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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Century Aluminium running out of time to restart Ravenswood plant
Century Aluminum’s Ravenswood plant is facing troubles again as it is unable to secure a viable power rate plan and is running out of time. The power plan requested by the struggling plant cannot be approved without the consensus of the Public Service Commission said Appalachian Power but Century...
Noranda announces ruling by missouri public service commission that reduces electricity rates for new Madrid Smelter
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation reported today that the Missouri Public Service Commission has established a new and reduced electricity rate structure for the Company's aluminum smelter in New Madrid, Missouri (New Madrid). "Securing a reduced rate for our single largest cost is an important...
Rexam sees volume growth in Europe, with energy drinks boosting beverage cans
Beverage can manufacturer Rexam has seen strong volume growth in Europe, including Russia, it said in a trading update this morning. Rexam is enjoying ‘pretty good’ growth in its Russian business – unlike other companies - but chief executive Graham Chipchase remains cautious about the ‘very, very...
Vedanta, Jharsuguda hosts BEE's 1st Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) for aluminium sector
The 1st Aluminium Sector workshop under Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) initiative was hosted by Vedanta, Jharsuguda unit, here at the Auditorium, Vedanta Meadows for exchange of best practices in Aluminium industries covered under the Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme. PAT is a flagship...
Power cuts to shrink Hulamin’s H1 earnings 20%
While noting that it was not possible to forecast the extent of electricity curtailment over the remainder of the year, aluminium manufacturer Hulamin says it is “already clear” that its earnings per share (EPS) and headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months to June 30 will be more than...
Aluminum industry announces partnership with department of energy to expand workforce, improve technology
The Aluminum Association announced today a new partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) to increase the number of aluminum industry jobs in the United States and explore new, sustainable technologies to advance U.S. manufacturing. The DOE’s Aluminum Industry Jobs Partnership will identify...
ISRI Joins in the celebration of Earth Day 2015
In recognition of the 45th Earth Day, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) is joining individuals and organizations around the world in celebration of the earth and what can be done to preserve it. Earth Day, started in 1970, takes place annually on April 22 in a worldwide effort to...
New Vishay Intertechnology series of snap-in power aluminum capacitors
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.today introduced a new series of miniaturized snap-in power aluminum capacitors with high capacitance from 820 µF to 47,000 µF in compact cases down to 20 mm by 25 mm. Designed for audio, industrial, and general power supply applications, 256 PMG-SI capacitors offer a...
Power tariff cuts to benefit Xinjiang aluminum smelters
Xinjiang decided to cut power tariffs by an average 0.093 yuan (1.5 cents)/Kwh for local industrial and commercial power users, starting on April 15, 2015, China Securities reported. The cut is more than five times sharper than the national average cut of 0.018 yuan/Kwh. Rich coal resources allow...
Tiwai Point aluminium smelter 'squarely in the black'
Two years after receiving a $30 million handout from taxpayers the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is "squarely in the black", says an industry analyst. The smelter, which employs more than 3000 people in Southland, had claimed its future was in doubt as it sought to cut the price of its electricity...
EGA places energy-efficiency at the top of the agenda at WETEX 2015
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) will appear alongside key players in the energy and environment sectors as a strategic sponsor of the 17th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), which takes place from 21 to 23 April at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre....
PSC sounds open to slight rate cut for Noranda
Several members of the Missouri Public Service Commission appear to be leaning toward a slight reduction in the electric bills of the state’s largest energy The PSC hopes to decide on Ameren Missouri’s request for a rate increase by the end of the month, after almost a year of scrutiny. Along with...
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters calls for cheaper power
Electricity demand would require about a decade to recover back to present levels, if the Tiwai Pt smelter in Southland closed, a government report says. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) is the largest single electricity user in the country, accounting for almost 13 per cent of national...
VALCO will rise again – Ghana President
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday gave the assurance that government would do everything under its purview to revive the Volta Aluminum Company (VALCO) to take its rightful position in the smelting of alumina in the country. He said he had directed the Ministry of Power to make available all...
Power tariff cuts to slow retirement of China high-cost aluminum capacity
China’s State Council decided last week to cut power rates for industrial and commercial users by an average 0.018 yuan ($0.00294)/Kwh. Some 70% of China’s operational aluminum capacity relies on captive power plants and are thus unaffected by these tariff adjustments, SMM understands. Smelters...
Chairman of New Zealand Aluminium says they pay one of the highest electricity charges
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters pays one of the highest electricity costs in the world, outside China, competing with the smelters of Eastern and Southern Europe, says Chairman Brian Cooper in a statement. The statement made by Cooper comes in response to the fear expressed by the electricity...
Alcoa secures new gas supply agreement to power its alumina refineries in Western Australia
Alcoa of Australia Limited has secured a new 12-year gas supply agreement to power its alumina refineries in Western Australia. Commencing in 2020, the agreement is for an initial supply of 120 terajoules per day of natural gas. Combined with a number of smaller agreements, this means Alcoa of...
Aluminum Association applauds DOE's lofty loan
The Aluminum Association has voiced its support of the U.S. Department of Energy after it announced a conditional commitment for a $259 million loan to Alcoa, which was done in support of the aluminum producer’s automotive expansion. With the aid of the loan, the company will grow its Alcoa, Tenn....
