Smelting

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  • The Las Tadeas wind farm in Spain. (Source: Capital Energy.)

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    The Shift Toward Renewable Power in Aluminum Smelting

    By Alton Tabereaux, Contributing Editor. Sixty-eight million tonnes of primary aluminum were produced worldwide in smelters in 2021. According to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), the aluminum sector was directly responsible for 275 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2021, a 2% increase over the previous year. If the indirect emissions from electricity are included, the […]

  • bauxite residue, also known as red mud

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    Hydro Partners with Wave to Recover Minerals from Red Mud

    Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery signed a contract with Wave Aluminium to build a plant in Brazil that will work to address the challenges of bauxite residue — also known as red mud. The new plant will process bauxite residue, aiming to recover commercially valuable materials. Bauxite residue is generated after the bauxite ore has been processed […]

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    Collaboration to Secure Responsible Aluminum to Japanese Downstream Manufacturers

    Rio Tinto, Australia, and Marubeni Corporation, Japan, are collaborating to ensure a sustainable and reliable supply of Rio Tinto’s aluminum products to Japanese downstream manufacturers. The companies have signed a first sale agreement, under which Rio Tinto will provide RenewAl™ high purity aluminum to a major Japanese motorcycle manufacturer committed to reducing carbon emissions throughout […]

  • solar panels

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    Alba to Install 6 MW of Solar Panels at Its Smelter

    Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) plans to install over 37,000 sq m of solar photovoltaic panels at its aluminum smelter in Bahrain. The renewable power will support the production of high quality primary aluminum. “Sustainability is entrenched in our Vision, Mission, and Values; this Project is fully aligned with our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ambitions […]

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    BALCO Trials the Use of Biodiesel in Its Aluminum Smelting Operations

    Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, successfully conducted trial runs for using biodiesel in its smelter operations in Korba, Chhattisgarh, India. This is in line with the company’s ambitious target to become net zero carbon by 2050 or sooner. Towards this end, BALCO is looking at increasing the quantum of renewables […]

  • Albal Potline 6

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    Bechtel to Conduct a Feasibility Study for Alba’s Line 7 Project

    Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) selected International Bechtel Co. Ltd. (Bechtel) to perform a feasibility study for its Line 7 expansion project. This will expand the company’s capacity of high quality, low carbon aluminum. “We are delighted of the partnership we have developed with Bechtel throughout the years, which has translated into awarding them Line 7 […]

  • ALDEL potline one

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    European Aluminum Smelters Face Closures

    By Alton Tabereaux, Contributing Editor. The European primary aluminum industry has been deeply impacted by surging energy prices. This is due to a combination of factors, including increasing demand, skyrocketing natural gas prices, and insufficient quantities of affordable renewable (wind, solar, hydro) or nuclear energy. The invasion of Ukraine also significantly impacted supply chains, in […]

  • Greenwashing aluminum industry

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    Addressing the Problem of Greenwashing in the Aluminum Industry

    By Subodh Das, Phinix, LLC, and Martin Hartlieb, Viami International Inc. Environmental sustainability has become a major trend across aluminum and other industries. A vast majority of companies are aspiring to achieve lower carbon resources in their operations and products, based on circular economy and Paris Agreement parameters. Generally, this trend is positive. However, while […]