Primary aluminium

Vedanta: energy efficiency breakthrough in potlining technology

Vedanta Aluminium has announced a significant breakthrough in potlining design at its aluminium smelters.

Trimet board member Dr Andreas Lützerath (l.) in conversation with Aluminium Praxis editor-in-chief Alwin Schmitt

The three dimensions of aluminium production

Interview with Trimet Executive Board member Dr. Andreas Lützerath about the future challenges in areas such as demographics, digitalization and decarbonization.

The Gränges-SIG joint venture for the construction of a recycling and casting operation has received approval.

Casthouse

Partnership for sustainable aluminium in China approved

Gränges has formed a joint venture with Shandong Innovation Group (SIG) to build a recycling and casting operation Yunnan, China.

Materials

Allow Inerta aluminium from Rusal is tested in China

Mingtai Aluminium in China is testing Allow Inerta primary aluminium, which Rusal claims is produced with the lowest carbon footprint in the world.

William F. Oplinger is the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Alcoa Corporation

Company

Alcoa announces leadership transition

William F. Oplinger was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Alcoa Corporation and also a member of the Board of Directors.

At the Essen site, the new Metrics control system is currently operating in 16 electrolysis furnaces

Primary aluminium

Trimet equips aluminium smelters for greater sustainability

Trimet Aluminium SE in Germany has developed a new process control system for controlling the electrolysis furnaces in its aluminium smelters.

Alba plans to build seventh potline at its site in Bahrain

Processes / Technology

Alba awards Bechtel to conduct Potline 7 feasibility study

During a virtual meeting early this week, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has awarded International Bechtel Co. Ltd to conduct Line 7 project’s feasibility study.

Company

Hydro cuts production of primary aluminium

In response to reduced market demand for aluminium billets in Europe, Hydro has decided to partially curtail aluminium production at Hydro Karmøy and Hydro Husnes in Norway.

Company

Lista Smelter in Norway curtails production

Alcoa is curtailing one third of its production capacity at its Lista smelter in Norway to mitigate high energy costs for the site.

Company

Slovalco will stop primary aluminium production

Hydro’s majority owned Slovalco aluminium facility in Slovakia has decided to close the primary aluminium production at the plant. The closure will be completed by the end of September 2022.

Associations

European Aluminium disappointed by EU CBAM decision

European Parliament vote on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) enshrines net increase in global carbon emissions, says European Aluminium.

Associations

CRU-Report: CBAM threatens European aluminum production

A new report for the European aluminium industry by the independent commodity analyst CRU highlights the negative impacts of a wrongly designed Carbon Border Adjustment Measure (CBAM).

Primary aluminium

Alcoa supplies low-carbon Ecolum to Speira

Alcoa has entered into a supply agreement to provide low-carbon Ecolum aluminium to rolling and recycling company Speira in Grevenbroich, Germany.

Company

EGA completes Al Taweelah smelter expansion

EGA starts up second phase of Al Taweelah smelter expansion ahead of schedule.

Electrolysis

Technology pilot at Hydro Karmøy successfully verified

A 2-year internal testing programme has successfully verified Hydro Karmøy’s technology pilot plant with its HAL4e primary aluminium production technology.

Primary aluminium

Krasnoyarsk smelter runs with Eco Soderberg technology

Rusal has completed the conversion of its aluminium smelter in Krasnoyarsk to Eco Soderberg technology.

Industry

Power failure at Albras causes partial shutdown of capacity

One of the four production lines at the Albras aluminium smelter in Brazil has been shut down due to a fire in an electrical transformer on Friday. The fire has been put out and the incident did not cause any people-related injuries. The other three lines have not been affected and are running as normal.

Anodes

Fives’ Anode Tracking solution awarded by TMS 2020

The TMS Light Metal expert community has recognized the value of the Fives’ Anode Tracking solution by awarding it the Prize for best publication. Presented at the TMS 2019 conference, this publication was rewarded in the Electrode Technology category and the award was presented to Fives Solios at the 2020 edition in San Diego on 24 February. This conference, which is organized annually by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, is one of the most significant and recognized events within the scientific community interested in the production of primary aluminium.

Industry

Rio Tinto to review future of Isal smelter

Rio Tinto has announced to conduct a strategic review of the Isal aluminium smelter in Iceland. The review will consider all options including curtailment and closure, and will be complete in the first half of 2020.

Industry

Hydro sells site of closed Kurri Kurri smelter

Hydro has agreed to sell the site of its Kurri Kurri smelter in Australia to a joint venture of local property and residential land developers Stevens Group and McCloy Group. The decision to permanently close Kurri Kurri was made in 2014. Hydro has since been working in consultation with the local community and other stakeholders to find redevelopment options for the site.