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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Fijian landowners benefit from Chinese company's bauxite mining
The Nawailevu landowners of Bua in Fiji's northern island will receive over 600,000 Fiji dollars ($340, 000) next year in relation to bauxite mining after receiving their first lump sum payment from a Chinese company earlier this year. Acting Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources...
Three bauxite shipments from Bua earned profits for Fiji
THE three bauxite shipments from Bua have brought back more than $8million within a span of four months following the first shipment in June. The fourth ship, currently being loaded at the qoliqoli of Navakasiga, will leave Fiji tomorrow and a fifth ship is already anchored in the same area. Mine...
Job losses at the Tiwai aluminium smelter lowered Economic confidence in Southland
Economic confidence in Southland has plummeted since June with the threat of job losses at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter presumed to be behind the change. The Westpac McDermott Miller regional economic confidence survey for the September quarter shows confidence in Southland has nose-dived from...
Tiwai Point aluminium smelter to spend on a new transformer
The cash-strapped Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is continuing with plans to purchase a new transformer, with management saying yesterday the company was committed to securing a viable future. The Southland Times understands a specialist power engineer from the smelter will travel to South Korea in...
Rusal to halt plans for power plant at Queensland Alumina refinery
Russian aluminium producer Rusal is expected to halt its plans for a $400 million gas-fired power plant at its Queensland Alumina refinery, The Australian Financial Review reports. According to the newspaper, Rusal Australia chairman John Hannagan said the company is uncertain if it will able to...
Govt told to be more 'proactive' over smelter
The Government's being told be more proactive when it comes to the row between state owned Meridian Energy and the owners of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. Aluminium prices are at a 25-year low and smelter owners Rio Tinto have already announced 100 job layoffs. Around 900 people directly rely...
Rio's Bluff Smelter talks still on track
Both parties to negotiations over electricity prices for the Rio Tinto-owned aluminium smelter near Bluff say there is no truth to reports that state-owned electricity producer Meridian Energy has abandoned the talks. "We haven't walked away from anything," Meridian spokeswoman Claire Shaw says in...
Southland's aluminium smelter has a possibility to remain open
A man who held repeated negotiations with the owners of Southland's aluminium smelter thinks an agreement to keep it open is likely. But Sir William Birch says any significant cut in the price it pays for its electricity will be short term. Sir William held multiple roles in government and...
Tiwai Smelter workers fear job loss
Workers at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter say morale is at an all-time low and many fear for their jobs. Wednesday's announcement that New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) would shed 65 jobs in the next two months - instead of in five years as previously planned - has shocked many staff. Staff...
Government 'Confident' of Deal Between Meridian Energy and New Zealand Aluminum Smelters
The New Zealand government remains confident that New Zealand Aluminium Smelters and energy provider Meridian Energy Ltd. will reach an agreement on a power-supply agreement, but failure to do so wouldn't necessarily delay a partial privatization of Mighty River Power Ltd., Minister of Economic...
Bluff smelter takes up fast-track job cuts to prevent shutdown
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters has accelerated plans to axe 100 jobs from the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter as depressed global metal prices continue to challenge the sector worldwide. Alan Clarence from the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said the plan will devastate the...
Bua residents concerned at the dust pollution from bauxite mine.
Landowners in areas surrounding the bauxite mine in Bua are concerned at the amount of dust pollution from the mine. They raised the issue in a meeting with the Commissioner Northern last month. The dust comes mostly during the transportation of the bauxite from the mine to the jetty. Director...
Bauxite spill claim
A GROUP of villagers in Bua have raised concerns over depleted marine resources in their qoliqoli blaming bauxite as a contributing factor. The villagers of Naiviqiri District have taken their concern to the chiefs of Bua asking for their assistance in resolving the issue. District rep Salacieli...
Cost cutting in Gove bauxite Mine affecting Nhulunbuy economy
The president of the East Arnhem Chamber of Commerce says the town of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory is feeling the effects of a cost-cutting exercise by the nearby bauxite mine and refinery. Pacific Aluminium has begun a natural attrition process, due to tough business conditions caused by...
Meridian Energy makes future strategy
Meridian Energy is reviewing what it would do with massive amounts of electricity if Southland's aluminium smelter closes. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS), which runs the operation at Tiwai Point, near Invercargill, is now in discussions with the state- owned power company over what Meridian...
Tiwai Point smelter withdraws from Kakapo Recovery Programme
The cash-strapped New Zealand Aluminium Smelters wants to pull its $200,000 a year sponsorship money out of the Kakapo Recovery Programme, putting the future of the endangered parrot in doubt. Tiwai Point smelter boss Ryan Cavanagh said it had stated its intention to exit the kakapo recovery...
Rio's threat to close Tiwai Point could delay Mighty River sale
The Government will delay the partial sale of Mighty River Power until early next year while it deals with headaches including Rio Tinto's threat to close the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter and Maori claims over water, sharemarket sources say. The timetable for the Government's partial asset sales...
Uncertain future for Tiwai Point smelter
The future of the Tiwai Point smelter is being questioned as falling global aluminium prices and the high New Zealand dollar eat into profits. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters says 100 jobs will be cut in the coming few years and renegotiating the company's electricity deal with Meridian Energy is...
