Elysis, the joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa, marked the start of construction on its Research and Development Center in Saguenay, Canada, where the company will develop and commercialize its inert-anode smelting technology — which is said to be able to eliminate all direct greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the aluminum smelting process. Representatives […]
Trimet Aluminium SE began trial operation of its “virtual battery,” a technology aimed at making the energy intensive smelting process more flexible. The aluminum electrolysis process has traditionally required a constant supply of energy to remain stable, but this new approach allows for variations in energy input and more control over the smelting process. “We […]
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) achieved the internationally recognized ASI Performance Standard at its Al Taweelah smelter in the United Arab Emirates, demonstrating its commitment to environmental, social and governance performance. EGA is the first company in the Middle East to achieve a certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) standard. “People around the world are rightly concerned […]
UC Rusal and RusHydro, one of Russia’s largest generating companies, commissioned the first potline at the Boguchansky aluminum smelter (BoAZ), part of the Boguchany Energy and Metals Complex (BEMO). It is also the first example of a large scale public-private partnership in Russia. “The launch of the first production line of the Boguchansky aluminum smelter is […]
Researchers from Siberian Federal University (SibFU) together with scientists from Siberian State Aerospace University, both in Russia, presented a new method for automatic composition analysis of samples from the electrolytic bath in potcells. This technology will provide for more accurate technological control and increase the efficiency of aluminum production. To improve the technological properties of the […]
US10151039 — SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROTECTING ELECTROLYSIS CELL SIDEWALLS — Alcoa USA Corp. (USA) — A system is provided including an electrolysis cell configured to retain a molten electrolyte bath, the bath including at least one bath component, the electrolysis cell including: a bottom, and a sidewall consisting essentially of the at least one […]
GFG Alliance (owned by Sanjeev Gupta) completed its purchase of Aluminium Dunkerque, Europe’s largest aluminum smelter, from Rio Tinto for around US$500 million. GFG aims to make the smelter – to be renamed Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque – a foundation for a wider integrated manufacturing business serving the French and European markets. The acquisition paves the way for a downstream […]
Damco Aluminum Delfzijl Coöperatie U.A. (ALDEL), located in Delfzijl, Netherlands, reopened potline one, six years after it had been closed. Potline one has a total of 120 pot cells, of which 44 have been started up with the expectation that full operation will be achieved by the end of 2019. In combination with the smelters […]
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced its intention to end sanctions on UC Rusal and its parent company En+. The sanctions were imposed in April 2018 targeted Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska and his business empire, which includes Rusal, En+, and other companies in which he owned stakes. The OFAC cited “malign activities” […]
