Can Oklahoma reshape US aluminium supply? EGA’s Ziad Fares explains the project
As the US seeks to rebuild its domestic aluminium production capacity, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum are advancing plans for a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, targeting more than 750,000 tonnes of annual production. In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Ziad Fares, Project Director for Oklahoma Primary Aluminum , discusses the project’s strategic rationale, progress towards a targeted construction start in early 2027, planned smelting technology, power and infrastructure requirements, investment considerations, and its potential impact on US aluminium supply chains. He also addresses environmental safeguards and stakeholder concerns. Fares brings more than 20 years of experience across engineering, strategy, finance, metals and mining, and...
The lower the aluminium content of the dross, the greater the aluminium recovery benefit RAME can achieve
In a recent conversation with AL Circle, Eric Lefebvre, Vice President of Business Development at Lefebvre Industri-AL, discussed the company’s approach to recovering and recycling aluminium residues and its role in advancing the circular economy. Based in Quebec, Lefebvre Industri-AL develops solutions, including RAME technology, that transform aluminium residues into reusable resources while helping producers reduce their environmental footprint and improve operational efficiency. With extensive experience in the industrial sector, Lefebvre works with aluminium producers, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships and expand markets. His approach focuses on turning the industry’s environmental challenges into economically viable opportunities...
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“Arctus Aluminium Ltd. is scaling up its production cells for a pilot plant at Trimet Aluminium in Germany”, Eng. Jon Magnusson, Founder and CEO of Arctus Aluminium
Sustainable Carbon Free Aluminium Process A report from December 2021 by the World Economic Forum and the Energy Transmission Commission with the title “Closing the Gap for Aluminium Emissions” is a described possible technology to reduce CO 2 emissions from the aluminium industry. In this report are listed three corporations developing carbon-free aluminium processes, all based on vertical inert anodes and cathodes in low-temperature electrolyte: Elysis informing to have the technology commercially available in 2024, Rusal to be ready in 2030 and the Icelandic Arctus Aluminium claims to have their technology available also in 2030. AlCircle wanted to know about Arctus Aluminium, the company and process and contacted its CEO and Founder, Eng. Jon Magnusson. AlCircle: What is the status of...
“Aluminium producers are eager for alternative applications for bath, to avoid the unpalatable options of on-site storage or landfill”, Dr Mark Cooksey, CEO of ABx Group
Dr Mark Cooksey is the CEO of ABx Group, which he joined in early 2020. He previously held process improvement and process development leadership positions with Rio Tinto, GE and CSIRO, the national science agency of Australia. Dr Cooksey has focused on process innovation throughout his 25-year career and he has extensive experience in developing and commercialising new processes in the minerals industry, particularly in the aluminium value chain. AlCircle: Congratulations on being appointed as CEO of ABx Group. Could you share Alcore’s success story of producing commercial grade aluminium fluoride from smelter waste products? How is it important to the aluminium smelter? Dr Mark Cooksey: Sodium enters the smelting process as an impurity in the alumina. Aluminium fluoride must be...
“EPIQ Mecfor Casthouse Solution brings the right solutions by considering the holistic and long-term success of the cast house”, EPIQ Mecfor.
EPIQ Machinery is a world leader in heavy equipment for the aluminium, pulp and paper, and rail equipment industries. The company has diversified activities on various niche markets providing a solid installed base and a strong capacity for its aftermarket services. All at EPIQ share the same passion for challenges. The growth is based on deeply embedded values with active listening and the capacity to adapt the offer for greater flexibility. It was a great opportunity for AlCircle to get an interview with the top executives of EPIQ Mecfor. Yannick Beaulé, Chief Revenue Officer Kevin Williams, General Sales Manager – Primary Metals Marty De Goey, Business Development / Application Specialist - Primary Metals Isabelle Gaudreau, Marketing and Communication Coordinator AlCircle: What new...
“As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, IAI will spotlight the industry's products, people and progress as part of demonstrating how aluminium is shaping a better tomorrow”, Miles Prosser, Secretary General, International Aluminium Institute.
On the 50 th anniversary landmark of the International Aluminium Institute, we are really glad to get an interview from Mr Miles Prosser discussing the role in guiding the global primary aluminium sector toward a more sustainable future. AlCircle: How would you describe the journey so far? Mr Miles Prosser : Over the past fifty years, some things have remained constant while other aspects of the journey have seen some major changes. The IAI has always been focused on sustainability issues – this was present right from the start, along with the idea of building a forum where our members can collaborate to get things done. The specific nature of the sustainability issues may have changed, but our desire to promote aluminium and assist the industry on its sustainability journey hasn't...
“GMG hopes to go into commercial production of 'Graphene Aluminium Ion batteries' in the near term”, Craig Nicol, Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG)
Craig Nicol with a successful career of over 20 years in delivering large scale innovation including leading multi-billion-dollar gas and LNG value chains in Australia and the Asia Pacific and managing sales and marketing teams across the Asia Pacific working for Shell International. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Manufacturing Systems (Honours) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from the Queensland University of Technology. We at AlCircle got a wonderful opportunity for an interview in regards to graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Battery") with Mr Craig Nicol , Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) in regards to graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Battery"). AlCircle : With the G+AI batteries already...
“RUSAL had enough courage to step into the ‘unchartered waters’ and try things which other peer companies hadn’t tried”, Irina Bakhtina, Chief Sustainability Officer, Rusal
A graduate in journalism from the Far Eastern State University (Vladivostok), Irina Bakhtina has also completed the INSEAD Business School executive program in Strategic Management and the externship of the Higher School of Management in Economics from St. Petersburg State University. Earlier, Irina Bakhtina served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Komi Republic, where she was responsible for the socio-economic development and the formation of investment and innovation policy in the region, including the Arctic zone of Russia. To know her view about sustainable development and how Rusal is implementing sustainable development strategy across all divisions of the company and on the Group’s wider climate strategy aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, read the interview below:...
“The current power crisis inside China is about policy deployment gone wrong,” Paul Adkins, Founder and Managing Director, AZ China
Paul Adkins, Founder and Managing Director of specialist consulting firm AZ China Ltd, has had over 30 years of experience in the aluminium industry, including 13 years at Alcoa, 4 years at Tomago Aluminium and 3 years at Alcan Australia. AZ China is a specialist consulting company, with a focus on the global and Chinese aluminium industry. We at AlCircle are really glad to get an interview from Mr Paul Adkins , which is entirely based upon the upcoming AZ China Virtual Conference happening on 16 -18 November 2021and hereby goes the details: AlCircle: What does the theme of AZ China Virtual Conference “Beyond The Horizon” signify? Mr Paul Adkins: May I start by thanking Alcircle for being a media partner for our conference. We greatly appreciate your support. Conferences are a time to...
“The bauxite mining and export have not impacted in Guinea due to this coup, however, it is too early to predict future developments”, Dr Ashok Nandi, Convenor of International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Society (IBAAS).
On 5th September 2021, the world’s second-largest producer of bauxite, Guinea’s military seized power and suspended the constitution, destabilizing the West African nation. AlCircle team reached to Dr Ashok Nandi in regards to the political instability in Guinea and received a prompt reply on it. AlCircle: Did the global aluminium sector had any prior indication of Guinea’s political instability? Dr Ashok Nandi: As such there was no indication of any likely military coup in Guinea. However, after the third term of the present President during October 2020 by amending the constitution of a maximum of 2 terms had created some kind of unrest in the country. Despite exporting more than 80 million tonnes of bauxite per annum, the majority of the Guinean population remained poor and there was...
TAHA’s salt-free technologies have been patented in order to process aluminium dross to recover that same aluminium metal, and the residuals are then further processed into other industrially applicable products, Mr Frank Pollmann, Founder, TAHA International
Frank Pollmann is a German entrepreneur whose business roots in the Gulf region are more than 30 years deep. He founded TAHA International Corporation and has led its transformation from a small trading company in Bahrain to a leading-edge provider of proprietary dross management services to cast house operators worldwide. We at AlCircle are really glad to get a chance to interview Mr Frank Pollmann and hereby goes the details: AlCircle: What exactly TAHA International serves the aluminium industry? Mr Frank Pollmann: TAHA is an international company with corporate headquarters in the Netherlands, and operations based in the Middle East, that offers innovative and environmentally friendly solutions for dross processing for aluminium foundries and remelters. Its benchmark processing system...
“The global rise in Aluminium prices is only a spike driven by strong market sentiments, not by market fundamentals", Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, Resident Director - Vedanta & Former Chairman cum Managing Director of National Aluminium Company (NALCO)
AlCircle team received a great opportunity to interview Dr Tapan Kumar Chand , Resident Director - Vedanta & Former Chairman cum Managing Director of National Aluminium Company (NALCO) following the virtual event of “Indian Aluminium Summit”. AlCircle: What is the major reason behind the surge in the price of Aluminium globally? Dr T.K. Chand: The surge in prices of Aluminium is a part of the general surge of metal prices in the Global Market. In the case of Aluminium, production cut in North-Western Provinces of China due to power rationing, imposition of expert tax by Russia & bullish sentiment towards commodities are primarily responsible for pushing the prices up. These supply constraints have got aggravated due to factors like one third production curtailment at Alumar Alumina...
Automation and Robotics have become important aspects when talked about the global Industrial sector. Especially, automotive, infrastructure and packaging industries are using aluminium as one of the key materials for manufacturing of relevant components, Rahul Prajapat, Founder and CTO, TVARIT.
Driving the world towards sustainable and zero waste manufacturing is something that holds as a vision for a young and passionate technocrat like Rahul Prajapat, Founder and CTO, TVARIT. He is responsible for the Technology and Go to Market activities of the TVARIT GmbH. Prajapat having strong expertise and huge insights in the segment of Smart factory, Industry 4.0, and Metal manufacturing, under his leadership, TVARIT has substantially grown the business and major rollouts of TVARIT’s platform TiA are currently ongoing. AlCircle: How is Industry 4.0 changing the dynamics of the global aluminium and metal industry from TVARIT’s point of view? Mr Rahul Prajapat: The global aluminium and metal industry is facing severe challenges such as high scrap rate, low production due to unplanned...
“The benefits of automation are multi-faceted in this industry. Our fully automatic systems allow for the entire process to be carried out with minimal human contact”, Christian Ferman, Senior Electrical Engineer and Project Manager, Granco Clark.
Christian Ferman is a Senior Electrical Engineer and Project Manager with 11 years’ experience in the design of control systems, embedded systems and safety systems for Granco Clark. A graduate from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Christian is also a certified Safety Engineer with a CMSE accreditation. AlCircle: How Industry 4.0 has changed the dynamics of the aluminium extrusion industry? Christian Ferman: Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing the industry for personnel at every level of the process. Maintenance staff can now take advantage of predictive analytics that uses sensor and process data. This allows Granco Clark equipment to notify them of potential process or equipment failures before they happen. Production engineers...
“For an extrusion company, on-time decisions facilitated by Industry 4.0 would run the manufacturing processes very smoothly increasing the efficiency”, Pramuk Dediwela, Managing Director of Alumex PLC.
Mr. Pramuk Dediwela started his career in January 1989 and has over 32 years of experience in the fields of Marketing and Sales, Material and Logistics, Finance, Manufacturing and Administration as well as Human Resources management under Alumex Group. He joined Alumex PLC and its subsidiaries in December 2010 as an Executive Director. Later on, in November 2017, he became the Chief Operating Officer and then became the Managing Director in July 2018. Mr. Dediwela is a Marketer cum Financial Economist and holds a Master in Financial Economics (University of Colombo), Master of Business Administration (University of Southern Queensland), Post-Graduate Diploma in Business and Financial Administration (CA Sri Lanka/Cranfield - UK), Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (Chartered Institute of...
For a sustainable world, a linear economy is no more desirable but needs to evolve into a circular green one, as per Circular Aluminium Action Plan and Green Deal 2050, Fabrizio Ciampoli, CEO, Ciampoli Consulting
AlCircle: Can you give us your view of the actual status of the Aluminium market in the EU? Mr Fabrizio Ciampoli: After 2020 with a lockdown due to Covid19 we are finally seeing a global recovery: this is definitely a positive trend but, as a downside, prices of raw materials are at their highest, including AL. Together with LME and high premium EU is living an increase of packaging and transport costs which are seriously worrying European and Italian producers, in particular, being our country specialized in transformation and constructions. This situation is also a consequence of China recovery (Pil up to 18.5% Q1-2021) and the USA economy in fast growth thanks to hedge funds. In Europe, there is a lack of primary AL and particularly automakers are struggling to find enough aluminium....
A brief interview with Enrico Zampedri, CEO of Metra, the Italian company world leader in aluminium extrusion
The Italian company Metra , the world leader in aluminium extrusion, today belongs to the American fund KPS Capital Partners specializing in investments in the industrial sector, including in aluminium, and is also known for its acquisition of the rolling mills of the Norwegian company Hydro. After sixty years Metra thus enters an international dynamic, as happened to its greatest partner: Permasteelisa. Metra is a prominent consumer of aluminium in Italy together with the Cromodora group (which produces wheels for automotive), Metra has written the history of downstream applications of light metal in Europe. The company has been a constellation for decades, a premier technology hub, with four factories in Europe and an industrial branch in Canada. Its expansion is the result of the...
“Environment and sustainability are an important part of our philosophy at Lofoten Arctic Water and we are constantly working to get better and help in the fight against pollution”, Mats Nevelius, Senior VP Sales and Marketing at Lofoten Arctic Water AS - Oslo, Norway
Mats Nevelius has a 20 (plus) years’ of working experience as Sales and Marketing professional in multiple companies across the Nordics and European region. Lofoten Arctic Water is the result of a love for the Lofoten Islands arctic outdoors, clean pure air, water and majestic mountains. Lofoten Arctic Water is a unique product of this landscape; it collects in a natural valley and is constantly renewed by nature, with no need for filtering or distillation. AlCircle: Could you please brief us about your journey towards offering your customers water in aluminium bottles? Mr Mats Nevelius: We started the search for the best solution for a smaller sized bottle that must be resealable, light weighted and possible to recycle over and over again. Situated at the ocean we know how important the...
“At Alcoa, we innovate. We are recognized leader in sustainable practices across all three of our segments, and we’re defining what it means to be a sustainable aluminium company”, Rosa M. García Piñeiro, Vice-President - Alcoa Sustainability, President - Alcoa Foundation
Rosa M. Piñeiro García is Global Sustainability Vice-president for Alcoa and President of the Alcoa Foundation. Previously, she served as President of Alcoa Spain. During her 21 years in the company, she also served as Director of Regional Affairs and Sustainability for Europe and as Director Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) for the European Region and the Primary Products business in Europe. Rosa joined Alcoa in 1999 to work as an Environmental Engineer for the San Ciprian Smelter and Refinery in Spain. In 2001, she moved to the Corporate EHS Audit Department, working with the North American and European Audit Teams first in Pittsburgh and then in Madrid. In 2003, she moved back to San Ciprian to take over the Environmental Department as Environmental Manager for the Smelter and the...
“Low carbon aluminium is produced with clean and renewable energy. Aluminium production being energy-intensive, a lot of electricity is needed and the energy source is the critical factor”, Denis Mazerolle, President, Nature Alu
Denis Mazerolle graduated from Laval University (Canada) in Metallurgy Engineering and had a 32 years career at Alcan and later at Rio Tinto. He had the opportunity to work in the technical, management, and commercial domains. In 2016 he founded NATURE ALU with other partners, a new company producing high-purity aluminium in Saguenay (Canada). AlCircle: Being the leading high-purity aluminium producer with a low carbon footprint, how do you think the uses of these products can contribute to reducing global emissions? Mr Denis Mazerolle : High-purity aluminium represents only a tiny portion of aluminium global production (less than 0,3%). Although it is not crucial in terms of volume, the type of products produced with high–purity aluminium is often required in energy storage and the...
