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Bauxite and
alumina activities
mrn invests Usd45m
to improve ore quality
Brazilian bauxite miner Mineração Rio do
Norte (MRN) will invest USD45m to increase
the grades of its mined ores in a bid to cut
costs and to increase returns. The project, currently
at electromechanical installation stage,
includes replacing sieves and improving the
plant’s pumping system. The work will take
about two years and will save USD28.7m per
year in costs and will improve ore quality.
Average ore grades in 2012 stood at
49.84% of usable alumina and 4.51% of reactive
silica. After the investment, MRN expects
to increase alumina grades by 0.35% and to
reduce silica by 0.18%. The Brazilian miner
produced 17.1m tonnes of bauxite in 2012,
up 1.8% from 2011. Sold volumes amounted
to 16.9m tonnes (-0.5%).
indonesia’s move on bauxite
exports roused china
Indonesia’s move to change its mining laws
was a wake-up call to China, its biggest customer
for bauxite, and has led the Asian nation
to reassess its supplies. Indonesia’s export
restrictions showed that countries are seeking
to add value to their raw materials rather
than simply to export them. China imported
around 80% of its bauxite needs from Indonesia
in 2011, though this level slumped when
Indonesia changed its mining laws to require
companies to have export licences based on
new criteria. As companies acquired licenses,
exports resumed.
But China had already started to look for
alternative supplies, and so was also investigating
ways to adapt its refinery technology to
use different bauxite types. Many of its refineries
had been built to take Indonesia origin
bauxite, so adaptation of their technology is
crucial. But integrating bauxite and alumina
operations is not always the industry norm.
Some of the world’s alumina production
continues to operate at a loss, and much of
this is located in China, particularly in its
state-owned enterprises. These are vulnerable
to cuts in the future. The price is going
to drive the balancing of the market, either
through closing the highest cost refineries or
through adapting some of the refineries in
China that have shown more flexibility.
© Hydro
indonesian bauxite exports
to continue under new law
The new system of exporting bauxite from
Indonesia will begin from January 2014, as
part of a government plan to exert greater
control over its raw materials. The restrictions
are not a ban, as has been widely interpreted.
The January 2014 date is the deadline by
which companies must register and become
certified. The new system is not a quota system,
and there is no limitation to exports in
volume terms. But the export law will allow
Indonesia to track where its exports are going.
The move was driven by the Indonesia’s
desire to participate further in its raw materials
industry – which currently accounts for
around 12% of its GDP.
Indonesia’s bauxite deposits of around
13.5m tonnes are in Bangka Belitung and in
Northern Sumatra, Central Kalimantan and
the Riau Islands. Continued exports from Indonesia
will be a huge relief to China, which
imported around 30m tonnes of bauxite or
80% of its needs from Indonesia in 2011.
orbite begins shipping commercial
samples of high-purity alumina
Orbite Aluminae Inc. has begun shipment of
first commercial samples of high-purity alumina
(HPA) produced at its HPA plant in
Cap-Chat, Quebec. The samples in a range
from 1 to 100 kg have a minimum purity of
4N (99.99%). The company announced that it
aluminium semis
constellium gets bid for extrusion mills
Downstream aluminium company Constellium
has received a binding offer for two of its
has already received over 25 confirmed orders
for HPA samples ranging from 4N to 5N purity
from clients throughout the world. ■
recycling and
secondary smelting
sadoff iron & metal acquires
aluminum resources
Sadoff Iron & Metal Company has reached an
agreement in principal to acquire Aluminum
Resources, which is a processor and supplier
of foundry and mill grade recycled aluminium
products. “This acquisition adds a niche market
for us that compliments our current aluminium
and nonferrous business activity,”
said Sadoff CEO Mark Lasky.
Founded in 1947, Sadoff is a third-generation,
privately held ferrous, nonferrous, alloys
and e-scrap recycling company with headquarters
in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Including
this acquisition, Sadoff has seven recycling
facilities in Wisconsin, along with scrap
metal operations in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska.
The company provides scrap metal
recycling services and solutions to industry,
demolition contractors, and the public, along
with ferrous and nonferrous melt products
to foundries, steel mills and smelters. Sadoff
conducts business in 37 states and exports to
China, Mexico, South Korea, India and Canada.
■
extrusion plants in France from private equity
firm OpenGate Capital. The plants, located in
Ham and Saint-Florentin, specialise in making
aluminium extrusions for the building and
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