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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China’s Aluminum Production: Still Expanding and Going Green
In spite of low primary metal prices, rising power costs, reports that a significant proportion of China’s smelting capacity is losing money at current prices, and widespread predictions of smelter closures, two Reuters reports suggest Chinese smelting capacity is set to almost double over the next...
Rising from the Waste to Energy Ashes
Across Europe some 70 million tonnes of waste were incinerated in waste to energy facilities during 2009. Despite best efforts to process only residual waste and divert recyclables, large quantities of metals and minerals remain in the resulting 16 million tonnes of bottom ash. As commodity prices...
Alcoa Participates in Better Buildings Roundtable at the White House
Alcoa today participated in the White House Better Buildings Roundtable, contributing to the national dialogue on how public-private partnerships can advance the green building sector, drive innovation and stimulate economic growth. Glen Morrison, President, Alcoa Building and Construction Systems,...
Bauxite buys from open market adding to costs, says SK Roongta, MD, Vedanta Aluminum
Metal tycoon Anil Agarwal committed to invest about Rs 60,000 crore for building Vedanta Aluminum - the aim was for a 2.4 mt plant which is almost equal to the total aluminum consumed in India. But a ban on bauxite mining and government denial to expand its alumina refinery, have upset Vedanta's...
Chinese October production down
Primary aluminium production in China tumbled in October, as smelters cut production due to a power shortage. According to the CNIA, primary output was 1.49Mt in October, down 5.7% from the previous month but still up 15.5% y-o-y. That brings the Jan-Oct total primary output to 14.97Mt, up 8.94%...
Rio Tinto updates on production of aluminum
The short term outlook remains challenging as the industry experiences higher input costs and lower LME prices which are currently well below the industry's marginal cost of production. At current prices, Rio Tinto Alcan's underlying earnings are expected to be around break even in the second half...
Norsk Hydro : Highlighting the metal of the future at Qatar Aluminium Symposium
"Producing aluminium is technologically advanced. We therefore need good cooperation from universities like the Qatar University to educate the engineers of tomorrow producing the metal of the future, said Odd Ivar Biller, senior vice president in Hydro and Qatalum board member, at the Qatar...
Shandong Huayu Aluminum&Power Co., Ltd Turns to Natural Gas to Increase Production
Shandong Huayu Aluminum & Power Co.,Ltd located in Linyi City, Shandong Province,has stopped using coke oven gas and has turned to natural gas as their industrial fuel. The factory director explained that aluminum ingots and aluminum bars are their main aluminum products.Using natural gas will cost...
Nalco regulates power to plant
With the strike of contractual workers entering the sixth day on Monday, the Nalco management began regulating power supply to the operating aluminium-producing pots in the smelter plant since evening. The power regulation will impact aluminium production. “We managed the two plants for six days...
UC Rusal in coke agreement
UC Rusal has signed a five year contract with Gazprom Neft for the supply of up to 1Mt of electrode petroleum coke. The coke, used by the aluminium industry for anode manufacturing, will be supplied by the Omsk Refinery, a Gazprom Neft subsidiary. It is the first long-term supply contract between...
Alfed: Government rhetoric needs to become reality
The UK’s Aluminium Federation has called on the government to give more help to the manufacturing industry in the country. Colin Davies, Alfed President, said the government seemed intent on driving through an unachievable 'Green Agenda', aiming for 80% energy savings by 2050. Speaking at Alfed's...
With Kizad zone, Abu Dhabi may put one past Dubai
Emirates Aluminium, or Emal, one of the largest aluminium companies, has set up a plant in this industrial zone. “It currently produces 750,000 tonne of aluminium and is slated to add another 750,000 tonne to its annual capacity within a short time,” says HE Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, president and...
Recycled Aluminium Christmas tree for Carnegie Science Centre
On Monday 14th November 2011, a volunteer team of 40 employees from ALCOA will be delivering a 6 ft tall Christmas tree to the Carnegie Science Centre located in the North Shore River Front in Pittsburgh. The tree is an evergreen variety handmade out of 100% infinitely recyclable aluminium cans to...
Global Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors Market to Reach US$10.4 Billion by 2017, According to a New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.(GIA)
GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors market. The global market for aluminum electrolytic capacitors is forecast to reach US$10.4 billion by the year 2017, driven by the rising demand for these products in end-use markets such as energy and...
Hindalco to seek coal linkage for Mahan project
Hindalco Industries will apply for a ‘coal tapering linkage licence' to feed its 359,000-tonne greenfield aluminium smelter project at Mahan, Madhya Pradesh. The smelter plant has a 750 MW captive power plant catering to its requirement. A tapering licence from the Government assures coal supply...
Australian carbon tax fears
Australia's new carbon pricing plan will cause a contraction in the country's energy-intensive aluminium industry, already under pressure from cheaper Chinese output, the Australian Aluminium Council said. "This puts us at more of a disadvantage than we were at without the scheme," the council's...
Ma’aden awards power cable contract
Engineering and construction group Kentz has won a $32.7M contract from Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminium joint venture. Kentz says the contract - placed with its operating unit Saudi Arabian Kentz Co - includes the installation of 30 kilometres of power cable, low voltage and control cables, lighting...
NPCIL, NALCO form JV to set up nuclear power plant
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) have entered into a joint venture agreement for setting up nuclear power plants across the country. The agreement was signed by Dr. SK Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, NPCIL and BL Bagra, Chairman cum...
