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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Kazakhstan’s aluminium scrap export during 2019-21 demonstrates a sharp downfall followed by rapid growth
The process by which scrap aluminium can be reused in products after its initial production is termed aluminium recycling. However, the process involves simply re-melting the metal that is considered far economic and energy-intensive than producing new aluminium through the electrolysis of...
Alro’s trade union dismays 1300 workers may be laid-off
The representatives of the trade union of Romanian aluminium producer Alro remains in dismay and alert that around 1300 staff or one-third of its labour force might get laid-off, as the company will curtail production at its aluminium smelter for primary aluminium production by 60% in 2022. The...
High energy price stirs Hydro to axe aluminium production at Slovalco
On 30 th December 2021, the Norwegian aluminium giant, Norsk Hydro stated that it will axe around 60% production of Slovalco, its majority stake owned aluminium plant in Slovakia countering high energy prices. In 2021, the swelling cost of power and natural gas covering the European continent has...
Alcoa to cease primary aluminium production at San Ciprian smelter in Spain for two years
On 29 th December 2021, the world's sixth-largest producer of aluminium Alcoa has announced that it has drawn up an agreement for the curtailment of operations at its San Ciprian smelter in Spain for the next two years. However, the American industrial corporation has also delivered its commitment...
Uniprom to close down KAP aluminium smelter by December 30
The Aluminium Plant Podgorica, which is also commonly known as Uniprom KAP, is a Montenegrin aluminium smelting company located in Podgorica, Montenegro. Uniprom plans to complete the proposed close down of the electrolysis plant of aluminium smelter KAP by 30 th December 2021, as reported by local...
Aluminium sector to confront shortage of dry fuel as centre prioritizes power sector
The non-power sector consumers of coal are expected to confront a shortage of dry fuel in January, as the centre continues to prioritise supply to the power sector. The decision of the Central government to prioritize the supply of coal for thermal power plants since July has raised concern among...
Aluminium Dunkerque reduces metal output due to rise in power price
According to a labour union spokesman, Aluminium Dunkerque Industries France has reduced metal output in the last two weeks due to a rise in power rates. According to union official Laurent Geeraert, the reductions correspond to around 3% of Aluminium Dunkerque's manufacturing capacity. Since the...
Romania’s Alro slash production at the aluminium smelter, intent for total close down
The President of the trade union within Alro Slatina, Constantin Popescu stated that integrated aluminium producer, Alro has initiated a program of a complete shutdown of the production activity due to the surge in electricity prices. Alro remains one of the biggest aluminium companies of Romania...
Montenegro power transmission operator to disconnect the supply of KAP aluminium smelter
On 21 st December 2021, the state-owned power transmission system operator of Montenegro, Crnogorski Elektroprenosni Sistem (CGES) said that it will disconnect aluminium smelter KAP from the grid on 31 st December 2021. CGES stated in a notice that they have sent to the owner of the smelter,...
Montenegro's majority state-owned energy supplier EPCG transfers the decision of KAP smelter to govt.
The integrated electricity company located in Niksić, Montenegro Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG) stated that the government has the power to decide whether the company should take charge of the production at KAP aluminium smelter owned by Montenegro's Uniprom. The majority state-owned power...
Vedanta Aluminium aims to achieve 24% reduction in GHG emissions by FY2025, says its SDR report
On Tuesday, December 14, Vedanta Aluminium Business launched its Sustainable Development Report (SDR) titled, ‘Nature, Nurture, Future’, for FY 2020-21. Vedanta Aluminium Business, a part of Vedanta Limited, is India's largest aluminium maker, generating more than half of the country's aluminium,...
Recycled aluminium weekly recap: Aluminium packaging recycling rate surges 15% Y-o-Y in 2021; EFW collection increases by 8%; Alcore begins construction of pilot plant to recover fluorine from aluminium smelter waste
The recycling of aluminium is emerging as the most vital segment for the future, as aluminium recycling conserves around 90% of the energy it takes to produce new aluminium. This is considered great, as mining bauxite and turning it into aluminium is highly environmentally destructive and...
Primary aluminium weekly recap: Aluminium sector remains worst hit due to plunge in coal supplies to CPP; High energy price to cause KAP aluminium smelter shut down
The global primary aluminium industry this week saw a few major updates such as the appointment of Sayed Salah Sayed Aqeel by the first aluminium smelter in the Gulf region Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba) as a new Acting Manager for Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). To strengthen Alba’s ESG...
Aldel aluminium smelter rescued from bankruptcy, new journey begins with 120 lay-off
The Dutch Aluminum producer, Delfzijl Aluminum commonly known as Aldel has been safeguarded from a third-time bankruptcy but it pursues to axe several jobs. The present director of the company, Chris McNamee and his company Aloft are taking over the facility in Delfzijl from the American private...
High energy price hurls Montenegro’s Uniprom to shut down KAP aluminium smelter, says chief executive
Veselin Pejovic, the CEO and owner of Uniprom stated that Montenegro's KAP aluminium smelter is projected to gradually shut down due to the hostile energy prices that will come into effect as of 1 st January 2022. On 8 th December 2021, the CEO said: "Just at the moment when the price of aluminium...
Saturnose manufactures new aluminium-ion-battery aiming to replace lithium-ion-batteries
Saturnose, a US-based battery development company, is working on an aluminium-ion battery that it hopes to commercialise next year. The Delaware-based company is testing an improved altered aluminium ion (Ea2I) battery with an energy density of 550Wh/L, which is 20 percent higher than the best...
Aluminium sector remains the worst hit due to plunge in coal supplies to CPP: ICPPA
On 6 th December 2021, the industry body Indian Captive Power Producers Association (ICPPA) said that coal supplies to captive power plants (CPP) have nosedived to 40%-50% of the requirement, while the aluminium sector is among the worst hit due to the hardship and if permitted to nettle it propels...
BALCO receives two CII Energy Conservation Awards 2021 for best energy management at its power plants
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited, India's leading aluminium producer, has recently bagged two CII Energy Conservation (ENCON) Awards 2021 for best energy management at its Power Plants. BALCO’s 1200MW Power Plant has become State Winner – Chattisgarh with a 4.75 Star rated certificate, and its...
