Italy: Novelis opens new continuous casting line at Pieve near Milan

The new facility cost the company $12 million and is claimed to represent the largest single investment by the American recycling giant in the last 10 years. Novelis regards the expanded facility at Pieve to be a key part of its drive to enhance the competitiveness of its Italian operations. Erwin Mayr, senior vice president of Novelis and president of Novelis Europe, said, "This investmen Read More..

USA: Mixed feelings on Alcoa’s stewardship of the Yadkin river

The company owns four hydro-electric dams on the river and needs a water quality permit from the State of North Carolina before it can seek a 50-year federal licence to operate the dams. Opinion is split as to whether Alcoa deserves the permit or not. Dean Naujoks, the Yadkin riverkeeper, says he is concerned over dissolved oxygen levels in the river, which determine water quality. Naujoks b Read More..

Australia: Alcoa’s massive drop in profits

Alcoa of Australia is 60% owned by Alcoa and 40% owned by Alumina Ltd, whose key strategy is to invest globally in bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting. The latest figures underline the current problems facing the global aluminium industry with metal prices at an all-time low and stocks of aluminium in warehouses reaching up to 10Mt. Alcoa claims its Australian workforce Read More..

Decision in June on Chalco JV, says Rusal

It was reported in Aluminium International Today’s March/April edition, in an exclusive interview with Mukhamedshin, that Rusal had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chalco and plans to co-operate with the Chinese aluminium giant on research and development projects involving aluminium production technologies and the development of bauxite resources. There are also plans to dis Read More..

India: Severely delayed alumina refinery starts trial production

The plant, at Doraguha, near Kasipur in Odisha's Rayagada district, is owned by Utkal Alumina International Ltd (UAIL), a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries, which is part of the Aditya Birla Group (the parent company of USA-based Novelis). While the trial is likely to start during the last week of May, commercial production will take another three to five months. The plant has a 1.5Mt/yr c Read More..

The Gulf: More expansion on the cards for Emal

Emal’s phase ll development will come on stream in December 2013 and by Q2 2014 will boost the smelter’s annual capacity from 800kt to 1.3Mt, but with global demand likely to rise from its current 46Mt/yr to 60Mt/yr, further growth is definitely on the cards. If a phase lll development goes ahead it is likely to be launched in 2017, according to Mazrooei. The Gulf region generally exports Read More..

Mongolia: ETT to develop West Tsankhi coal field to offset loss-making Chalco deal

The US$250m coal deal, signed and sealed in 2011, is allegedly costing ETT more than the contract is worth. ETT wanted to renegotiate the deal but was put off by the threat of legal action from Chalco. Mongolian state-owned mine operator Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi (ETT) is to develop the West Tsankhi coal field of its Tavan Tolgoi coal mine in an effort to offset the cost of a coal supply contract Read More..

The Gulf: Alba posts strong sales figures despite depressed prices

Net income almost doubled from $57m in 2012 to $108m – an increase of 89% – and CEO Tim Murray attributed the company’s success to strong operational performance but also Alba’s ability to ‘capitalise on a significant increase in product premiums’. Read More..

USA: Happily Evercan After – Novelis moves ever more closer to 2020 recycling vision

Evercan aluminium sheet has been certified for high recycled content by SCS Global Services, a major force in third-party environmental, sustainability and food quality certification. Phil Martens, Novelis’ president and CEO, says the new product represents ‘tremendous progress in sustainable consumer products packaging’, adding that Evercan represents the first step towards the company’s ul Read More..

USA: Century acquires Rio Tinto Alcan’s Sebree smelter

Michael Bless, Century's president and CEO, said: "We are well acquainted with the Sebree smelter and its excellent management team and talented group of employees. We believe that, with these facilities under common ownership, we will derive real benefits in better serving customers and through improving both operations with the sharing of best practices in safety, technical and operational p Read More..