China Steel Aluminum, a subsidiary of China Steel, will invest approximately TWD 1 billion (USD 32 million) to build a smart manufacturing plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The investment was among two expansion applications approved by the Invest Taiwan Office on October 1, with a combined value of TWD 1.1 billion (USD 33 million). The new facility will be located in the Xiaogang District and focus on smart manufacturing and lower-carbon production. China Steel Aluminum, Taiwan’s largest manufacturer of aluminium rolled products, produces aluminium plates, sheets, coils and foil, as well as zinc alloy and hot-dip galvanised ingots. The investment supports the company’s shift toward high-end and low-carbon aluminium materials. The plant will integrate artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet...
This week, the overseas aluminium market was generally mediocre, with limited trading activity across major markets. In South Korea, purchases were mainly small-scale restocking, with little change in prices. In Thailand, demand remained weak, and some sellers slightly lowered their offers due to shipment pressure. The market focused on Q4 MJP quarterly pricing, with Rio Tinto's latest offer further reduced, and market expectations suggested there is still room for the final settlement price to move lower. South Korea: Mediocre market, transactions mainly small-scale restocking This week, trading in the South Korean market was very subdued, with purchasing demand limited to small-scale restocking and no concentrated procurement seen. Sellers showed moderate willingness to offer, with...
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Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc., a global energy and gasification technology company enabling clean, high-value energy and chemical products from multiple feedstocks, announced that the first of three previously announced industrial syngas gasification plants from its Tianwo-SES Joint Venture has entered the commissioning phase. The plant, in Zibo City, Shandong Province, China, is owned and operated by Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, and utilizes two SES Gasification Technology systems supplied by Tianwo-SES. These gasification systems are uniquely suited to generate clean and economical syngas from local, low-grade lignite coal which will replace the purchase of more expensive natural gas. The Shandong facility is projected to enter commercial operation this year. The two...
The average cost at Chinese aluminum smelters slid 1.0% from a month ago in May, driven by lower alumina and power costs, SMM survey showed. The average weighted alumina price in China's four major regions slipped 2.2% or 57 yuan per tonne month-on-month, and the Bohai-Rim Steam-Coal Price Index fell 7.9% from April to 416.25 yuan per tonne. This allowed alumina and power costs to drop 1.1% and 1.4%, respectively.
The London Metal Exchange on Monday said it is launching a new range of aluminum contracts to allow users to protect themselves against rising regional charges that occur in addition to the cost of the metal. The decision is part of a broader strategy by the LME to keep a handle on costs for market participants and follows a rule change in April to increase the rate at which metal is moved out of its warehouses. "The premium contract provides a straightforward mechanism for buyers to source readily accessible material in a given region, and for sellers to receive fair value for selling such material," the LME said in a statement. Warehouses will opt-in to the system to issue these premium contracts and only warehouses without any queues will be eligible. If a queue develops at...
China's aluminum exports dropped from a four-month high as ample supplies this year depressed premiums paid by buyers in Asia. Shipments of unwrought aluminum and products in May slid 5.7 percent from the previous month to 410,000 metric tons, according to data published by China's General Administration of Customs on Monday. Exports from January to May are up more than 35 percent from the same period last year to 2.06 million tons, according to the data. "The export surge is still quite strong, but if you look month-on-month it's coming down a bit and that's probably because of weaker aluminum prices and premiums outside China," said Helen Lau, analyst at Argonaut Securities (Asia) Ltd. in Hong Kong. "The international price is much cheaper now." The potential profit for Chinese...
Aluminium prices fell on Monday after data showed Chinese exports of the metal remained strong, highlighting worries about a glut of supply on the global market. Copper was steady and some other metals were firmer after a bigger than expected slide in overall Chinese imports boosted hopes for more stimulus in the world's top metals consumer. Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange declined 0.5 percent to $1,741.50 a tonne by 1025 GMT after hitting a 14-month low of $1,726 on Friday. Data on Monday showed Chinese exports of unwrought aluminium and products jumped 21 percent year-on-year to 410,000 tonnes, dipping only 5 percent from the previous month. "The exports of aluminium and aluminium products were strong again in May, which was no huge surprise," said Nic Brown, head of...
Aiming to bring transparency in allotment of coal linkages and their prices, the Ministry of Coal is working on the process to auction them to unregulated sectors like steel, cement or aluminium plants. The Ministry has accepted the high level panel report on auctioning of coal linkages to unregulated sectors and has put the draft policy in public domain for comments. A Coal Ministry official said the final auction policy will be ready in a month. Coal linkages are commitments by state-run Coal India to provide a particular amount of the fuel to a plant. These linkages are currently provided on recommendations of an official committee. The process to auction coal linkages will be different from that of coal blocks. After determining the available coal, bids will be invited at a price...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters, today, June 07, 2015 received H.E. Mr. William V. Roebuck, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Bahrain and H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Yousuf Ambassador of the Tunisian Republic to the Kingdom of Bahrain in two separate visits to Alba. The visits focussed on highlighting Alba’s production processes and various safety, health and environment systems, as well as seeking ways to strengthen business and cultural ties. Speaking about the visits, Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “We thank H.E. Mr. William V. Roebuck, Ambassador of the United States and H.E. Mr. Mohammed bin Yousuf Ambassador of the Tunisian Republic for visiting Alba. We appreciate...
State run aluminium major, the National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) has set a target to produce 3.5 lakh tonne of aluminium in the current financial year as per the MoU signed with the Ministry of Mines. The navaratna firm also aims to produce 21.50 lakh of alumina during the reporting period. These entire production targets have been set under the very good criteria of the agreement. Similarly, the company has been given a target of around INR 8,200 crore of sales turnover this fiscal with INR 1,800 crore of gross operating margin during this period. As per the MoU, the aluminium company has a capital expenditure target of INR 900 crore in FY16. On the required assistance from central government, NALCO has sought re-allotment of Utkal-E coal block under PSU quota. It has also sought...
The seminar concluded as a success in transferring knowledge from eminent experts to an industry and academic audience. This transfer of information furthers Qatalum and Hydro’s attempts to build a strong aluminium knowledge hub in Qatar, much to the appreciation of Qatar University. In between the 26th to 28th of May 2015, a seminar on “Research and Advances in Smelting Technologies in GCC” was organized at QSTP Doha. The presenters for this seminar were eminent researchers and R and D managers. For several years, Hydro QSTP had organized outstanding seminars and symposium in the downstream sector of the aluminium Industry. Qatar and the GCC are a major hub of global aluminium production accounting for over 10% of global production. Dr Chris Devadas who leads the Hydro Technology Centre...
Five aluminum smelters in Inner Mongolia will not be subject to tiered power tariffs since their alternate current power consumption per tonne of aluminum liquid produced is below 13,700 Kwh, local media reported. These five smelters are: Inner Mongolia HMHJ Aluminum & Electricity Co., China Power Investment Huolinhe Coal & Electricity Group Aluminum Co., East Hope Baotou Rare Earth Aluminum Co., Baotou Aluminum Co., Inner Mongolia Datang International Renewable Resource Development Co.
Taking another step towards strengthening the decade long relationship between the two biggest companies in the Aluminium Industry in India and in China, Mr. Tom Albanese, CEO of Vedanta Resources PLC, visited pioneer of Chinese aluminium industry technology, China Aluminum International Engineering Corp Ltd. (CHALIECO) on June 2. A MoU of technical cooperation was signed between the two companies. The two companies shall cooperate in technical innovation in various areas related to alumina, aluminium and downstream in terms of reducing energy consumption, optimization of nature resource utilization, waste management and new applications of aluminium alloys. Joint R&D between the two shall make the aluminium industry in India more competitive, environment friendly and sustainable....
The Indian Government announced recently that the auction of coal blocks would resume soon where 10 mines with an annual production of 13.14 million tons would be put up for auction to cement, steel and aluminium companies along with captive power plants. The auction conducted by the Ministry of Coal would offer linkages to Coal India's production for a span of five years. Coal India share prices rose more than 4.5% to INR 405 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) after it was declared that the company's production in May had risen by around 13% compared to the same period last year.
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world, announced today the opening of a new regional sales office in Atlanta as the most recent expansion of Alba in United States. Zac Jungers, recently appointed as the new Sales Manager for Alba Americas, will oversee the growth and development of this key market and, along with his team, will support initiatives that help in expanding the footprint of Alba's product portfolio within US. Jungers will be based at Alba's office in Atlanta Georgia, and will be reporting directly to the acting Chief Marketing Officer, Khalid Latif. Commenting on the opening of Alba's US sales office, Alba's Chief Executive Officer, Murray said: "Alba remains committed to expand its presence around the globe with the opening of a...
Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro ASA's fully owned subsidiary Hydro Energi AS has signed a long-term power contract with Eidsiva Vannkraft AS, a Norwegian hydro power producer, for annual supply of 300 GWh annually over 10 years from January 1, 2021, and a total delivery of 3.0 TWh. Hydro has already signed power contracts for the Karmøy pilot with Axpo Trading AG for 250 GWh annually, in the period 2021-2030, and with Lyse Produksjon AS for 330 GWh annually, for the period 2031-2040.
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world's leading aluminium smelters, was a key sponsor and participant in the 8th Harbor's Aluminium Summit, taking place from June 2 to 4, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Harbor Aluminium Summit, considered as one of the largest aluminium market gatherings in the Americas, is designed for leaders in the aluminium value chain looking to expand their clients and suppliers base as well as understanding of the aluminum industry. Attended by Alba's Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray, Acting Chief Marketing Officer, Khalid Latif and Sales Manager of Alba Americas, Zac Jungers, the company seeks to strengthen its presence in the global aluminium industry, and meet with key clients and customers at the 8th Harbor's Aluminium Summit. Murray was also a...
Chinese imports of primary aluminium ingot are likely to rise in coming months after the price of the metal fell on the global market, prompting end-users to buy, industry and trading sources said on Thursday. The weak London Metal Exchange (LME) price is opening a rare arbitrage opportunity for Chinese investors to sell aluminium futures in Shanghai and buy on the LME, which may result in some imports, the sources said. "We started selling more to Chinese end-users last week," said an Asian-based executive whose firm trades aluminium and also manufactures aluminium products in China. "China's imports will probably rise in the coming two or three months, although the rise may not be very big." Imports of primary aluminium fell 79 percent in the first four months of 2015 compared with a...
The government of Guangxi is working to cut costs for local aluminum smelters by power tariff cuts and tapping into rich hydropower in neighboring provinces, CNMN reported. The local government will establish regional power networks and try to cut power tariffs from over 0.06 yuan (0.97 cents) per Kwh to about 0.03 yuan per Kwh for industrial power users. Besides, the government is also looking to tap into abundant hydropower in neighboring Yunnan and Guizhou, the media added. A 0.02 yuan per Kwh reduction in power tariffs could translate into over 2.600 yuan per tonne savings in aluminum smelting costs.
Alba, one of the world's leading aluminium smelters, yesterday received Kazakhstan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Bakyt Batyrshayev. Mr Batyrshayev was welcomed by chief operations officer Isa Al Ansari, chief financial officer Ali Al Baqali and other Alba officials. The main purpose of the visit was to meet with Alba representatives and know more about the smelter's production processes as well as its role in supporting Bahrain's economy. During the visit, bilateral and business relations between Bahrain and Kazakhstan were discussed. 'We are pleased to receive Mr Batyrshayev and appreciate the visit as such meetings contribute towards enhancing economic relations between our countries, 'Mr Al Ansari said. The ambassador was also given a tour of Alba where he was briefed about the smelter's...
