Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Mexico’s aluminum industry is looking to capitalize on rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electric mobility, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Expanding technology investments and international market opportunities are expected to support sales growth, while the country’s reliance on imported aluminum highlights the importance of strengthening domestic processing capabilities. Ramón Beltrán, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum), expects the country’s domestic and international aluminum sales to gain momentum in 2026, supported by demand from advanced technology applications and established manufacturing sectors. “We expect to close out this year with growth of between 7.5% and 7.8% in domestic and international...
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Rio Tinto, a British-Australian multinational company and the world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation, is experimenting with reducing energy storage costs in a bid to reserve abundant amounts of intermittent renewables to feed smelters with the seamless electricity supply they need. The company believes installing batteries at its Queensland aluminium smelter can play a crucial role in achieving the new goal. Last week, during the smelter visit, Rio’s chief executive for the aluminium business, Jerome Pecresse, firmly expressed his confidence in batteries to provide consistent power to the smelters even when the generation from solar and wind is low. Among various sustainability initiatives so far, the integration of batteries at Rio’s carbon-heavy aluminium smelters in North...
Premier Energies Ltd. announced its quarterly results for the period ending December 31 after market hours on Monday, February 3. The company demonstrated a significant improvement in its financial performance, with key highlights including a 12.2 per cent sequential growth in topline and a 35 per cent increase in EBITDA from the previous year's 17.3 per cent. The company's revenue increased by 140.6 per cent from last year to INR 1,713 crore. Margins also expanded, surpassing the INR 500 crore mark at INR 513.7 crore. Premier Energies had reported an EBITDA of INR 123 crore in the base quarter. The company had reported a net profit of INR 205 crore in the second quarter of FY2025. Net profit for the third quarter stood at INR 255.2 crore, which was aided by a jump in other income to INR...
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently released the 2024 Green Manufacturing list. As per the list, two subsidiaries of Mingtai Aluminum, namely Henan Mingsheng New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and Henan Mingtai Technology Development Co., Ltd, were recognised as "National Green Factories." Source- Mingtai Aluminum website The National Green Factory certification, organised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, plays a key role in advancing the goals of "Made in China 2025" and the "Double Carbon" strategy. With this achievement, Mingtai Aluminum now boasts a total of four national green factories. It aims to drive industrial enterprises toward greener, more efficient, and low-carbon operations while enhancing resource utilisation and...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), a collaborative endeavour aimed at enhancing sustainability throughout the value chain, announced the successful certification of Lizhong Group with the Performance Standard V3 (2022). Lizhong Group's Guangdong Longda Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. facility, located in Guangdong Province, China, has bagged the certification for producing aluminium alloy ingots and cast aluminium alloy liquid. The certification was announced by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). The facility specialises in melting, alloying, and casting processes for aluminium alloys, with its primary products being cast aluminium alloy ingots and liquid aluminium alloy. The facility boasts an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes. The independent third-party audit of...
The Climate Change Commission has endorsed a campaign to end free carbon credits for companies like Methanex, Rio Tinto, and NZ Steel. In a letter released overnight, the independent body highlighted significant issues with the subsidy scheme after MPs sought its input on a 6,000-signature petition currently before Parliament. Image Source- FreePik Don't Subsidise Pollution petition The "Don't Subsidise Pollution" petition aims to stop the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in free carbon credits granted annually to manufacturers and exporters under the Emissions Trading Scheme. The free allocation scheme was introduced to prevent manufacturers of carbon-intensive products like steel, methanol, and cement from relocating production overseas to avoid emissions pricing. Lawmakers...
GALTCO a next-generation, world-class green aluminium production and industrial complex in Colombia is planning to set up a plant in Tolú, Sucre for the production of low-carbon aluminium. The project valued at USD 1.2 billion is expected to generate over 350,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium annually from the Gulf of Morrosquillo, positioning Colombia as a leader in green aluminium production with sustainable practices. Image Source - GALTCO (Andrés Rojas) Signing of MoU On Wednesday, January 29, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the GALTCO Colombia Project was signed, marking a significant milestone for the country's aluminium industry. Both private and public signatories believe this transformative initiative will establish Colombia as a leader in green aluminium production,...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has taken another stride to accomplish its decarbonisation goals with its newest discovery — an electric, battery-powered Aluminium Fluoride (AlF3) feeding vehicle. The pilot apparatus has been shaped into reality with the utilisation of an advanced vehicle from Techmo Car S.p.A. and is under evaluation in Reduction Lines 4, 5, and 6. A feeding vehicle in any aluminium smelter is crucial as it continuously supplies the essential raw material, alumina, to the electrolytic cells where aluminium is extracted, ensuring a stable and uninterrupted production process by delivering small, regular additions of alumina to the electrolyte, which is necessary for the ongoing electrolysis reaction to occur properly. Without this continuous feed, the aluminium production...
Rio Tinto has been committing towards a greener aluminium future in the past. Au contraire, the present brings a different reality where their dreams and goals are farfetched as their major wind project, an alternative to coal consumption for energy, seems to be slipping away. The recently re-elected Queensland LNP government has spurned the mining giant’s 1.4-gigawatt Bungaban wind farm, among other larger energy production targets. The state has the lowest percentage of renewable energy among all in Australia. Even if Labor’s target of 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030 had been implemented, the situation would not have changed significantly. However, the LNP’s intervention is likely to make the state even more of a laggard in this regard. It is this daunting prospect – and its...
Vedanta Aluminium, a leading name in the Indian industry, has long been associated with sustainability and social development activities, as reflected through numerous reported stances. The mining and manufacturing giant has yet again initiated a sustainability-promoting stint as it participates in the three-day Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, being held between January 28 and 30, 2025. Located in Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar, the Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 is an exclusive investment forum in East India dedicated to steering forward the economic growth of Odisha and subsequently positioning the Indian state as a globally competitive investment destination. The conclave intends participation from both domestic and international investors, positioning Odisha...
Norsk Hydro ASA, a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, has reportedly joined the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP), uniting with a group of automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and environmental organisations to work together towards a shared sustainability vision. Image source: Freepik Explaining the reason for joining, Duncan Pitchford, President of Hydro Aluminum Metals USA, said aluminium is an infinitely recyclable product capable of serving as a safe and reliable raw material. So, by joining the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment, Hydro will be able to supply sustainable raw materials to carmakers. Even SP Director Kellen Mahoney believes that having Hydro as a member will help the collaboration empower low-carbon aluminium and recycling solutions...
Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. has recently received the "EATNS Carbon Management System Evaluation Certificate" from the Carbon Management System Evaluation Committee of the Shanghai Environmental Energy Exchange. This makes Yunnan Aluminum the first electrolytic aluminium company in the domestic aluminium sector to earn this recognition. The evaluation encompasses eight electrolytic aluminium enterprises and one carbon production enterprise under Yun Aluminum Co., Ltd. This achievement marks a significant breakthrough in carbon management for the company, signaling the beginning of a new era in the green development of the aluminium industry. The system incorporates four key components—carbon emissions, carbon assets, carbon trading, and carbon neutrality—forming an integrated carbon...
Hindalco Industries, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has launched EV bulkers at its Aditya Aluminium plant in Odisha to deliver one million tonnes of fly ash to the local cement industry over the next five years. In addition, the company has set up two EV recharge stations near the fly ash loading area, advancing its efforts in green transportation and sustainable operations. Image Source: Hindalco Mr Kailash Pandey, Head of Sambalpur Cluster, Hindalco Industries Ltd., said, “By adopting greener transportation options for supplying waste materials to be used as raw material in another industry, we are taking a step closer to realising our vision to achieve zero-waste alumina production across our operations. Each step we take towards sustainability helps reduce our...
PyroGenesis Inc. (TSX: PYR) (OTCQX: PYRGF) (FRA: 8PY) a tech-advancement company delving into designs, development, manufacturing and commercialisation of advanced plasma processes and sustainable solutions which are geared to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and address environmental pollutants, has declared the receipt of a US$1.28 million (CA$1.85 million) fund which is part of a substantial amount receivable under PyroGenesis’ existing CA$25+ million Drosrite™ contract with Radian Oil and Gas Services Company. Image Source: Wikipedia “The payment announced today is made in accordance with a payment schedule that has been revised over time to better align with options to the pressures with the end-clients operating cash flows created by, amongst other things, increased business...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced that Dätwyler Schweiz AG has bagged the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Provisional Certification for producing aluminium capsules. The company produces capsules for the food and beverage sector at its Schattdorf, Switzerland, facility. Image Source: ASI website This Provisional Certification is valid for one year, allowing the company to resolve identified non-conformances and pursue full Certification. Bureau Veritas Certification conducted the independent third-party audit of Dätwyler Schweiz AG. Food companies often seek customized packaging solutions that uphold the highest standards while ensuring efficiency, reliability, and scalability. Renowned for its expertise in material forming for the Food & Beverage industry, Dätwyler...
On Monday, January 20, 2025, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese declared an AU$ 2 billion (US$1.24 billion) investment strategy to foster the Australian aluminium production journey towards a greener future. Aluminium smelters transitioning to renewable power, with every tonne of the metal produced using renewable electricity over a 10-year period to 2036, is deemed to fall under the payment scheme of the funding. Image Source: https://gmk.center/ Albanes has shared that investing in the local aluminium industry is a ‘massive opportunity’ to create jobs and set Australia up for the future, adding, “We’ve got the resources, the workers, and the know-how -- the only thing we don’t have is time to waste.” The prime minister optimistically conveyed, “We are building Australia’s...
Midal Cables B.S.C., a manufacturer of aluminium rod and overhead electrical transmission cables and conductors, has received the Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification from ASI for its environmentally-conscious operations at its Ashkar facility in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Image Source: Midal Cables The facility, with five casting lines, manufactures and exports aluminium wires, rods, and conductors for a wide range of industrial applications. It has an annual production capacity of 260,000 tonnes. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) was launched in May 2022, defining 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars- Environment, Social, and Governance. The objective is to address pressing sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain, such as biodiversity,...
Norsk Hydro ASA has successfully issued €500 million of senior unsecured green bonds under its Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) Programme. The new bond has a tenure of seven years and a fixed annual coupon of 3.625 per cent (3.649 per cent reoffer yield). Image Source: Hydro “We are very satisfied to have completed such a successful placement and issued our inaugural green bond. The strong interest confirms that Hydro is an attractive investment for bond investors. We are pleased to have achieved highly competitive terms,” said CFO Trond Olaf Christophersen. A green Eurobond is a type of bond issued to fund environmentally friendly projects within the European Union (EU). The proceeds from green Eurobonds are used to finance projects contributing to a low-carbon economy. The funds raised from...
Novelis, the world's largest recycler of aluminium, has been a driving force in advancing circularity and decarbonising the aluminium industry to foster a more sustainable future. This week, Novelis' Uhrichsville plant achieved a significant milestone by being recognised as a Sustainability Lighthouse by the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network (GLN). As the first U.S.-based aluminium manufacturer to earn this distinction, Novelis is proud to join the ranks of visionary industry leaders transforming global sustainability practices. Image Source: World Economic Forum Achieving an industry-leading 97 per cent recycled content The Novelis facility in Uhrichsville, Ohio, home to 400 dedicated employees, has earned this prestigious recognition by achieving an industry-leading...
