Renewable Energy
Australia to prioritise critical minerals refining and European market in updated strategy
Australia plans to give greater attention to critical minerals refining and processing under an updated strategy, as competition for investment grows and concerns over supply chains continue. Resources Minister Madeleine King said the revised strategy would guide the industry's next stage of development, with a focus on creating greater economic and strategic value from critical minerals. She said Australia would prioritise processing activities where it already has, or could develop, a competitive advantage. Australia is a major supplier of critical minerals, including rare earths used in defence and renewable energy. However, China dominates the refining stage of the supply chain. Western countries are seeking to expand their own processing capabilities and diversify supplies of...
Mozambique plans $126m solar plant to power Gaza province’s mining operations
Mozambique plans to invest around USD 126 million in a solar power plant to supply electricity to mining companies in Gaza Province, southern Mozambique, according to state news agency AIM. Provincial governor Alfeu Cuna announced the plan at the Conference on Adding Value to Mineral Resources (CAVAME-d 2026) in Nacala. The project aims to strengthen electricity supply for mining operations and industries linked to mineral processing. Gaza Province has heavy mineral sands deposits at Chibuto and limestone at Mabalane. The government is also planning mineral processing facilities in Mabalane and Mapai, where limestone deposits have been identified. Other mineral resources in the province could support cement production and related industries. Explore the production, demand and consumption...
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 MOREEurope’s 9M 2026 aluminium production jumps to 5.56Mt as smelter restarts gain ground
Europe’s recycled aluminium production: Germany, Italy and the UK anchor a competitive market
Global EV sales to hit 35.4 million by 2030, with aluminium usage forecast to rise 38% in North America & 79% in China
AL Circle analysis: How do Germany’s 32.8% automotive aluminium share, 40% Diet Coke can price rise & 3.54Mt North American extrusion demand matter?
AL Circle Analysis: Guinea’s 150Mt bauxite cap, China’s import swings, US tariffs draw aluminium Q4’26
News
IRBC project explores traceability in aluminium and bauxite supply chains for renewable energy
International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) has completed a project examining aluminium and bauxite supply chains to improve transparency and traceability in materials supporting the renewable energy transition. The project brought together wind energy company Siemens Gamesa, Dutch cable manufacturer TKF, Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology provider Minespider, and project partner Responsible Trade. The initiative mapped selected upstream aluminium and bauxite supply chains and tested secure DPPs to organise and present traceability and sustainability information across multiple supplier tiers. 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...
Rio Tinto plans 360 MWh heat battery, Australia’s largest for Yarwun alumina refinery
Rio Tinto is assessing the use of thermal energy storage at its Yarwun alumina refinery in Queensland, Australia, through a partnership with Rondo Energy. The proposed system would store 360 MWh of energy and deliver heat at a rate of 30 MW, potentially reducing the refinery’s reliance on fossil fuels to produce steam. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed AUD 3.6 million (USD 2.5 million) for front-end engineering and design studies. A further AUD 38 million (USD 27 million) could be made available to support installation if the study is completed successfully and the project proceeds. Join the fourth edition of webinar " Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours " by Jorge Dyszel. The proposed installation would be among the first large-scale industrial...
FMO, AXIAN and Africa Via advance €55.5m solar project in Côte d’Ivoire
Dutch development bank FMO has signed a financing agreement with Kong Solaire SAS for the development of a 50 MWp solar power plant near Kong in northern Côte d’Ivoire. FMO will provide up to EUR 55.5 million (USD 62 million) in long-term financing with a 20-year tenor, covering the project’s entire long-term financing requirement. The project company is owned by Africa Via, AXIAN and the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) through its project development solution, InfraCo. The financing structure has been adapted to reflect the specific conditions of emerging markets in West Africa. Benjamin Memmi, CEO of AXIAN Group’s Energy division, said, “ With an installed capacity of 50 MWp, the project will help diversify the national energy mix and meet growing electricity demand with...
Aluminium fins and discarded plastic bags improve solar panel output by 11.6% in laboratory test
Solar panels could benefit from a simple cooling arrangement made from aluminium fins and discarded plastic bags, according to a laboratory study that explored ways to limit heat-related power losses without consuming additional electricity. The combination increased a panel’s output power by 11.6 per cent under simulated sunlight, only marginally higher than the 11.5% gain recorded with aluminium fins alone. The findings point to a potential use for waste plastic in solar panel cooling, although outdoor testing is still needed to establish whether the approach can deliver similar results under changing weather conditions. Aluminium fins offer a simple way to manage solar panel heat Photovoltaic panels can lose electrical performance as their temperature rises under strong sunlight. To...
AI model identifies electrolyte conditions to reduce aluminium corrosion in batteries
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed an artificial intelligence-based framework to analyse aluminium corrosion and identify electrolyte conditions that could improve the performance of aluminium-air batteries. Aluminium-air batteries have attracted interest as a potential energy source for electric vehicles because aluminium is abundant, recyclable and relatively inexpensive. However, corrosion of the aluminium anode in alkaline electrolytes remains a major challenge, as it wastes active material, generates hydrogen gas and affects battery reliability. Published in Frontiers in Batteries and Electrochemistry , the study examined how a commercial aluminium-magnesium-silicon (Al-Mg-Si) alloy corrodes in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) solutions at...
Carbon, competitiveness and credibility: Gangaa C Sharma on aluminium’s next challenge
Mr Gangaa C Sharma, an international professional with over 30 plus years of experience in management advisory and assessments and Managing Director & CEO of CETIZION Verifica Pvt Ltd. He is also former Board member of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) at the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), was approached by AL Circle for his insights into the aluminium industry’s evolving sustainability priorities. He highlighted the growing influence of sustainability on business continuity, profitability and global competitiveness. As supply-chain disruptions and carbon regulations poses new challenges to the industry, Mr Sharma explores significance of emissions data credibility and limitations of downstream producers for precursor emission performance. He also draws attention to a...
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
