LAlumina Refinery in Louisiana Nears Permanent Closure with LDEQ Oversight

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Rio Tinto has signed a five-year offtake agreement with Australian bioenergy company SuperChar to supply locally produced bio pellets for its Gladstone alumina refineries, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. The agreement follows operational trials showing bio pellets could replace up to 30% of the coal used to generate steam in refinery boilers, supporting Rio Tinto's efforts to reduce fossil fuel consumption in alumina refining. SuperChar plans to build a bio pellet production facility in the Gladstone region with an initial capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year using locally grown bana grass as feedstock. At full contract volumes, the project could reduce Rio Tinto's reported Scope 1 emissions by up to 90,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually, while Rio Tinto will initially deploy the bio pellets at the Yarwun refinery before expanding to Queensland Alumina Ltd, subject to approvals and operational readiness.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Rio Tinto reported a 28% year-on-year increase in underlying EBITDA to US$14.8 billion and a 75% rise in free cash flow to US$6.9 billion in the first half of 2026, supported by stronger commodity prices and improved operational performance. The company declared an interim ordinary dividend of US$3.4 billion, up 43% year on year, while maintaining its full-year production guidance across its major commodities. Rio Tinto's aluminum segment benefited from higher realized aluminum prices, although alumina earnings were partly offset by lower third-party sales and higher raw material costs. The company said it has already delivered US$870 million in productivity gains and remains on track to achieve an annualized run-rate of US$1.8 billion by the end of 2026 while continuing to invest in high-return growth projects.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Metro Mining shipped a record 1.8 million WMT of bauxite in Q2 2026, up 7% year-on-year, while maintaining its full-year shipment guidance of 6.6-7.1 million WMT. The company negotiated an average 9% increase in Q3 CIF pricing following firmer market conditions and expects to ship more than 5 million WMT in the second half of 2026. Around 80% of its 2026 freight requirements remain covered by long-term contracts, limiting exposure to higher freight rates. Metro said rising freight and diesel costs have tightened the global bauxite market, with higher shipping costs from Guinea supporting a recovery in traded bauxite prices. The company expects further upside in bauxite prices once excess Chinese port inventories are absorbed, while noting that Guinea producers are facing profitability pressure as freight rates remain elevated.