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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Novelis Launches Multilingual Newsroom in Support of Global Strategy
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today announced the launch of an enhanced online newsroom platform providing multilingual capability. The newsroom will facilitate more effective and efficient communication of company news in key markets around the world. Company news will now be published in Portuguese, German, Mandarin, Korean and English. “The launch of this enhanced newsroom functionality is reflective of the global presence of Novelis,” said Kim Adler, Vice President, Communications and Government Affairs for Novelis. “With this new global platform, we are now able to communicate in a more seamless way with our customers, investors, employees, local communities and other stakeholders around the world.” Located on Novelis.com, the multilingual newsroom...
Anil Agarwal requests the Chhattisgarh government to start the Korba power plant
Anil Agrawal, the founder and executive chairman of the London-listed Vedanta Resources travelled to Raipur on Monday to talk to the authorities about the power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district which has been stalled and is affecting the other projects in the state. The 1200-Mw power plant that was set up in the Balco facility in the Korba district was completed two years ago and has been lying idle since then. Agarwal says, "The Chhattisgarh government should take initiative for starting the power plant at the earliest." This stalled project is having an adverse effect on the other projects of the company in the Chhattisgarh area, not to mention, this project is a National property and the government should be initiated without delay. The company had invested INR 15,000 crore on...
NALCO to announce Q2 results on Nov 12, 2014
A meeting of the Board of Directors of National Aluminium Company Ltd will be held on November 12, 2014, to take on record the Unaudited Financial Results of the Company for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 (Q2). Shares of NATIONAL ALUMINIUM CO.LTD. was last trading in BSE at INR58.95 as compared to the previous close of INR 59.85. The total number of shares traded during the day was 99874 in over 1016 trades. The stock hit an intraday high of INR 60.45 and intraday low of 58.8. The net turnover during the day was INR 59,53,687.
Floor seen in Century Aluminum
Century Aluminum reports earnings tomorrow afternoon, and one trader apparently believes that declines will be limited through next spring. optionMONSTER's tracking systems yesterday detected the sale of 2,000 March 22 puts for $1.45, below the bid price at the time. This is clearly a new position, as open interest in the strike was just 918 contracts before the trade appeared. The put seller collects the $1.45 credit and is looking for CENX to stay above $22 through expiration in mid-March. If the stock falls below that strike price, the trader will be on the hook to buy shares at that level. CENX fell 4.27 percent to $26.90 yesterday but is up 200 percent in the last year. The aluminum producer pulled back after hitting a six-year high of $29.54 on Sept. 5 but found support at the $22...
The debate between aluminium surplus and aluminium deficit: LME seminar
At the London Metal Exchange seminar two distinct and diametrically opposite opinions came forth regarding the global aluminium situation – whether it is in deficit or surplus? Nic Brown of Natixis claimed that the market was in deficit which is expected grow wider in the next two three years. David Wilson of Citi Bank on the other hand stated that the market is in surplus and expected to stay that way till 2017 at least. The reason for these two contradictory theories is two prime factors – lack of conclusive counting system and China. Calculating the demand and supply statistics of any industrial metal is an incredibly difficult task and things get more complicated when it comes to aluminium. Unlike International Study Groups that cover the statistical reports for the other metals like...
VHE has developed a new Thimble removing machine
VHE has designed and fabricated a thimble removal press with several novel features. The machine was installed in a smelter in Iceland in mid-2013. Thimble is associated with the process of aluminium smelting where it forms the metal brushings attached to the anode stems. They are usually made up of cast iron and needs to be removed frequently so that the anode stem can be reused after cleaning and the metal remains of the thimble can be sent to recycling. The thimble press is designed for use with stubs arranged three in line but may be adapted for other configurations. Uniquely, the design permits the machine to automatically adjust to yokes with different stem offsets, a necessary feature at certain smelters. When a rod enters the press the stem is clamped with a set of hydraulically...
Ma’aden operating profit jumps 622% while sales reach over 3 billion riyals
The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) announced strong financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2014. Ma’aden sales during the quarter reached SR 3152 million, an increase of 96% over the same quarter last year, while operational profit was SR 694 million in Q3 2013, an increase of 622% compared to same quarter in 2013. This significant increase in operating income was largely attributable to higher sales volumes and an increase in prices achieved for all Ma’aden products except gold. Although net income decreased in Q3 2014 compared to Q3 2013, this is largely due to contractual payments from partners Mosaic and Sabic that were paid to Ma’aden in Q3 2013. When these payments are excluded, Ma’aden achieved an increase in net income this quarter compared to the same...
China Inner Mongolia Starts Producing Alumina from Coal Ash
Inner Mongolia Mengxi High-Tech Group started trials on its 200,000-tpy alumina project in Inner Mongolia on October 25, local media reported yesterday. The project, with total investment at 2.5 billion yuan ($ 410 million), will source coal ash, a waste of byproduct of thermal power generation as raw material, it added. The company is planning to extend its value chain to capitalize on rich coal resources there.
China Alumina Output to Rebound in Oct. as Refineries Reopen
China’s alumina output will rebound in October following maintenance-induced decline in September, Shanghai Metals Market foresees. Completion of facility overhaul and production incentive from rising alumina prices will be two major drivers of production recovery, SMM understands. For example, Shanxi Huaxing Aluminum Co.’s 1 million-tpy alumina project will hit full capacity in October. Inner Monglolia Mengxi High-Tech Group started trials on its 200,000-tpy alumina project using coal ash as raw material in late September, SMM has learned. China’s alumina output dropped 243,000 tonnes month-on-month to 4.08 million tonnes in September, due mainly to widespread maintenance.
Diehl Ako, Sapa share benefits from technical expertise
Sapa spends more on research and development, and more time on customer training, than any other aluminium extruder. A year ago, Sapa’s Profile Academy provided more than 15,000 hours of technical training to designers, technicians, engineers, product developers and architects all across the world. In 2014, the company has provided approximately 1,000 hours of training in German-speaking regions alone. Customers like Nuremberg-based Diehl are benefiting. Customized for Diehl Ako In addition to the full “academy” sessions, where various customers participate, Sapa arranges training workshops customized toward certain market segments and customers – even university students. Diehl Ako, one of the brands in the Diehl group, recently sent application engineers and purchasers to Sapa’s...
The local aluminium utensils industry needs Haryana government support
In Jagadgri, Haryana, aluminium utensils are falling back in the competition with other low-cost options gaining popularity like stainless steel. This has limited the capacity utilization to 60 percent in the last few years with only a small cluster of aluminium utensils manufacturers amounting to about a 100. Among the 100, most fall under the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) category. There is an immediate need for the state government to support the industry through subsidies, abolishment of Central excise duty adding the aluminium utensils industry in the exempted category of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST). The president of the Federation of All India Aluminium Utensils Manufacturers, Tarun Goyal also said that another deterrent in the use of aluminium utensils are...
SNC-Lavalin and Hatch win PMI's 2014 Project of the Year Award for Rio Tinto Alcan's AP60 Project
Rio Tinto Alcan (RTA), SNC-Lavalin, and Hatch received the coveted Project of the Year award at last night's Project Management Institute (PMI) Professional Awards Gala. The PMI Professional Awards honor organizations and individuals whose passion, talent and expertise make the greatest contributions to the project management profession. And this team had plenty of passion. In fact, the motto "rigor, courage, passion" was adopted to drive the team's commitment to meeting the project goals and exceeding RTA's expectations for health, safety, and the environment (HSE). AP60 Phase 1 is a new aluminum plant located in Jonquiere, Quebec (464 km northeast of Montreal). The plant was designed to test RTA's proprietary AP60 smelting technology at an industrial scale. The project is the...
UAE relieved of safeguard duties due to be imposed by India
In a report released by His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Shamsi, the assistant Undersecretary of Industry in the Ministry of Economy, he stated that the Government of India had started an investigation on 7th April 2014, regarding import of aluminium ingots from UAE to India. The root of the investigation lay in complaints of the Indian domestic aluminium producers who accused UAE of bringing in cheap aluminium ingots that is destroying the market for their products in the Indian markets. The complaint was registered under the category of ‘not alloyed ingots of unwrought aluminium’. The anti-dumping Ministry of UAE submitted several documents to the Government of India which proves that the claims raised by India do not meet the World Trade Organization Agreement of Safeguards’ legal...
Bauxite Resources limited publishes September 2014 Quarterly report
Bauxite Resources limited publishes September 2014 Quarterly report. Highlights of the report are given below: • Upgrade of Athena Resource resulting in 36.2Mt @ 32.8% low temp available alumina (41.8% total) and 2.8% reactive silica under the HD Mining Joint Venture • Fortuna DSO Scoping Study progressing with preliminary findings due in November 2014 • Felicitas resource upgrade leads to increased grade and movement of approximately 54% of resources into Measured category - Felicitas now stands at 227.9Mt @ 39.7% Total Al2O3 (31.3% available @ 148°C), 8.7% SiO2 (2.0% reactive @148°C) - Measured category 122.7Mt @ 39.9% Total Al2O3 (31.6% available @ 148°C), 7.7% SiO2 (1.7% reactive @148°C) • Bauxite resources held by Bauxite Resources Limited and its joint venture partner’s total •...
2030 Energy and Climate Package: EEA expects concrete EU measures
In response to the EU Council Conclusions on the 2030 Climate and Energy package, the European aluminium industry welcomes the confirmation that measures to stop investment leakage will continue after 2020. After a decade of disinvestment, it is now high time to deliver the concrete measures that will rebuild European manufacturing’s leadership in low carbon solutions. Director-General of the European Aluminium Association (EAA) Gerd Götz commented: “Today, EU Heads of state and government sent a clear signal that high energy costs in Europe must be addressed in the post-2020 era. In particular, we strongly welcome the Council’s commitment to address indirect carbon costs. These costs are six times higher than direct carbon costs for the aluminium industry and have already cost Europe...
BFS team appointed for High Purity Alumina (HPA) project
Australia Minerals and Mining Group Limited (ASX: AKA) (“AMMG” or “The Company”) is pleased to announce it has appointed the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) team for the development of its high purity alumina (HPA) project targeting 3,000tpa operation. The BFS team is composed of reputable and dynamic experts in the fields of mine design, beneficiation, chemical processing, plant engineering and environmental management. Continuous pilot plant test work to optimise and de-risk the project will be conducted as part of the BFS. The BFS team will work closely with the Company’s corporate operations team to ensure the successful development of the HPA project. The following appointments have been made: Managing Director, Iggy Tan welcomed the recent appointments to the BFS team. The BFS work...
Bauxite Resources limited publishes September 2014 Quarterly report
Bauxite Resources limited publishes September 2014 Quarterly report. Highlights of the report are given below: • Upgrade of Athena Resource resulting in 36.2Mt @ 32.8% low temp available alumina (41.8% total) and 2.8% reactive silica under the HD Mining Joint Venture • Fortuna DSO Scoping Study progressing with preliminary findings due in November 2014 • Felicitas resource upgrade leads to increased grade and movement of approximately 54% of resources into Measured category - Felicitas now stands at 227.9Mt @ 39.7% Total Al2O3 (31.3% available @ 148°C), 8.7% SiO2 (2.0% reactive @148°C) - Measured category 122.7Mt @ 39.9% Total Al2O3 (31.6% available @ 148°C), 7.7% SiO2 (1.7% reactive @148°C) • Bauxite resources held by Bauxite Resources Limited and its joint venture partner’s total...
Property worth millions destroyed, as fire ravaged Tower Aluminium
BILLIONS of naira worth of property was, at the weekend, destroyed, as fire ravaged Tower Aluminum Company, at the Industrial Estate in Onipanu area of Ota, Ogun State. The inferno reportedly affected up to 15 companies, which relied on Tower Aluminum’s mill, which was completely burnt. The fire incident, which was said to have started from a minor spark on the spillage of diesel near the company’s ultramodern mill and panel room, put a halt to operations in most of the companies at the industrial estate. The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the fire, which started around 5 O’ clock on Saturday morning, raged for more than five hours and completely destroyed the multi-billion naira mill and the company’ s panel rooms before it was put out by combined team of fire fighters from many...
