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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Union rep says Rehberg wouldn’t help CFAC restart
In the 1990s, the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC) employed more than 500 workers producing aluminum that was sent to customers around the world. Cheap power within the region made this energy-intensive industry a perfect match for the Flathead. Unfortunately, in 1999 a foreign company named...
Gas pressures put squeeze on alumina
The current state of Australia's natural gas markets is squeezing out investment opportunities for the Australian alumina refining industry - an industry that includes some of the country's largest users of natural gas. Responding to the release of the National Institute of Economic and Industry...
Regulators approve deferred electric payments by Ohio aluminum company trying to avoid
State regulators are allowing a large Ohio aluminum manufacturer to defer electric bill payments for the remainder of the year. Ormet Corp., located near Hannibal in eastern Ohio, has benefited from a unique electric-rate subsidy with American Electric Power that has reduced its costs by more than...
Cans for Cash' program returns, offers rewards for recycling aluminum
Aluminum giant Alcoa Inc. ( AA ) announced the signing of a tentative long-term power contract with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for its Intalco Works aluminum smelter in Ferndale, Washington. The contract is expected to be finalized by the end of the year and will expire in September...
Aluminium industry steps up gas push
The aluminium industry has ramped up its push for gas to be set aside for domestic manufacturing, calling gas a "publicly owned resource" with the government the "custodian of that resource". Rising domestic gas prices, coupled with the inability of large industrial gas consumers to enter into...
USA: Kentucky power consumers happy with Century’s special power rate
Industrial power consumers in West Virginia appear to be happy with the state Public Service Commission's decision to grant Century Aluminium a special power rate reflecting shifts in aluminium prices. The power deal means that Century can re-open its closed Ravenswood aluminium smelter, which...
The Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Al-Sada will deliver the opening address at Arabal
The Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada will deliver the opening address at Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal 2012), which will be held in Doha from November 20 to 22. Al-Sada will highlight Qatar’s industrial achievements and the growing importance of...
Aluminium demand to grow by 6pct in 2012-14
IMaCS, in its commentary on Indian aluminium industry said that over the medium term the sectors that are likely to drive the expected increase in demand include power, construction and automotives. India’s aluminium consumption increased 7% in 2011 to around 1.6 MT and at a 5 year CAGR of 8%. The...
Meridian Energy plans to sell its Manapouri power station electricity if Tiwai shuts down
Meridian Energy had contingency plans to sell its Manapouri power station electricity if the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closed, Meridian chief executive Mark Binns said yesterday. Negotiations between the smelter and the state-owned enterprise over the future of its electricity contract...
Century Aluminum Rejects Smelter Proposal; Shares Slip 3%
Century Aluminum has rejected a proposal to help restart its West Virginia smelter after the electricity rate offer from the state fell short of its needs, SeekingAlpha reported. CENX shares are down 2.7% to $7.14 in afternoon trade, and are moving within a 52-week range of $5.52 - $12.30. The...
Rio Tinto seeks bids for French aluminium plant
Rio Tinto (RIO.L) is pushing ahead with plans to sell a century-old aluminium plant in the Alps of southeast France as the global mining group continues its retreat from a struggling aluminium sector. The group's Rio Tinto Alcan division that operates the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne plant told Reuters...
Intalco gets long-awaited 10-year power deal for Ferndale-area smelter
After many months of negotiations, Alcoa has announced a new 10-year electric power supply deal with the Bonneville Power Administration that should help maintain 625 jobs at the Alcoa Intalco Works smelter west of Ferndale. Before the new power deal is final, it must undergo a public comment...
Century Aluminum rejects West Virginia power proposal
Century Aluminum on Tuesday rejected a proposal meant to aid the restart of its West Virginia smelter. The California-based metals producer announced that the electricity rate offer from the state Public Service Commission falls short. The utility regulator proposed allowing a special electricity...
Study questions the credibility of power concession for Rio Tinto Alcan and Century smelters
A study by Wisconsin, USA-based Christensen Associates Energy Consulting questions the sense behind possible power concessions from Big Rivers Electric Corporation for Rio Tinto Alcan's and Century's Sebree and Hawesville aluminium smelters in the USA. According to the study, "A reasonable person...
Court rules for Alcoa over hydro-electric dams
One of the world's largest producers of aluminum will be able to submit a new request for certification so that it can operate four dams along the Yadkin River. Alcoa Inc. originally received its certification in May 2008 for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project, but the state revoked it in 2010 after...
Sardinia govt to meet Enel on cheaper power for Alcoa smelter
The Sardinia region's government will discuss ways with energy group Enel to reduce the price of power for Alcoa's Italian plant, the Sardinia region president Ugo Cappellacci said on Tuesday. A discounted energy price for Alcoa could help entice a buyer for the smelter, which U.S. aluminum maker...
'Warnig to head aluminium giant Rusal's Russian business
Warnig's promotion marks only the latest step up the ladder of major Russian business for the former Dresdner Bank Group member. The 57-year-old already serves as managing director of the Nord Stream AG's operator of Russia's new Baltic Sea natural gas pipeline to Germany that was unveiled last...
HC rejects plea against Balco plant in Chhattisgarh, India
Bilaspur High Court has dismissed a petition filed against the 1,200 MW power plant of the Bharat Aluminium Co Ltd (Balco) here. Amarnath Agarwal, a resident of Kosabadi in Korba town, had filed a petition against the company's 1,200 MW plant, Balco spokesperson Abhishek Sinha told reporters. In...
