Aluminium Smelter
From furnace linings to molten-aluminium transfer, how advanced technologies are addressing challenges in aluminium production
Aluminium production depends on high-temperature processes where furnace efficiency, thermal management and equipment durability are essential for maintaining operational performance. However, refractory materials used in melting, holding and casting operations face continuous exposure to extreme temperatures, thermal fluctuations, chemical corrosion and mechanical wear. These conditions can lead to premature furnace-lining failure, molten-metal penetration, corundum formation and heat loss, increasing maintenance requirements and operating costs. Addressing these challenges requires materials that can withstand demanding operating conditions while keeping equipment efficient and reliable. Alkegen, a supplier of high-temperature refractory and insulation materials, serves this requirement...
EGA raises EBITDA margin to 30% despite Al Taweelah disruption, while targeting full smelter recovery by Q1 2027
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has strengthened its profitability despite a challenging nine-month period marked by operational disruptions, constrained exports and reduced aluminium production. The UAE-based producer reported an improved adjusted EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2026, supported by higher realised aluminium prices, a stronger value-added product mix and cost-control measures. Meanwhile, the company is progressing with the restoration of its Al Taweelah facilities, expanding its international recycling footprint and advancing its global smelting technology partnerships. EGA recorded adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of USD 1.572 billion (AED 5.773 billion) during January-September 2026, compared with USD 1.738 billion...
Grow with
AL Circle
Price
→Events
Business Cards
A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
LEARN MORE
A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
LEARN MOREAL Circle Analysis: Scrap in EU, Thailand, 25%Trimet CO₂ cut, India’s 16.3tCO2 gap draw aluminium supply chain
AL Circle Analysis: 278% China-US FRP rise, $692m Germany-France FRP trade, India’s 300m-can gap draw aluminium map
AL Circle Analysis: Alumina prices fall 22%, Ghana advances bauxite projects & global aluminium production rises 2.1%
Global alumina production remains below 2025 levels despite a Q3 rebound, reaching 114 million tonnes in 9M2026
Germany-France aluminium FRP trade 2026 at $692m: Two-way exchange of coil, sheet, foil and high-value products
News
Storvik wins Alcoa contract for automated anode rod repair at Norway Smelter
Storvik has won a contract to operate and maintain the automated anode rod repair system at Alcoa's Mosjøen aluminium smelter in Norway. The agreement extends a partnership that began in 2016, when the company introduced its In-Line Rod Repair (ILRR) system at the plant. Storvik Mosjøen, a subsidiary of Storvik group will now handle the operation of the robotic repair line and maintenance of the anode yokes processed through it. Storvik Engineering built the system, with both companies working together on its installation and commissioning. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook " Anode rod assemblies are essential to primary aluminium...
Rio Tinto secures power deal for Bell Bay aluminium smelter with $200m support package
Rio Tinto has secured a five-year operating arrangement for its Bell Bay aluminium smelter in northern Tasmania, backed by a government support package worth USD 200 million. The agreement includes a commitment to maintain a minimum level of employment at the 71-year-old facility until at least 2031, easing concerns over its future amid uncertainty about electricity costs. Rio Tinto's aluminium chief executive Jérôme Pécresse confirmed the employment commitment but did not disclose the number of jobs covered. The guarantee is understood to cover around 500 positions. Bell Bay currently employs about 550 people and supports a further 1,200 jobs, with its future previously uncertain as the company sought a new power agreement. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of...
Century Aluminum prepares for next phase of $4B Oklahoma smelter, targets 2030 production
Century Aluminum’s proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, is “moving forward on all fronts” as the company prepares for construction, despite local opposition and legal challenges, CEO Jesse Gary said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Developed jointly by Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the project is designed to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminum annually, potentially doubling U.S. primary aluminum production. The facility is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add USD 1.5 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product, according to company estimates. The partners had targeted construction to begin by the end of 2026. However, local restrictions and permitting challenges have affected the...
WEEKLY: China's alumina prices stabilise on supply risks, but weak demand caps gains
Last week, domestic spot alumina prices showed a trend of stabilising after the decline, while market trading activity was generally muted. On the supply side, domestic alumina operating capacity recently stood at about 99.5 million tonnes per year. Recently, an alumina plant in Henan carried out calciner maintenance; individual alumina plants in Guangxi faced short-term output constraints due to tighter safety controls; and a newly commissioned coastal alumina plant in Guangxi is still conducting product-quality commissioning. Entering the mid-to-late fourth quarter, some plants in both northern and southern China may adjust capacity. A large alumina producer in Shandong plans production-line technical upgrades, with the specific impact period to be tracked continuously; a large alumina...
Alba wins top investor relations honours at MEIRA Annual Conference and Awards 2026
Aluminium Bahrain, one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, has received two investor relations honours at the 19th Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) Annual Conference and Awards, held on 1 and 2 October 2026 in Dubai, UAE. Alba was recognised as Leading Corporate for Investor Relations – Bahrain, while Eline Hilal, Director, Investor Relations and Insurance, received the Best Investor Relations Professional - Bahrain award. Together, the recognitions reflect Alba’s continued commitment to transparent disclosure, consistent investor engagement and clear communication of its strategy and long-term value proposition. They also recognise the collective efforts of teams across the Company that contribute to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with the...
Bell Bay Aluminium navigates workforce changes after government-backed rescue
Bell Bay Aluminium (BBA), Australia's oldest aluminium smelter, is reviewing its workforce and offering redundancies for a small number of positions, just over a month after receiving an AUD 200 million (USD 137.52 million) government support package aimed at securing the facility's future until at least 2031. Up to 10 roles are understood to have been affected by the review, although the smelter is expected to retain its existing workforce of approximately 550 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Some redeployment opportunities will also be available, while the positions identified are not understood to involve frontline services. The changes reportedly include some former participants in Bell Bay Aluminium's graduate programme. Rio Tinto, which operates the smelter near George Town in...
Interviews
→
Blog
LATEST POSTS
Turn marketplace visibility into more relevant buyer enquiries.
View Priority Plans
Turn marketplace visibility into more relevant buyer enquiries.
View Priority Plans
