Alcoa’s 16kg aluminium wheel could change fleet efficiency equation
A truck’s overall weight comes from dozens of components, including the engine, chassis, tyres, etc. Wheels are one area where fleets can explore lightweighting. Traditional steel wheels, widely used across the transport industry, are known for their robustness. Forged Alcoa aluminium wheels offer...
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...
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Talks on Tiwai Point aluminium smelter making slow progress
State-owned Meridian Energy says it is making some "slow progress" in its talks with New Zealand's biggest single electricity user, the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, but the outcome is still unclear. "We are currently still in negotiations with Tiwai, with Rio Tinto, and they are being conducted...
Departing BHP chief Marius Kloppers considers investing on Worsley alumina plant a big mistake
Departing BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers says the worst mistake of his 5 1/2-year tenure was not to do with acquisitions but a decision to pour billions of dollars into the Worsley alumina plant south of Perth. "We spotted a technological change in aluminium and we made a great...
Pacific Aluminium and Swire Shipping make freight deal
A new international shipping service will boost the viability of one of Tasmania's largest private employers -- Bell Bay Aluminium. The service, however, offers little relief for other Tasmanian exporters who have been forced to ship goods to market via Melbourne since the withdrawal of the state's...
Fiji overtaking Indonesia as a source of China’s bauxite
It is estimated that China’s Bauxite mining will extend to the North of Nawailevu,Fiji.By this,mining tasks in this district has been finished,while Aurum Exploration Limited Co. has offered China the sixth lot of Bauxite recently.As the Minister of Department of Mineral Resource said,since the...
Rio Tinto moves closer to Pacific Aluminium listing
Rio Tinto Ltd has established a team of high-profile business personalities to oversee a potential $2 billion listing of its Pacific Aluminium business, including the struggling Gove alumina refinery in the Northern Territory, according to The Australian. While Rio has not made a decision regarding...
Bauxite shares gain with appointment of new CEO
Shares in Bauxite Resources jumped on the ASX today after the Perth-based miner announced the appointment of former Sundance Resources executive Peter Canterbury as chief executive. Bauxite Resources chairman Barry Carbon said Mr Canterbury was the ideal choice to lead the company through its next...
Uncertainty regarding Tiwai Point smelter forces Invercargill City Council to look for alternatives
The uncertain future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter makes it imperative for the Invercargill City Council to continue pursuing new job opportunities in the city, the council's chief executive says. Richard King was last week reappointed to the chief executive's role for a five-year term after...
More bauxite discovered in Fiji
Aurum Exploration Company has discovered more bauxite in other parts of Vanua Levu. This was confirmed to FBC News by the company’s managing director – Isireli Dagaga. i-Taukei news editor Apisalome Coka is in Labasa and filed this report: “Dagaga says they discovered bauxite at other areas in...
Bauxite mining to expand to the north of Nawailevu in Fiji
Bauxite mining is expected to be expanded to the north of Nawailevu in Bua after works have been completed at the current site. Director of Mineral Resources Malakai Finau said it is not a new site but the areas have been divided into two parts. He said Aurum Exploration Limited is loading the 6th...
Bluff smelter sale still likely - analyst
An analyst says resources giant Rio Tinto is unlikely to change plans to sell the aluminium smelter near Bluff but it could be more attractive to potential buyers after a massive asset writedown by its parent company. Rio Tinto announced last week it was writing down the value of its coal business...
New chief executive of Rio Tinto takes charge
Sam Walsh is the new chief executive of mining giant Rio Tinto after the shock exit of Tom Albanese last night. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that under pressure from Rio's board, Albanese stood down from the role on the back of US$14billion worth of new impairments that will be lodged against...
Beacons will light up Gladstone Harbour
A Beacons of nautical stars will soon be lighting up Gladstone Harbour. A giant sphere standing as a marker on Auckland Hill, will celebrate our regions place in the aluminium industry. The art installation commissioned by well-known Australian artist Donna Marcus has officially been endorsed by...
November world aluminum stocks down 87,000 tons at 2.258m tons
Total world aluminum inventories in November fell by 87,000 metric tons from the previous month to 2.258 million tons, according to figures released Thursday by the International Aluminum Institute. World stocks in October stood at 2.345 million tons. November stocks were down 143,000 tons compared...
Kurri smelter closure considered 'best practice'
It is hoped manufacturing firms across the country can learn from the recent closure of the Kurri Kurri aluminium smelter. The Hydro plant closed down a few months ago, and out of nearly 330 workers more than 210 have either found full-time employment elsewhere, started studying or retired. A...
Bauxite team formed in Bua for evacuation assistance
The bauxite mining company in Bua has set up a team to assist government officials with evacuation and clearing of roads when Tropical Cyclone Evan hits us this weekend. Mine manager Basilio Vanuaca said work at the site had been shelved until TC Evan passes. "The only people at the mine site are...
No quick resolution of power supply deal for Tiwai Point aluminium smelter
Meridian Energy and Rio Tinto will resume talks before Christmas about supplying power to the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in Southland, but there is no sign that a deal is just around the corner. Rio Tinto has said that the smelter, which employs about 600 people, could close if it cannot get...
Smelter talks resume between Meridian Energy and Rio Tinto
New Zealand's largest electricity producer, Meridian Energy, has resumed talks with Rio Tinto Alcan, the majority owner of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, over Rio's request for changes to 18-year contracts for power supply that kick in on January 1. Meridian chief executive Mark Binns told the...
Future of Tiwai Point aluminium smelter still uncertain
It is unclear if Rio Tinto‘s US$5 billion cost cuts globally will affect the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter near Bluff. This week Rio Tinto announced at an investor seminar that it would make the cuts to its operating and support costs by the end of 2014. The global miner said its coal and aluminium...
