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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Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter to cut more costs
Further cuts to costs are to be made at the cash-strapped Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter. The cuts are on top of the $70 million announced in October. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters this week confirmed it completed its plan to cut 100 jobs at the smelter, but it was still losing money and further cuts...
Committee formed to monitor bauxite at Bua, Fiji
A monitoring committee will work with bauxite company XINFA to ensure that proper and necessary procedures are followed at the mine and jetty site in Bua. Acting provincial administrator Inoke Tagicakibau told the Bua Provincial Council meeting that the committee would meet bi-monthly. Mr...
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters still losing money
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters has confirmed it has completed its plan to reduce the size of its organization by 100 roles but it is still losing money and further cuts are expected. A spokesman for Pacific Aluminium said the Rio Tinto divestment process was continuing but NZAS would like a...
New Zealand's October trade deficit much higher than forecast
Weaker-than-expected exports, including lower shipments of aluminium and falling exports of dairy and meat, pushed New Zealand's October trade deficit much higher than forecast. The October deficit was $718 million, compared with expectations of a deficit of about $450 million. New Zealand...
Bauxite dispute continues in the bauxite mining area in Bua, Fiji
A group of landowners in the bauxite mining area in Bua revealed in a survey that they were not part of a decision to begin the mining process. The survey conducted by the Bua Urban Youth Network in Nawailevu this year showed 20 per cent of respondents felt they were involved in the decision to...
Concern over Bauxite stockpile at the Xinfa Aurum Exploration (Fiji Ltd)
A group of villagers in the district of Navakasiga in Bua have again expressed concerns over the bauxite stockpile that lay exposed at the Xinfa Aurum Exploration (Fiji Ltd) jetty area. The concern was highlighted in an earlier interview with Navakasiga district representative Salacieli Tuala who...
Mayor urging Govt interference over Southland smelter
Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt is urging the Government to intervene in negotiations between New Zealand Aluminium Smelters and state-owned Meridian Energy. The Rio Tinto-owned smelter at Tiwai Point has already announced it is cutting 100 jobs to try to save money and has said renegotiating its...
Fiji Bauxite Mine manager refutes any adverse effects of bauxite in Bua
There are no direct side effects of bauxite on the natural ecosystem and villagers' claims that the mineral will adversely affect the environment are not true. Bauxite Mine manager Basilio Vanuaca said they were closely monitoring the surrounding areas of the mine and there was no evidence of such...
The Australian Trellis Door Company launches new range of aluminium roller shutters
The Australian Trellis Door Company division, Permashield Roller Shutters has launched an exciting new range of commercial aluminium roller shutters designed to roll up into precision engineered pelmet boxes. Widely available within the residential window shutters market, the new range has only now...
5 other areas identified for future bauxite mining in Fiji
Five other areas in the country have been identified for future bauxite mining. Mineral Resources assistant director Venasio Naisara said these areas are Nasorowaqa, Wainunu, Seaqaqa and areas between Lautoka and Ba. Naisara said from these areas, Chinese company Aurum Exploration Fiji Limited...
Political Leaders lock horns over Government intervention at the Tiwai Point smelter
Two of Invercargill's leading political figures are at loggerheads about Government intervention at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt has rallied community and industry leaders in a letter and called on the Government to show leadership over the smelter's uncertain...
Bua bauxite mining generated $10M so far
Approximately $10 million has been generated from the Bua bauxite mining so far. Mineral Resources assistant director Venasio Naisara said this is after five shipments of bauxite were shipped out to China by Aurum Exploration Fiji Limited. Naisara said mining has picked up very well given that it...
Elevate aluminium systems create a seamless transition in contemporary home
Elevate aluminium systems were used for the doors and windows at a contemporary home situated in the foothills of Mt Wellington, Tasmania on a steep and spectacular 3.8 hectare ex-quarry property. According to Building Designer, Mike Cleaver, the clients required a contemporary home with...
NZ Aluminium Smelters halts $70m of capital spending
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, which operates the smelter at Bluff, has halted $70 million of planned capital spending, citing "extremely challenging" market conditions that have eroded margins. The change affects $15 million planned for the remainder of 2012 and 2013 and follows a review of all...
Deal to preserve smelter tipped
State-owned Meridian may need to negotiate a short-term discount on perhaps half the electricity it sells to the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter at Bluff if the plant is to remain open, a source says. The smelter, majority owned by Australian miner Rio Tinto, and Meridian, which owns the Manapouri...
Aluminium production ends at Kurri smelter
ABC reported that 4 decades of aluminium production officially ends at the Kurri Kurri smelter when the last aluminium billets are cast. The smelter has been gradually winding-down since Norsk Hydro announced the closure around 6 months ago with the loss of around 450 jobs. By the end of the year...
Millions of carbon units granted to firms in Central Queensland
Several major industrial firms with operations in Central Queensland have been granted millions of carbon units. While Alcoa and Queensland Nitrates were the first two companies to be granted carbon units under the trading scheme, nine other companies have now joined the scheme. Among them, Orica...
Meridian Energy plans to sell its Manapouri power station electricity if Tiwai shuts down
Meridian Energy had contingency plans to sell its Manapouri power station electricity if the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closed, Meridian chief executive Mark Binns said yesterday. Negotiations between the smelter and the state-owned enterprise over the future of its electricity contract...
