The ENAL Newsletter News Page

One smelter seems doomed, and yet may survive. Some greenfields and expansions are on the horizon. Another Soderberg will deserve revamping.

2009-07-05T11:47:00.002-04:00

This European smelter - scroll way down - is bound to increase capacity and revamp within a few years. This other one, also European, pursues a strategy integrating energy generation and will expand at some time. Russians are getting in trouble in Africa around this smelter, because of financial terms for the energy supply. This aluminum producer pursues an expansion – scroll way down - and plans two greenfields, work to begin within 3-4 years. Get ready! This European smelter may yet survive, but…

More light at the end of the tunnel for primary aluminum.

2009-06-25T16:00:00.003-04:00

The primary aluminum industry is showing signs that the end of the recession is not that far. Click here for a full report. LME prices seem to have hit the bottom and trends are encouraging for good reasons. Some of these long term trends, lead by one specific application of light metals (click here for another detailed report), will play a major part.
This country is a major metal producer and is about to decide deregulating its energy market. One country prepares with Chinese help a colossal, integrated industrial zone including a smelter, which will utilize hydro energy already in full development.
This other country is moving ahead in preparing a major hydro investment geared at future greenfields. And this other country decides finally to move ahead on an integrated energy/aluminum project which will be their first entry in the industry.
This aluminum producer decides not to delay his most immediate greenfield project. This other country will launch a bit less than 6 Terawatts of energy capacity mainly to serve the aluminum industry, including new greenfields. This aluminum producer restarts some idled capacity, and this one - click here and scroll way down - plans to double capacity within 5 years, and begins with adding power capacity to its integrated plant. And this producer succeeds in concluding an agreement for the renewal of its energy supply under favorable terms. A fascinating saga keeps developing in Europe around this smelter due to shut down unless it is saved at the last minute by either of two options – scroll way down for a comprehensive update - to create or refit energy capacity.
As well, click here and scroll way down to read the 5 decades story of this small country, now a major producer, who has gone full circle from cheap excess energy to facing difficult decisions arbitraging between aluminum strategy and local needs of the energy market, leading him to a decision regarding capacity expansion.

Some more smelters contemplate shutdowns, some are still investing.

2009-06-04T12:51:00.003-04:00

Manufacturers of smelter equipments, here is a project you should know about: this little-known smelter is expanding. Meanwhile, here is a world first: here is (scroll way down)
an attempt to integrate a biomass-generated power plant to a smelter in order to save it from loss of energy source. Meanwhile, the extension project of this excellent and otherwise competitive smelter
is delayed by a political dispute around CO2 emission. This major alumina project is put on hold, (scroll way down,) which will hamper more than one aluminum producer. This smelter may contemplate shutdown because an energy contract will not be renewed. This government is buying back its sole smelter because it cannot afford a shutdown which opens opportunities for innovative power integration solutions.

Despite the general investment slow down, some good news.

2009-05-20T02:23:00.004-04:00

Whether this smelter (scroll down) will or won’t obtain a better energy contract will give a signal on the US Administration’s views on primary aluminum. Work on this smelter is now in progress, and the technology supplier is also providing financing under extremely favorable conditions. Meanwhile, all investments in primary aluminum and related supplies are delayed, cancelled or slowing down. Here is the complete list since early 2009. But there is light at the end of the tunnel: One of the major aluminum producers, which is not paralyzed by debt, (scroll down) is reviving an old greenfield project. and This full-scale pilot smelter greenfield, which will demonstrate the highest electrical intensity yet, obtains some extra Government financing to go ahead.

Is the world aluminum crisis peaking yet?

2009-05-03T07:07:00.017-04:00

Read here about the coming shake up in the aluminum industry, consequences of too much debt. Is world aluminum crisis peaking? Click here to read why the major problem is debt… Despite being loaded with debt, this leading aluminum producer as you can read here manages to convince his government to – perhaps! – pursue two major projects; while this country - click here and scroll way down for the story - is worried that the Chinese aluminum industry may become too influential, and this other major producer changes the pilot to weather consequences of overwhelming debt, consequence of an orgy of leveraged acquisitions. BHP, in a similar situation, sells interests in alumina to Alcoa. In the meantime, aluminum investors who enjoy a strong balance sheet and plan for integrating their energy supply are going ahead with their projects. One of them even discovers with surprise that his greenfield will cost 20% less than expected! Other sound producers in less favored countries pursue their expansions. In Europe, the last smelters threatening to shut down - click here and scroll down - try a last effort to convince Germany that its utilities must be more competitive, even if compared only to their European competitors.

This major independent aluminum producer secures its long term alumina supply.

2009-04-17T22:52:00.001-04:00

Click here and search for sentence 'it was announced late yesterday' to read more.

Work begins on a new greenfield.

2009-04-17T22:50:00.001-04:00

This is not very common these days, so let's rejoice!
Click here and see which one.

Meanwhile, what is the future of coal as energy source for aluminum?

2009-04-17T22:46:00.003-04:00

Coal power generation, to survive, must invest in Carbon Capture & Storage. But it won't be cheap and it will take long. What will happen in-between?
Click here and scroll a bit down to read an interesting report.

But energy and aluminum marry well in the Gulf...

2009-04-17T22:43:00.002-04:00

... because investors know how to think long term, therefore they integrate energy and aluminum investments. Click here to read an overview.

Meanwhile, China increases aluminum inventories...

2009-04-17T22:38:00.002-04:00

... with positive effects on LME prices. Click here to read how... ...and then here.

In Africa, energy and aluminum do not marry well.

2009-04-17T22:36:00.002-04:00

This is because too much energy is needed elsewhere in the short term.
Click here and scroll down to read a typical example.

Hopes to save this European smelter ...

2009-04-17T22:30:00.001-04:00

... are on the way up. Click here and scroll way down to read more.

Can a US aluminum producer sell his own energy on the market?

2009-04-17T22:23:00.002-04:00

This looks like another big infringement to free enterprise in the Land of the Free.
Click here to read the case...

This integrated smelter will be built, but two years later than planned.

2009-04-01T14:15:00.001-04:00

Click here and scroll way down to read more, searching for sentence: said on Wednesday.

This new government talks about canceling major investment contracts.

2009-04-01T14:13:00.001-04:00

Click here to read the whole story.

This aluminum producer is going ahead with extension of capacity...

2009-04-01T14:10:00.003-04:00

... despite the financial crisis.
Click here and scroll way down, searching for figure: 137,500t, to read more.

This smelter will be nationalized.

2009-04-01T14:07:00.001-04:00

Its owner is stepping out, refusing any short term subsidy.
Click here and scroll down to read more.

RusAl will shut down smelters to slash costs and debt.

2009-04-01T14:05:00.002-04:00

Click here and scroll down to read more.

RusAl will shut down smelters to slash costs and debt.

2009-04-01T14:05:00.001-04:00

Click here and scroll down to read more.

Alcoa is Number One in aluminium production...

2009-04-01T14:03:00.002-04:00

... thanks to this recent new combination.
Click here to read more.

This major alumina producer suspends production.

2009-04-01T14:01:00.001-04:00

Click here and scroll down to read more.

Aluminum prices: the end of the tunnel in sight...

2009-04-01T13:58:00.001-04:00

... but not at once!
Click here to read more.

This small and rich country will become an aluminum producer after all.

2009-03-16T00:58:00.001-04:00

This greenfield has been on the back burner for a long time, but the will to go ahead seems to be there.
Subscribers, click here and scroll way down to read more.

Will this Australian smelter be allowed to expand capacity?

2009-03-16T00:56:00.002-04:00

A big dispute is going on about environment impact.
Subscribers, click here and scroll a bit down to read more.

This 150 ktpy greenfield will be completely integrated.

2009-03-16T00:54:00.001-04:00

Click here to read more.