachi at its Kasado Works in Japan as part of a comprehensive contract received by Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd.2 Kobe Steel is supplying material in the form of aluminum extruded shapes. Kobe Steel’s aluminum extrusions are manufactured at the company’s Chofu Works in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, where a variety of aluminum shapes can be made. For railway rolling stock, the Chofu Works...
Hulamin containers exhibits at Propak Cape
Hulamin Containers exhibited at Propak Cape from 21 to 23 October 2014. Propak is a bi-annual South African trade show focusing on the food packaging industry. The location of the exhibition alternates between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Hulamin Containers is a regular exhibitor at both exhibition locations. Aside from visitors from the Cape region, visitors and customers from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and a number of neighbouring countries like Namibia, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe were received at, and welcomed to the Hulamin Containers exhibition stand. The exhibition once again provided an excellent opportunity to network and meet with customers, end-users, key packaging decision makers and representatives of the major national retail groups like Pick and Pay, Shoprite Checkers, Spar...
Bauxite mining supporters come together to push their case
Breaking their silence over stiff opposition to bauxite mining, several technical and mining experts and investors for the first time met in the city recently to justify exploration of bauxite ore in parts of Eastern Ghats with eco-friendly technologies. Their presence in large number, including the flying visit of Vedanta Resources Plc CEO Tom Albanese, one of the highest paid corporate honchos, showed their seriousness to ensure raw material security for Anrak Aluminium Ltd’s refinery at Makavarapalem in Visakhapatnam and Vedanta’s alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Odisha. In no uncertain terms, they say there is potential for investment up to Rs.1 lakh crore with employment to 30,000 directly and three lakh indirectly and contribution to the exchequer and foreign exchange earnings to...
Aluminium weakens by 0.7% on low demand
Aluminium prices fell 0.68% to INR 125 per kg in futures trading today as speculators reduced exposure amid weak demand in the spot market. Besides, a weak trend in base metals in global market influenced zinc prices. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in December traded lower by INR 85 paise, or 0.68%, to INR 125 per kg in a business turnover of 757 lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in January next year edged down by 80 paise, or 0.64%, to INR 125.15 per kg in 55 lots. Analysts said speculators trimmed positions due to subdued demand in the spot market and a weakness in base metals at the London Metal Exchange.
Qatalum showcases innovations in Qatari aluminium sector at ARABAL 2014
Qatalum participated in the 18th edition of the Arab International Aluminium Conference and Exhibition (ARABAL), the most important trade event for the aluminium industry in the Middle East – held this year at the Gulf Hotel, in Manama, Bahrain, from 25-27 November, and hosted by Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA). As in previous years, Qatalum sent a high-level delegation to ARABAL, headed by CEO Mr. Tom Peter Johansen, Deputy CEO Mr. Khalid Mohammed Laram, in addition to a number of managers, various heads of departments, and specialists. Leveraging the networking opportunities available through hosting of a stand at the Exhibition and dissemination of materials, Qatalum management represented the company at several events, including CEO Johansen speaking on an expert panel of GCC smelter CEOs,...
Aluminium moving from surplus to deficit
Aluminium prices have zoomed up this year. With a return of 19 per cent, year-to-date, aluminium finds its place in the top three best performers in the base metals complex . Indonesia’s ban of exports of unprocessed aluminium ores in January stoked prices. The country is the world’s largest supplier of bauxite — the raw material used for aluminium production. The aluminium futures contract traded on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), which moves in tandem with the global price, has risen about 17.5 per cent so far this year. It is currently trading near INR128.35 per kg. Demand for aluminium could be the strongest among the other bases metal complex driven by the auto sector next year, says a Citi Research report. Demand-supply imbalance The market for aluminium has been in surplus for...
Laurent Musy appointed President of Constellium’s Aerospace and Transportation business unit
Constellium N.V. today announced that Laurent Musy has been appointed President of its Aerospace and Transportation (A&T) business unit effective December 1, 2014, reporting to Pierre Vareille, Chief Executive Officer of Constellium. Mr. Musy has served as President of Constellium’s Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products business unit since 2008. Mr. Vareille will serve as interim President for the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products until a successor to Mr. Musy is appointed. Commented Mr. Vareille: “Laurent Musy brings more than16 years of experience in the aluminium industry and has a long track record of driving operational excellence and business development, as reflected in Constellium’s strong performance and market leadership positions in packaging and automotive rolled...
Century aluminum completes acquisition of Mt. Holly, SC Smelter
Century Aluminum Company announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary has completed its transaction with Alcoa to acquire full ownership of the Mt. Holly aluminum smelter. Mt. Holly, located in Berkeley County, South Carolina, employs approximately 600 people and has an annual production capacity of 229,000 metric tons of primary aluminum. "We are very pleased to assume full ownership of the Mt. Holly plant," commented Michael Bless, President and CEO. "Our first order of business is to work toward a safe and seamless transition. Mt. Holly is an excellent plant and we are confident that, with some focus and targeted investments, the talented management team can produce even greater results. We also look forward to becoming an active participant in the economy and greater community of...
Alcoa completes sales of two upstream assets
Alcoa today announced that it has completed two previously-announced sales within its Global Primary Products portfolio. The divestitures, one in the United States and the second in Jamaica, are aligned with Alcoa’s strategy to lower its cost base and create a globally competitive business. Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC) finalized the sale of its 55 percent ownership stake in the Jamalco bauxite mining and alumina refinery joint venture to Noble Group Ltd. The Company completed the sale, announced on October 15, 2014, after receiving all regulatory approvals. Jamalco is located in Clarendon, Jamaica. AWAC will continue as Jamalco’s managing operator for three years under a compensated service agreement and employees remain employed by Jamalco. AWAC is the joint venture owned 60...
Sedgman wins Alcoa Kwinana contract
Sedgman has won the EPC contract for Alcoa's Kwinana filtration plant. The $59.8 million contract will see Sedgman EPC work as the main integrating contractor for the alumina refinery in WA. According to Sedgman "when complete the filtration plant will produce lower moisture content bauxite residue from the refinery". "This will permit ongoing reside storage within the existing storage area, deferring the need to construct new drying areas." Sedgman's work includes design, procurement, delivery, construction, integration, and commissioning of the plant and its associated process infrastructure. Peter Watson, Sedgman's CEO, stated it was exciting to be working with Alcoa, following its recent front end engineering design process. "We have been working closely with Alcoa over the last few...
IBAAS conference concludes successfully with positive notes for the bauxite & aluminium sector
The 3 day IBAAS Symposium at Vizag comes to an end on 29th November with a number of eminent speakers presenting their technical and marketing papers covering both the upstream and the downstream sector of the aluminium industry. A number of significant issues have been highlighted like the Raw Material Security, Non-Metallurgical Bauxite Industries, Waste Reutilization, Energy Efficiency and Downstream Applications. The speakers have brought into light a number of new technological innovations in the entire value chain of aluminium. The new addition to the symposium, however, have been the growing significance of the downstream sector. A number of important papers have been presented on the global and the Indian downstream industry and its potentialities. Tom Albanese, CEO, Sesa...
EGA to host the 11th AAST Conference for the first time in the Middle East
Reflecting its commitment to the advancement of the midstream aluminium industry, Emirates Global Aluminium ("EGA") will host the 11th Australasian Aluminium Smelting Technology Conference ("AASTC") in Dubai from 6 to 11 December 2014. The event - organised by The Royal Australian Chemical Institute ("RACI") and The School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia ("UNSW") - is the first of its kind to be staged in the Middle East. EGA's involvement in the AASTC will include two keynote addresses: the first from EGA MD & CEO Abdulla Kalban, highlighting the emergence of the region into a key hub in the global aluminium industry; and the second a report on the record-breaking construction and commissioning of EMAL . Ten technical papers will be presented by EGA...
Drop in crude oil prices affects aluminium prices
The falling oil prices have signaled a fall in aluminium prices as well, which has fallen the most in a week. Since aluminium is an energy intensive industry, the falling price of fuel significantly affects the cost of production, thereby affecting the price. Even though crude oil is not the primary source of energy for aluminium production, the fact that energy costs accounts for nearly 30 percent of the total cost of production, the falling oil prices may have a deflationary impact. “The entire commodity complex is having a reaction to crude and the U.S. dollar strength,” Bart Melek, the head of commodity strategy at TD Securities in Toronto, said by e-mail. “There is that potential on the headlines and less Petro dollars available to invest in the commodity space.” The London Metal...
Alumimium plant workers face 30% pay cuts after financial rescue
Workers at aluminium factor Aldel have been faced with average pay cuts of 30% following the company’s relaunch, broadcaster Nos said on Thursday. The new wages are in line with metal working sector pay scales but some people will earn up to €700 a month less, union officials say. Staff have rejected the pay deal, paving the way for further industrial unrest at the plant. The smelter, in Delfzijl in northern Groningen had to close at the end of last year because of financial problems, which had been made worse by the high cost of electricity. The company’s American major shareholder Gary Klesch came up with a new investment plan to keep the plant open, saving 600 direct and indirect jobs. ‘Aluminium smelter wages are certainly not the biggest cost to the company but the American owner...
CGAG teams up with Can for Kids’ for a new recycling program
The Turkish Cypriot Cyprus Green Action Group (CGAG) organized the first can recycling initiative in the North called Teneke Çocuk or Can Kid, inspired by a similar drive adopted by Cans for Kids charity which had managed to recycle more that 20 million cans and donating 260,000 euros worth of medical equipment to the children’s ward at Nicosia’s Makarios Hospital. Can for Kids’ had the desire to recycle the used can in the island for a long time, and when CGAG expressed a similar desire, they came together under an EEA-funded project named Together We Can where the two entities could discuss ideas with Can for Kids’ mentoring CGAG. There were many workshops, seminars and hands-on training that were carried out during the mentoring stage where CGAG was invited to help in can sorting and...
Aziana Limited to dispose of asset
Aziana Limited has been granted an ASX trading halt in relation to a proposed asset disposal. The company has bauxite, copper and graphite mineral projects in Madagascar as well as working interests in oil and gas exploration and production leases in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Louisiana. In the September quarter, it received partial sales proceeds of US$285,000 from the sale of minor gold licences. A further US$562,500 is due to be received in the next six months with the remaining balance of US$427,500 due upon transfer of title. It also noted an increased interest in Madagascar minerals projects that could result in an acceptable joint venture or sale of minerals projects in the future. The halt will last until the earlier of the announcement being made or the commencement of trade on...
AlCircle spends an eventful second day at IBAAS 2014
The second day of IBAAS is running successfully at the Novotel hotel in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh, India. The conference took off yesterday with the inaugural lamp lighting ceremony carried out by the respected guests of honor, Tom Albanese, Soma Mondol, Niu Heng and Anupam Agnihotri from Sesa Sterlite, Nalco, Chalieco and JNARDDC respectively. Today, there were three parallel sessions running simultaneously, the first one on Bauxite and Alumina, second was on aluminium smelting environment and waste management and the third one on the Downstream Aluminium sector. In the three sessions, eminent speakers from the respective sectors presented their technical and marketing papers shedding light on the present condition of the industry and suggesting viable solutions for the future. Hindalco,...
