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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Rusal’s Deripaska controlled En+ Group makes first financial disclosure in two years
<p>En+ Group, a Russian energy-related company controlled by Oleg Deripaska, reported adjusted core earnings of $2.3 billion for 2016 on Tuesday, April 18. The disclosure is the group’s first in two years.</p> <p>En+ owns 48 per cent stake in Russia’s biggest aluminium company Rusal....
Top five aluminium busbar manufacturers in the world
<p>The global busbar market size is estimated to reach US$16.55 billion growing at a 5.48% CAGR from 2016 through 2021, reveals data in a recent market report. Busbars are critical electrical components used in power generation, commercial, metals and mining, oil and gas, chemicals and other...
Alba’s recent power outage causes 3- 5% loss of total production
<p>The Bahrain-based global aluminium smelter Alba experienced a power station outage on Wednesday April 5, 2017. The company had faced a temporary loss of power in all five Reduction Lines for approximately 3 hours. The company has restored all power operations.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align:...
Giant aluminium smelter puts its hand up for new coal-fired power
<p>The giant Tomago aluminium smelter has put itself forward as a foundation customer for any low emissions coal-fired electricity generator to be built in the Hunter Valley as it warns continued power supply instability and rising prices threatens its future.</p> <p>With the plant accounting for...
Nalco readies INR 25,000-crore investment for expansion
<p>National Aluminium Company (Nalco), a central government-owned entity, is set to join the club of million-tonne producers in the segment by 2020. It has readied about INR 25,000 crore of investment to expand its aluminium, alumina and power capacities.</p> <p>In the...
Sapa Building System introduces aluminium sliding system “Confort Smartline”
<p>Sapa Building System, a member of Sapa Group and one of the largest European suppliers of aluminium profile systems for windows, doors, sliding systems, conservatories and curtain walls, introduced the Confort Smartline, a new generation of energy efficient sliding door systems.</p> <p><img...
German firm turns aluminium smelter into a ‘Virtual Battery’
<p>Trimet, Germany’s largest producer of aluminum, is testing technology to turn its smelters into a "virtual battery" capable of delivering 1.12 gigawatt-hours of flexible capacity.</p> <p>The family-owned business is investing €36 million ($39 million) in a two-year industrial-scale...
Coal India expects production growth of 2.5% this fiscal
<p>Against a required production growth rate of nearly 11 per cent during FY2016-17, Coal India is likely to close the year with a 2.5 per cent growth and a 2 per cent rise in sales over the previous year.</p> <p>“We hope to achieve a 2.5 per cent production growth by the end of this fiscal...
China’s Guizhou aluminium producers fear losses due to power price hike
<p>Power prices for the aluminium producers in China's Guizhou province will be raised by 0.07-0.08 yuan per kilo watt hour (kwh) from April this year, reported industry sources. The decision is seen by the industry watchers as a logical one since coal has become costlier over the past six...
Central Coalfields to float expression of interest for CTL project
<p>Coal India's subsidiary Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) is planning to invite an expression of interest for coal-to-liquid (CTL) project which the company proposes to embark upon, as reported.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle;"...
Arconic nets $243 million from sale of Yadkin Hydroelectric
<p>Arconic Inc. announced today its receipt of a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project (Yadkin) to Cube Hydro Carolinas by Alcoa Power Generating Inc., a subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation. Yadkin encompasses four hydroelectric power developments (reservoirs, dams...
Nalco hopes to return to profits in Aluminium by FY19 end after production starts at Utkal D coal block
<p>Indian Navaratna public sector enterprise National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is eyeing return to profitability from its Aluminium business towards the end of fiscal year 2018-19 after the commencement of coal production at its captive Utkal D coal block. The starting of coal mining is...
Bell Bay Aluminium concerns over increase gas prices
<p>Bell Bay Aluminium, located in Tasmania, Australia, has raised concerns over increased and uncompetitive gas prices due to hiked in Australian exports and restrictions on exploration. The company consumes substantial amount of Tasmanian gas.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle;...
Alcoa Corporation streamlines company structure
<p>Alcoa Corporation, a global leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminum products, today announced that it is consolidating its business units to reduce complexity.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"...
Rio Tinto to slash Boyne aluminium smelter's annual production
<p>Rio Tinto has planned to cut down 80,000 tonnes of annual production and more than 100 jobs at its Boyne aluminium smelter in Gladstone. The annual aluminium production of the smelter is valued at $US160 million at current prices.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block;...
SAF launches Insulated Rainscreen Panels
<p>Southern Aluminum Finishing Co. (SAF) introduces 4000i Insulated RainScreen Panels as an addition to their ADAPT Panel and Column Cover Systems Accessories line. The 4000i is essentially an SAF 4000 Series RainScreen ACM, aluminum, or stainless steel building panel with insulation adhered by...
AWAC aluminium production drops 5% in 2016; rising energy costs threaten smelter operations
<p>Alcoa's Australian partner Alumina Limited has reported a loss of $US30.2 million ($A39.3 million)in 2016, down from a $US88.3 million ($A114.8 million) profit in 2015 driven by restructuring-related write-offs and lower prices and volumes.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display:...
Australia's mission to reach 2020 renewable energy target wreaks havoc on aluminium smelters
<p>Australia's recent shift away from thermal power to alternative energy sources to meet a national 20 per cent renewable energy target by 2020 has put aluminium smelters and mineral refining businesses of the country in a complicated situation. The supply uncertainty of electricity is making it...
