Alumina weekly recap: Aughinish Alumina faces uncertainty owing to sanctions; OxyChem gradually moves towards diaphragm-grade caustic soda production

War is never good for the economy and the earliest of its blows are felt in the industrial or manufacturing sector. This week has been full of turmoil and uncertainty following the Australian ban on bauxite import to Russia, Rusal’s Irish counterpart Aughinish Alumina is facing ownership crisis. While Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) has unleashed their malfunctioned machineries to release toxic sodium hydroxide on site, OxyChem and other U.S. chemical industries are putting in hard work for a purer variant of caustic soda. Their idea is to go carbon free in the upcoming years. Internal conflict puts on hold the construction of a joint venture under Antam-Inalum, Indonesia.  The entire situation is not stable and reminds us of the harrowing consequences of war as witnessed in history.

The Government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison has prohibited sale to Russia for alumina, bauxite and other commodities used as raw materials in the production of aluminium in retaliation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/australia-prohibits-the-export-of-alumina-and-bauxite-to-russia-77875

Built between1979-1983, Russian aluminium giant Rusal owned Aughinish Alumina refinery is facing decline both with import and export items, causing extreme fear among the North Kerry County Community, in Ireland.

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/consecutive-sanctions-on-aughinish-alumina-refinery-put-limerick-community-in-dismay-500-jobs-at-risk-77886

Queensland Alumina Limited, one of the largest alumina refineries by alumina output capacity, on Tuesday unleashed a caustic spray of chemical following an equipment breakdown at Gladstone, central Queensland. 

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/qal-unleashes-caustic-spray-of-chemical-onsite-following-equipment-malfunction-77909

On 25^th February 2022, Robert Peterson, the CFO at the American multinational organization engaged in hydrocarbon exploration in the United States, the Middle East, and Colombia, Occidental Petroleum (OXY) claiming that its chemical division, OxyChem is planning to outdistance some chlor-alkali facilities to raise the capacity in the production of higher-value caustic soda.

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/oxychem-and-other-us-caustic-soda-producers-ready-to-discard-diaphragm-grade-naoh-77925

On March 20, in response to the Ukraine-Russia standoff, the Australian government had imposed a ban on the export of alumina, bauxite and other commodities to Russia. As a result, some industry analysts believe that Russia may now seek help from China for the alumina supply. However, Chinese aluminium smelters require the complete feedstock they can get and are apprehensive about sending alumina to Russia over the fear of falling under the sanction radar from the western world.

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/china-fears-of-secondary-sanctions-for-supporting-russia-with-alumina-supply-77926

The Deputy Governor of Ireland, (Tnaiste) Leo Varadkar and Minister of Finance, Paschal Donohoe in their talks about the Aughinish Alumina’s future exhibited the ownership of the refinery is under scrutiny and should be altered to change the course of business. 

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/aughinish-alumina-s-fate-discussed-at-brussels-summit-on-war-77935

Indonesian state miners Aneka Tambang (Antam) and Inalum’s joint venture operation is delayed for two years since its US$831.5 million alumina refinery is not ready yet, as reported by the president director of the joint venture Dante Sinaga who said all this at the parliament on Monday.

To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/feud-between-engineering-firms-delays-indonesian-joint-venture-antam-inalums-alumina-project-till-2024-77914