China Aluminum Stocks Hit Record High, SMM Reports

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Rio Tinto plans 360 MWh thermal energy storage project at Yarwun alumina refinery, securing up to A$75 million in government support. Rio Tinto announced on October 21 that it will conduct a feasibility study for a proposed industrial-scale thermal energy storage project at its Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland, in partnership with US-based Rondo Energy. The project would install a 360 MWh heat battery with 30 MW thermal discharge capacity, using low-cost electricity to heat refractory bricks and generate high-pressure steam for alumina refining. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed A$3.6 million for the study, with up to A$38 million available for deployment and a further A$33.3 million in conditional support. If implemented, the system could supply approximately 5% of Yarwun's steam requirements and reduce the refinery's direct CO₂ emissions by around 67,000 mt/year, lowering its reliance on coal and natural gas. The feasibility study is expected to take approximately 12 months, with a final investment decision required before construction. The project represents a potential pathway to reducing energy costs and emissions in alumina refining, although no additional alumina production capacity is planned under the initiative.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Australia proposes A$3.7 billion data centre at former Hydro aluminum smelter site in New South Wales. Data centre developer AirTrunk is advancing plans for a large-scale facility at the former Norsk Hydro Kurri Kurri aluminum smelter in the Hunter Region, New South Wales. The proposed development involves approximately A$3.7 billion in investment and 550.5 MW of power demand, repurposing a former industrial site with access to established electricity infrastructure. The smelter ceased aluminum production in 2012 and was permanently closed in 2014. The project is currently under public exhibition as a State Significant Development application, with environmental and planning approvals still pending.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Vietnam's aluminum can recovery rate reaches 93%, but closed-loop recycling remains at just 1%. According to data presented by TBC-Ball Vietnam at a recent packaging industry workshop, approximately 93% of aluminum is recovered in Vietnam, while only 1% of aluminum cans are recycled into new cans. Around 79% of collected materials originate from the informal sector, highlighting challenges in scrap sorting, quality control and traceability. TBC-Ball Vietnam, a joint venture between Thai Beverage Can and Ball Corporation, is promoting closed-loop aluminum recycling to improve resource efficiency and reduce reliance on primary aluminum. The company is collaborating with the Southern Institute of Ecology and other stakeholders to develop an aluminum can collection and recycling model in Con Dao. According to TBC-Ball, recycling aluminum can save approximately 95% of the energy required for primary aluminum production. Improving closed-loop recycling could strengthen Vietnam's secondary aluminum supply chain and reduce demand for primary aluminum in beverage packaging. However, no new recycling capacity or investment value was disclosed.