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COMPANY NEWS
Alcan to partner mine-to-metal
project in Saudi Arabia
Alcan has signed a heads of agreement
with Saudi Arabian mining company
Ma’aden to develop a US$ 7 billion integrated
aluminium mine-to-metal project,
including bauxite mining, a 1.6 million tpy
alumina refinery, a 1.400 MW power plant
and a 720,000 tpy aluminium smelter. Alcan
would take a 49% stake in the project
and would provide technology and operating
management support, with Ma’aden
holding the balance of 51%. The smelter,
initially based on two AP36 potlines, will
be designed to accommodate a potential
expansion of four additional lines that
could increase annual production to 1.2 mil-
two Croatian firms; and a consortium
of German aluminium producer Trimet
and the UK’s International Mineral
Resources. The Bosnian Tender
Commission will select the top bids
for the second round before due diligence
starts in early May. After due
Indonesia stops China-bound
bauxite shipments
The Indonesian navy has stopped
two vessels carrying around 135,000
tonnes of bauxite from Bintan Island
to China. The two vessels which each
have a capacity of 68,000 tonnes, were
stopped at the Indonesian border and
told to return on allegations that the
ships were overloaded. The cargo belongs
to two private miners operating
in Bintan. Concerns have increased
that Indonesia could ban exports of
raw materials such as bauxite. Such a
ban would prove detrimental to China’s
alumina refineries, which have
been expanding in capacity, and are
highly dependent on Indonesia for the
raw material. China’s bauxite imports
increased 4.5 times to 9.68 million
tonnes in 2006, with Indonesia accounting
for 8.81 million tonnes or
91% of the imports.
lion tpy. A 90 million tonne bauxite reserve
in Az Zabirah in northern Saudi Arabia
represents a potential 30 years of mining.
The alumina plant, aluminium smelter
and power generation facilities would be
located at Ras Az Zawr. First metal would
be expected in the first quarter of 2011,
and first alumina one year later. Next step
will include completing the joint venture
agreement and pursuing project financing
arrangements for capital costs. Ma’aden
was established as a Saudi Arabian joint
stock company in 1997 and is 100% owned
by the Saudi Government.
diligence, the selected parties will
enter into a round of binding bids at
the end of June. The tender conditions
require the buyer to pay cash for the
stake, maintain the smelter’s 121,000
tpy of metal and 256,000 tpy of anode
production. �
Bauxite and alumina activities
Man Industries might delay
1m tpy refinery
India’s Man Industries may have to
delay its planned 1 million tpy alumina
refinery in the western Indian
state of Gujarat because it does not
have enough reserves of bauxite.
While the company is hopeful of finding
additional reserves of bauxite, it is
too early to give an indication of how
long this will take. Man Industries announced
late last year that it would
begin the construction of the US$ 1
billion refinery after it had been allotted
more than 100 million tonnes
of bauxite by the Gujarat state.
Chalco seeks approval to
develop Guinea bauxite mines
Chinese national favourite Chalco
applied with the all-powerful state
planning entity – the National Development
and Reform Commission
(NDRC) – for approval to develop
bauxite mines in and around the
Mamou Region of the West African
country of Guinea. Chalco plans to invest
71.2 million yuan (US$9.22m) in
the Guinean bauxite project. Chalco
got permission in 2005 to carry out
geological surveys of Guinean bauxite
reserves in the prefecture of Mamou,
Kindia, Dalaba and Pita, a total area
of 11,000 square kilometre. Chalco
started an exploration programme in
2006.
Alcan to sell interest in Utkal
refinery joint venture
Alcan intends to sell its 45% interest
in India’s Utkal Alumina International
Ltd (Utkal). The joint venture was
established in 1992 and involves the
development of a new bauxite mine
and alumina refinery in the Indian
state of Orissa. Alcan expects the sale
process to be complete in the second
quarter of 2007. The Utkal Project is
currently in an engineering phase and
will continue to benefit from an Alcan
technology supply agreement. Hindalco,
part of the Aditya Birla Group,
holds the remaining 55% interest in
Utkal.
Ashapura may dump Chinese
partner for refinery project
Ashapura Minechem, one of India’s
largest industrial mineral exporters,
may dump its Chinese partner Sichuan
Aostar Aluminium Corporation
to team up with the Indian Adani
Group for its alumina refinery project
in Western Indian state Gujarat. The
Adani group and Ashapura are close
to finalize a joint venture for the construction
of the planned 1 million tpy
alumina refinery. Ashapura is leaning
towards Adani because of its financial
strength and its good relations with
the Gujarat government. The Adani
Group is a US$ 3.5 billion conglomerate
and is one of the most influential
business houses in the state of
Gujarat.
84 ALUMINIUM · 6/2007