Bell Bay Aluminium (BBA), Australia's oldest aluminium smelter, is reviewing its workforce and offering redundancies for a small number of positions, just over a month after receiving an AUD 200 million (USD 137.52 million) government support package aimed at securing the facility's future until at least 2031. Up to 10 roles are understood to have been affected by the review, although the smelter is expected to retain its existing workforce of approximately 550 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Some redeployment opportunities will also be available, while the positions identified are not understood to involve frontline services. The changes reportedly include some former participants in Bell Bay Aluminium's graduate programme. Rio Tinto, which operates the smelter near George Town in...
South32 expects the sale of its aluminium value chain assets to Alcoa to be completed in the six months ending June 2027. The proposed transaction covers its aluminium operations and related bauxite and alumina assets in South Africa, Australia and Brazil. The sale follows a binding conditional agreement signed by the two companies, under which Alcoa agreed to acquire the assets for up to USD 5.6 billion . The assets include South32's Hillside Aluminium smelter and the idled Bayside smelter in South Africa, its interests in the Boddington bauxite mine and Worsley alumina refinery in Australia, and the Mineração Rio do Norte bauxite mine and Alumar alumina refinery and aluminium smelter in Brazil. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our...
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The 4th IBAAS Symposium ended successfully at Suzhou, China. On 27th November, the 3rd and final day, about 12 papers in 2 parallel sessions, 6 on alumina and 6 on downstream operations were presented. Topics covered were mainly on technological and process improvements in alumina refining, bauxite residue utilization and downstream operations. Papers were presented by the representatives from JNARDDC, IBAAS, PRIMA RESOURCES, CHALIEACO etc. The papers presented revealed the wide knowledge base in the aluminium field and the environmental concerns and potential of improvements. Many Chinese presentations showed continuous efforts that are being made in this country to reduce the cost of production and to keep adding values to downstream products. The organising committee then had a closing...
Russian aluminium giant Rusal plans to launch its Boguchansk aluminium smelter in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region in the first quarter of 2016, Chief Executive Officer Vladislav Soloviev told media on Friday, last week. The smelter was previously expected to start production by the end of 2015. But due to extreme price volatility and a hostile market condition the plan got delayed. Now, to meet the existing demand, Rusal has decided to go ahead with the plan and start production in its Boguchansk aluminium smelter in the first quarter of 2016.
An aluminium producer has offered Japanese buyers a premium of $120 per tonne for January-March primary metal shipments, up 33 percent from the previous quarter, said sources close to industry bodies asscoiated with pricing of metals. Japan is Asia's biggest importer of the metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region. For the October-December quarter, Japanese buyers mostly agreed to pay a premium of $90 per tonne PREM-ALUM-JP, down 10 percent from the prior quarter. The latest quarterly pricing negotiations began this week between Japanese buyers and miners including Rio Tinto Ltd, Alcoa Inc and South32 Ltd, and are expected to continue next month.
LME aluminium will extend upward momentum into next week, SMM expects. SHFE aluminium will rise further to 10,400-10,800 yuan per tonne on more short-covering triggered by output out news. And this will push LME aluminium up to 1,500-1,550 per tonne. A firm US dollar amid high expectations for US rate hike this year will pressure LME aluminium at highs, though. A firm US dollar amid high expectations for US rate hike this year and concerns over China economic slowdown all bode ill for LME aluminium. In China’s spot market, despite rising SHFE aluminium, the fact that forward-month SHFE aluminium contract underperform near-month contracts and growing wait-and-see sentiment among processors will check spot discounts in check around 100 yuan per tonne over SHFE front-month contract.
China's state stockpiler is considering buying more than 1.0 million tonnes of aluminium from local smelters, sources said, an initial sign that Beijing could agree to the first major bailout in its embattled metals industry since 2009. News that the central government might scoop up a sizeable portion of domestic inventory in a bid to shore up struggling smelters stunned some traders, who said the strategy to increase state reserves would offer only short-term support to prices as the demand would be artificial. Shifting metal into storage would do little to get rid of the structural overcapacity that has pushed international prices to decade lows and helped create global oversupply, the traders said. Estimates on the world glut range between 8 million and 12 million tonnes. The...
The International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium ("ICSOBA") and Emirates Global Aluminium (" EGA ") will collaboratively host the 33rd ICSOBA Conference and Exhibition in Dubai from 29 November to 1 December. Formed in 1963, ICSOBA's main objective is to promote the exchange of ideas and findings from the various fields of research and practice related to bauxite exploration and mining as well as alumina and aluminium production. ICSOBA 2015 marks the first time that the event is taking place in the UAE; and the conference will feature a number of international industry speakers who will cover topics including bauxite and bauxite resources; alumina production and residue solutions; primary aluminium production; carbon and carbon materials and; aluminium products and...
Aluminium prices on Mumbai's Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) gained 1.97 per cent to INR 98.30 per kg in futures trade as speculators enlarged positions amid positive cues from global markets. Besides, increased demand at domestic spot markets influenced prices. At MCX, aluminium for delivery in November rose by INR 1.90, or 1.97 per cent, to INR 98.30 per kg in a business turnover of 353 lots. Also, the metal for delivery in December traded higher by INR 1.80, or 1.84 per cent, to INR 99.60 per kg in 125 lots. Market analysts said the rise in aluminium prices at futures trade was due to a firming trend in base metals at the London Metal Exchange amid rising demand at spot markets here.
A special work team comprising Bahrani and Russian industry experts, who are in charge of exploring areas of cooperation between the Kingdom of Bahrain and Russia in the Aluminium industry, held its first meeting on Thursday, November 26. The meeting waschaired by the Undersecretary for Industry Affairs at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Osama Mohammed Alarrayedh. The diplomats and experts reviewed several aspects of joint cooperation in the field of aluminium industry, including ways to exchange information regarding the current situation in both countries and how to boost it as well as ways to face challenges and potentials of establishing joint ventures for producing bauxite and alumina. Ministers of industry and commerce in both countries held several meetings, which...
UC Rusal, Sberbank, RusNano, RusHydro and Ingosstrakh have introduced an initiative to consolidate the efforts of Russian business to mitigate environmental impacts and help prevent climate change by creating the ‘Climate partnership of Russia’. The initiative signals another step forward to introducing new climate agreements at the upcoming UN Paris Climate Change Conference (“COP21”). COP21 presents an unprecedented opportunity to chart a new and sustainable direction in the continuing development of the global economy. The agreements that will be reached at COP21, succeeding the Kyoto Protocol, will have to set a new global strategy to minimize the anthropogenic impact on the environment for the carbon footprint. Scientific studies have left little space for doubt that global warming...
The Gulf Industry Fair 2016, taking place from 9 to 11 February at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre will showcase the importance of the aluminium sector and ‘value added’ products in wealth creation of the economy. Led by Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters, and supported by the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC), the Aluminium Zone at Gulf Industry Fair 2016 promises to reflect the trends of the global aluminum industry, which continues to drive opportunity for downstream suppliers such as Bahraini companies Balexco, Midal Cables, Ameeri Industries and Turk Mechanical. Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project, will add approximately 514,000 tonnes to Alba’s current annual capacity of 931,000 tonnes (year-end 2014) – which will make Alba the...
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation announced today that it has received notification that NYSE Regulation, Inc. has determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company's common stock from the New York Stock Exchange, and that upon completion of all applicable procedures, the NYSE will file an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission to delist the stock. NYSE Regulation advised the company that it reached its decision to delist the common stock pursuant to Section 802.01B of the NYSE's Listed company Manual because the company has fallen below the NYSE's continued listing standard requiring listed companies to maintain an average global market capitalization over a consecutive 30 trading day period of at least $15.0 million. The company does not intend to appeal the...
A joint project is underway to develop a robust laser welding process for ship building. Led by Laser Zentrum Hannover, the ‘Laser Welding of Steel to Aluminium for Applications in Shipbuilding’ (LaSAAS) project aims to construct hybrid steel-aluminium structures to reduce weight in parts like ship hulls. Ship hulls are already made of steel and aluminium superstructures, which has the advantage of weighing less as well as lowering the ship’s centre of gravity for improved stability. However, at the moment, the different metals are joined using an adapter piece. This is done with explosive cladding, a complicated and cost intensive joining technology. The scientists and industrial partners of the LaSAAS project want to replace this adapter piece. Precitec, Scansonic MI, and Trumpf Laser-...
The Midwest aluminum premium has risen as fears about costs set in after Alcoa’s announcement that it is shuttering much of its North American smelting capacity. Midwest premium rises on Alcoa shutdowns announcement The US Midwest aluminum premium has risen to its highest level in six months, traders told Reuters on Tuesday, but the current forward curve and Alcoa‘s plans to save a US smelter from curtailment were seen pressuring prices in the near-term. The premium, paid on top of London Metal Exchange (LME) futures prices for physical delivery in the US, has risen to around 8.75 cents a lb., the traders said, citing the continued impact of Alcoa’s plans to shutter the bulk of its US smelting capacity, announced November 2.
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the leading employers in Bahrain, has appointed Mohammed Khalid as the Manager - Customer Services & Marketing Operations. In his new role, Mohammed will be overseeing customer service operations and marketing activities such as metal production planning, logistics, billing & documentation, pricing and market research. Commenting on Mohammed’s appointment, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said: “Alba takes great pride in promoting from within the Company and empowering nationals with higher education and work skills, which prepare them for greater responsibilities. Mohammed is an example of our commitment to empower Bahraini nationals and take up leadership opportunities to drive the future success of the Company.” Mohammed joined Alba’s...
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa today announced executive management appointments for the future Upstream and Value-Add Companies, expected to become effective upon completion of Alcoa’s previously announced separation in the second half of 2016. Roy Harvey, Executive Vice President and Alcoa President of Global Primary Products, will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the new Upstream Company. William Oplinger, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alcoa, will serve as the Upstream Company’s Chief Financial Officer. In the Value-Add Company, Ken Giacobbe will serve as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Giacobbe is currently Chief Financial Officer of Alcoa’s Engineered Products and Solutions business. As previously announced, Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and Chief...
Réel announces the acquisition of Alesa, a specialist in design, supply, installation and service specialist complex materials handling equipment mainly for the aluminium industry. With a hundred employees located in Switzerland, in Canada, and in France, Alesa named now REEL ALESA will become a new entity within Group Réel and bring a high level of complementary technical strengths and sales strategies. This acquisition is an important strategic move for the Group, allowing it to become a major player in the supply of equipment for the aluminium industry. The realised transaction involves the acquisition of RTA Alesa AG holding company (Swiss company with headquarters in Zurich), which owns RTA Alesa Ltd (Canadian company based in Montreal), and Alesa Technologies SAS (French company...
China's aluminium producers have asked Beijing to buy up surplus metal, sources said, the first coordinated effort since 2009 to revive prices suffering their worst rout since the global financial crisis. The state-controlled metals industry body, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, proposed on Monday, November 23, that the government scoop up aluminium, an official at the association and two industry sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The request was made to the state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). While it is not clear if the authorities will agree to the proposal, the approach underlines the extent to which loss-making smelters in the world's top producer and consumer are suffering from prices hovering at or near multi-year...
The 4th symposium of International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Society (IBAAS) that is being organised in cooperation with CHALIECO and Suzhou Non-Ferrous Research Institute (SINR) at Suzhou, China, was inaugurated on 25th November 2015 in a grand manner. Several leading dignitaries of China from Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Association, CHALIECO, CNPT, GAMI, SAMI and scores of companies and institutes were present in the inaugural function. About 180 delegates are participating in this mega event, including 40 participants from outside China. The opening ceremony was kicked off by the welcome speech by Mr. Ma Ning-Vice President CHALIECO. He was of the opinion that even though the industry is going through a difficult time with LME aluminium hitting a six-year low, by the way of...
