Coal-heavy Australian aluminium vs renewables-led New Zealand: How Oceania is balancing decarbonisation
Oceania’s primary aluminium industry is facing a fragmented energy transition. While Australia, the leading aluminium producer of the continent, has abundant renewable resources and a well-established aluminium value chain, its smelters remain significantly more dependent on fossil-fuel-based...
Can the US afford to cut Canada off? 75% aluminium and $100b energy tell the story
The US aluminium industry’s dependence on Canada extends far beyond primary aluminium imports. While Canada supplies around 75 per cent of US imported primary aluminium, covering roughly 60 per cent of the country’s annual aluminium usage, it is also a major supplier of crude oil, natural gas and...
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UC RUSAL and Rosneft sign agreement to co-operate on petroleum coke supplies
UC RUSAL, the world's largest aluminium producer, and the oil company Rosneft announce the signing of an agreement of intent to cooperate in the supply of petroleum coke and other products to RUSAL's production facilities, as well as to develop Rosneft's capacities for the production of petroleum...
Tiwai Pt sale to be a risky move for Rio Tinto
All the cards do not rest with Rio Tinto in the stalled negotiations over electricity contracts with the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter, accounting firm WHK New Zealand's chief executive Phil Mulvey says. "Rio Tinto has hived off its smelter assets into Pacific Aluminium ... If it shuts the plant, it...
DUBAL to sponsor gas turbine conference
With 1,573 reduction cells arranged in seven potlines, producing more than one million tonnes of primary aluminium per annum, the total load demand for electrical power at Dubai Aluminium) is approximately 1,900 MW. This requirement is met through a captive combined cycle power station comprising...
Council discusses Tiwai smelter future
A meeting to discuss a strategy to save the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter was called by the Invercargill City Council today. The Southland Chamber of Commerce told the meeting a closure would see thousands of people leave the region. Chamber chief executive Richard Hay says a closure "would have a...
Indian smelter plans rest on power rate
Long-seated plans by India’s Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation to set up both a 1Mt/yr alumina refinery and a 500kt aluminium smelter in Kutch, Gujarat, are still in abeyance. The company’s partner in the project, Nalco, has said that the development of an aluminium smelter would only be...
Power play in court as Alcoa demands hardship price deal
Two of Australia's biggest companies, AGL and Alcoa, are squaring off in the Supreme Court over power supplies to the Point Henry ageing aluminium smelter. Alcoa, which owns and operates the smelter, is suing AGL after it refused to implement hardship provisions under a multi-million-dollar power...
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters optimistic about power supply talks
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, which curtailed aluminum production mid-March, is optimistic about reaching a feasible electricity supply agreement, a spokesman for Pacific Aluminium said on Tuesday. NZAS is 79.36% owned by Rio Tinto subsidiary Pacific Aluminium, and 20.64% by Japan's Sumitomo...
UC RUSAL to switch from heavy oil to gas at Aughinish alumina refinery
UC RUSAL, the world's largest aluminium producer, announces the next step in Aughinish alumina refinery's modernisation programme, which will include the shift of steam production from heavy oil to gas as its main energy source. The change of oil-fired boilers to gas-powered steam generators will...
Rusal chief warns that carbon tax will drive jobs offshore
Russian aluminium tsar Oleg Deripaska has attacked the Gillard government's carbon tax, saying it is leading towards higher energy costs that come with the danger of driving local manufacturing and minerals processing jobs overseas. Mr Deripaska, chief executive of the world's biggest aluminium...
Qatalum and Hydro to study zero net energy buildings
Qatalum, Qatar Petroleum’s Aluminium extrusion plant and its Norwegian partner Hydro Aluminium has unveiled a new facility dedicated to developing aluminium-cladding for carbon neutral buildings. The ‘Zero Energy and Emission Building’ lab, located on site at the Qatalum smelter in Mesaieed...
UC Rusal sets conditions to resume production at ALSCON
The current operator of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, United Company Rusal on Monday gave two conditions for resumption of operations at the aluminium factory. The company which commenced production at the factory about six years ago recently announced...
Sapa Extrusions receives Environmental Stewardship Award for implementing energy efficient lighting project
Sapa Extrusions in Miami, FL recently completed a project to upgrade their existing lighting systems to reduce electricity costs and improve lighting quality. At the same time their reduced electricity usage has resulted in less greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity production....
UAE's first steam absorption chiller inaugurated at DUBAL
A quest for continuous improvement coupled with a determination to optimise organisation's energy consumption levels has led to Dubai Aluminium achieving another pioneering milestone. On this occasion, the corporation has leveraged a nominal volume of the steam produced by the captive cogeneration...
Century Aluminum power rate negotiations resume in Kentucky
Century Aluminum is again trying to negotiate an agreeable electricity rate in Kentucky, according to a March 28 report from Reuters. The Kentucky General Assembly worked on two bills that would have given aluminum smelters the ability to get power on the open market – measures the Kentucky Chamber...
NZ Aluminium Smelter’s electricity contract up for discussion
The Government is offering to subsidise electricity used by the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point as state-owned electricity company Meridian Energy and the smelter have failed to reach agreement on electricity prices. State-Owned Enterprises Minister Tony Ryall says the Government has been in touch...
Energy Matter announces commercial solar leasing program
National solar solutions provider Energy Matter has announced a commercial solar leasing program offering South Australian businesses the opportunity to install a solar power system with zero up front costs. The announcement was made at the recent formal unveiling of Ullrich Aluminium's latest...
BHP defends South Africa electricity fee
BHP Billiton has become embroiled in a public dispute in South Africa over the price its aluminium smelters pay for electricity, amid fears power shortages will occur this winter as demand rises. South African power utility Eskom has called on customers to cut power usage by 10 per cent. And, amid...
Dubal supports Earth Hour for fifth consecutive year
Dubai Aluminium strives continuously to minimise the impact of its operations on the environment by implementing advanced technologies and adhering to strict operating standards. For example, conserving energy is a top priority at Dubal: the company constantly innovates to identify new...
