Four days to go, and the aluminium world is getting ready to move to Düsseldorf. From October 6-8, the city will host ALUMINIUM 2026 , with more than 800 exhibitors and partners and over 21,000 trade visitors expected at Messe Düsseldorf. The event will bring together producers, recyclers, downstream manufacturers, technology providers, equipment suppliers, policymakers and end users from across the global aluminium value chain. The 2026 edition comes at an important point for the aluminium industry. European producers are facing pressure from energy costs, international competition and tighter climate requirements, while concerns around raw material security and resilient supply chains continue to grow. At the same time, demand for aluminium is expanding across electric mobility,...
The Aluminum Association launched “America Needs Aluminum,” a new public awareness and advocacy campaign highlighting aluminum’s essential role in the US economy and calling for policies that help America make, recycle and build more with this critical material. The campaign centers on a straightforward message: America needs aluminum - let’s make more of it here. It builds on the association’s broader “all-of-the-above” strategy for aluminum supply, which calls for expanding both recycled and primary aluminum production, strengthening domestic manufacturing, improving energy availability and aggressively confronting unfair trade. “Aluminum is essential to nearly every part of modern American life - from our cars, homes and packaging to the power grid, fighter jets and advanced...
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Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), a leading aluminium smelter in the world, announced a major safety milestone as it successfully achieved 4 million hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) on Thursday, February 19, 2015. This achievement is a testimony of the Company’s commitment to a safe working environment for employees across the plant. Speaking on this achievement, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said: “Alba’s main objective is to bring a change in the belief and behaviour of the employees, making them the owners of safety. At all times, we ensure the implementation of accredited international guidelines and highest standards of occupational health and safety, thus creating an environment that is safe for everyone. This significant accomplishment is a testament to our...
Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd. (Balco) bagged one more coal block on the eighth day of the auction, taking the total number of mines sold so far through the ongoing auction to 18 that will generate an estimated over Rs1 lakh crore for respective states. Friday night, Hindalco Industries Ltd. had bagged Gare Palma IV/4 mine in Chhattisgarh. The Aditya Birla Group company has bagged three coal blocks — two in Chhattisgarh and one in Jharkhand so far. Of the 19 blocks put on sale in the first tranche, 18 have been sold in eight days. The remaining one — Gare Palma IV-7 mine in Chhattisgarh — is the most sought after block as 12 bids have technically qualified for this non-power sector mine. “Gare Palma IV-1 mine closed at Rs1,585 (per tonne) and the winner is Balco,” a coal ministry official...
One of UK’s leading aluminium component manufacturers, Birmingham Aluminium Ltd, is revamping its brand with a brand new name and logo. The company will now be called BAL GROUP: Global Aluminium Solutions. The new brand identity is aimed at maintaining the heritage of Birmingham Aluminium at the same time reflecting the international nature of the business today. Managing Director, Steve Kane says that the company already deals with global clients across 29 different countries and hopes the new branding will help them double their revenue over the next three years by expanding their reach across a wider international market. Steve hopes that much of the demand will come from the automotive sector and once the desired targets are reached, they will be making fresh investments in...
Two companies, KVK power Nigeria Pvt. Limited and Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria Plc, have been issued on-grid electricity licenses by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. These companies will now be able to generate electricity from solar and gas respectively amounting to a total amount of 590 megawatts of electricity after they become fully operational, the Commission revealed in a statement on Thursday. Dr. Sam Amadi, the Chairman cum CEO of NERC congratulated the two companies on receiving the licenses after going through the all the processes that lead to the issuance. “Our system is to ensure that whoever is licensed is able to carry the construction to completion. What we can tell the licencee is that we will support you in any way we can as you make progress,”...
Premiums for aluminum in Asia are set to slip from record highs as China ramps up exports of semi-manufactured products, leaving regional producers searching for buyers for their surplus metal. Premiums, the surcharge for obtaining physical metal, have nearly doubled in the past two years outside of China after Western producers cut supply due to years of low prices. A backlog at London Metal Exchange warehouses and financing demand from Western banks earning profit on stored metal also tightened supply. But Japanese buyers and those elsewhere in the region, say premiums are not likely to extend from the current records. China has been stepping up exports of its surplus metal, at the same time the LME overhauls its warehouse rules to release aluminum stores and banks back off from their...
Customers of Emirates Global Aluminium ("EGA") from around the world visited Dubai recently to attend a series of events that coincident with the 2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic ("the Omega DDC"). A sponsor of the Omega DDC since 1992, EGA leverages the tournament each year to solidify and build on relationships with key global partners by hosting guests at the golf, offering an entertaining social programme (including the annual EGA Golf Day), conducting tours of its Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah sites, and holding numerous business-related meetings. The latter included the annual EGA Customer Meeting, held on 1 February at Madinat Jumeirah. The keynote address was given by Abdulla Kalban (MD & CEO: EGA), who reflected on the successes of the past and looked to the future as he presented...
Alcoa has once again been named the most admired metals company in the world by Fortune magazine. This is the fourth year in a row that Alcoa has been awarded the top position in the Metals category in the magazine's annual ranking on corporate reputation. Alcoa has been on Fortune's Most Admired List since the publication began its annual ranking more than 30 years ago. Alcoa received top scores in the following key attributes: use of corporate assets, financial soundness, long-term investment value, quality of products and services, and global competitiveness. "Fortune’s recognition is a tribute to our 59,000 employees who, through their tireless pursuit of excellence, innovative products and strong customer focus, have made Alcoa the top metals company for four consecutive years," said...
The government is planning to sell stakes in its three blue chip companies Nalco, Bhel and NMDC after the last attempt of selling shares in IndianOil and ONGC backfired due to the sharp fall in oil prices. An estimated 10% stakes will be sold from both NMDC and Nalco, one a mining company and other an aluminium producer, as proposed by the finance minister. In case of Bhel, a fresh 5% disinvestment is being contemplated. Wednesday’s closing rates suggest that selling stakes of these companies is likely to fetch the government INR 10,000 crore. On Thursday a cabinet is scheduled where the proposals will be discussed although it is still unclear whether the sales would occur in this financial year or will they spill over to the next year featuring on the list of PSUs where the government...
Rio Tinto Alcan’s CEO Alfredo Barrios announced on Wednesday their plans to expand smelting capacities in Canada once the aluminium gains strength. Barrios says, since the aluminium prices have fallen since last year, the market situation is not conducive for further investment at the moment. He however maintains that in the long term, bolstered by the strong use of aluminium in the automotive industry, the market is expected to grow till 2025 providing ample opportunities for new investments. "If the market starts improving and the returns start remunerating the investments then there are a number of projects that we have across the world, even in Quebec, to potentially grow," said Barrios. He specifically mentions the new Alouette smelter and expansion plans of the AP60 pilot project in...
Noranda Aluminum will complete a third redraw rod mill at its New Madrid, Missouri facility by the end of 2015, chief executive Kip Smith said in a conference call on Wednesday to discuss the company's fourth-quarter 2014 earnings. Noranda said in November it had suspended construction on the mill, which the company had previously expected to begin production by the second quarter of 2015, after its request for an electricity rate cut was denied. The third rod mill will increase Noranda's redraw rod capacity to 220 million pounds annually, up more than 40 percent from its current capacity of 155 million pounds, the company said in its 2013 annual report. Spokesman John Parker confirmed those figures were still accurate. Redraw rod, used to make electrical wire and cable, accounted for 28...
Shares of industry leader in aluminium and copper, Hindalco Industries have inched up in today’s trade and are trading higher by 1.4% to Rs 154 on the BSE after it won the Gare Palma coal mine in Chhattisgarh by outbidding companies like BALCO, Sesa Sterlite, Ambuja Cements, which were also vying for the same block. "Gare Palma coal mine was won by Hindaco Industries at INR 3,502 per tonne today. The mine was put on offer yesterday and the bidding for the block lasted for over 12 hours," a senior Coal Ministry official said. Hindalco has secured two mines out of the 13 put on offer to date.
The long shuttered Columbia Falls Aluminium Co. is in the running to be on the Superfund National Priorities List with support from Gov. Steve Bullock. Superfund is the federal environment program that is especially reserved for the cleanup of abandoned, hazardous waste site. The Environment Protection Agency had recognized the 120-acre site as a valid Superfund contender but wanted to take public opinion before proceeding with it. The site was first operated by Anaconda Co. who started an aluminium plant way back in 1955. After which it has changed many hands the last of which was Glencore who closed the plant in 2009. Toxic elements from the site like cyanide, arsenic, lead and fluoride polluting the groundwater in and around the site according an EPA study. "I am concerned that if this...
Sumitomo Corporation (“SC”) (President and CEO: Kuniharu Nakamura; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo) and Press Metal Berhad (“PMB”) (President and CEO: Dato’ Poh Keong Koon; Head Office: Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia), the leading aluminium smelting and extrusion company in Malaysia, will expand their aluminium smelting capacity by 320,000 metric ton per year (“Phase 3”) through their joint venture company, Press Metal Bintulu Sdn. Bhd. (President and CEO: Dato’ Poh Keong Koon; Head Office: Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. As SC already participates 20% in the 1st and 2nd phases of the aluminium smelting project in Malaysia (annual production capacities of which are 120,000 metric ton and 320,000 metric ton respectively) (“Phase 1” and “Phase 2” respectively), it will hold a 20% equity in the...
Hindalco the Aditya Birla Group flagship company announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended 31 December 2014. Financials Net sales stood at Rs.8,603 crore as compared to Rs.7,273 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Profit before Interest, Depreciation and Tax (PBITDA) was Rs.1,135 crore versus Rs.834 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. However, finance cost and depreciation were significantly higher compared to Q3FY14 due to progressive capitalisation of the company’s greenfield projects. As a result, net profit was only 7.5 per cent higher at Rs.359 crore vs. Rs.334 crore in Q3FY14. Higher sales reflect increased volume and better realisation in both Aluminium and Copper Businesses. PBITDA for the quarter improved by 36 per cent to...
Fourth Quarter 2014 Highlights • Excluding special items, earnings per share ("EPS") was a $0.14 profit compared to a $0.15 loss in fourth quarter 2013; reported EPS was a $0.02 profit compared to a $0.26 loss in the fourth quarter 2013 • Total segment profit was $49.6 million compared to $36.6 million in third quarter 2014 and $20.8 million in fourth quarter 2013 • Average realized Midwest transaction price per pound shipped was $1.12 compared to $1.08 in third quarter 2014 and $0.90 in fourth quarter 2013 • Net Cash Cost was $0.80 per pound compared to $0.90 per pound in third quarter 2014; fourth quarter 2013 Net Cash Cost was $0.78 per pound • Cash and cash equivalents totaled $20.5 million and total available liquidity was $158.3 million as of December 31, 2014 Full Year 2014...
Talco, the company behind Tajikistan’s largest factory, is nearing a deal that would end an eight-year legal battle with the world’s largest aluminum maker, the company says. The state-owned Talco aluminum smelter is controlled directly by Tajikistan’s strongman President Emomali Rakhmon, whose family has appeared to benefit disproportionately from the plant’s revenues. But a history of troubled deals with Russia’s Rusal and its subsidiaries saw Talco lose in arbitration hearings in Switzerland and the British Virgin Islands in 2013 and 2014. According to Rusal, as of May 2014 the Tajik company owed $363 million, including interest. With interest accruing at nearly $45,000 per day, the total would be roughly $375 million today. Now Talco says it has made a proposal that satisfies Rusal...
This year’s campaign is aimed at all employees encouraging one another to ‘SPOT’ any unsafe acts or conditions and high potential near misses. No matter what the scenario, stopping actions is critical so that the incident can be adequately dealt with. Safety is paramount, ahead of production. The campaign also aims to increase the quality of HSE observations and implement preventive and corrective actions and measures. The objective of is simply to improve HSE Performance by reducing the number of injuries and incidents Ultimately, HSE at Qatalum is everybody’s responsibility. In order to achieve these objectives, the following the messages must be communicated to respective team members: • Encourage our team members to SPOT any unsafe acts/conditions and high potential near misses •...
Aluminum stocks in China will balloon after the Chinese New Year holiday, as goods continued to arrive while consumption stagnated during the holiday,which will weigh on prices, Shanghai Metals market predicts. New capacity keeping coming on stream, incentivized by a 1,000 yuan ()/tonne fall in production cost. Processors will not return to production immediately after the holiday, with demand unlikely to recover until late March or early April. Aluminum stocks across China’s five major markets (Shanghai, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Nanhai and Gongyi) totaled 685,000 tonnes on February 12, up 123,000 tonnes from a month ago, SMM statistics showed.
