Management team home, new zealands aluminium smelter. Relief in southland and for the workers at the tiwai point aluminium smelter after a deal was struck to secure the plants short term future. Rio tinto and the cabinet are set to decide within weeks whether to close the tiwai point aluminium smelter or use taxpayer funds to keep it open. Global aluminium smelters production costs on decline. Rio tinto considering closing tiwai aluminium smelter. The tiwai point aluminium smelter may end up paying millions of dollars less in electricity transmission costs, but its boss is far from impressed. The electric power supply system for potline 3 was designed, manufactured and installed by abb in close cooperation with the iceland. The tiwai point smelters future hangs in the balance. It sits in the middle of bluff harbour, with bluff visible in the top left. The expected closure of rio tintos tiwai point aluminium smelter in the. Aluminium smelters are notoriously difficult to close and reopen.
Casual cleaners tiwai aluminum smelter spotless group auckland, auckland, new zealand 1 day ago be among the first 25 applicants. Despite rising costs and their impact upon the firms bottom line, new zealand aluminium smelter limited nzas still turned a profit in 2016. Extra power for smelter in tiwai deal otago daily times. Nzas is a tolling plant, producing primary aluminium in the form of ingot, billet. Tiwai point aluminium smelter report wood mackenzie. Cells are now typically 9 to 18 m long, 3 to 5 m wide, and 1 to 1. A detailed analysis of the tiwai point aluminium smelter.
According to reports, the tiwai point aluminium smelter will continue to produce the valuable light metals even as the rest of the country shuts down for at least four weeks. Jul 01, 2015 the tiwai point aluminium smelter will get an extra month to sort out its electricity needs under a deal with provider meridian. Under rio tintos 20 electricity supply agreement with meridian energy, it has to give notice if it intends to end the contract or reduce. Fresh crews were bought in this morning to relieve the night shift and work continues to put the fire out.
The future of the smelter hangs in the balance as rio looks to sell many of its. Rio tintos dangling the potential closure of tiwai point. The save aramoana campaign was formed in 1974 to oppose a proposed aluminium smelter at aramoana in new zealand in the late 1970s aramoana was proposed as the site of a major aluminium smelter by a consortium of new zealandbased fletcherchallenge, australias csr limited and swiss firm alusuisse. World aluminium production exceeds 60 million tonnes annually. Tiwai aluminium smelter presented a donation of food and supermarket vouchers to the southland foodbank and the salvation army on friday morning. A modest proposal for the future of the smelter at tiwai. Advanced power supply equipment for new aluminium smelter potline. Clutha upper waitaki lines project and tiwai future faqs. Only one other plant in the world comes close, that being an alcoa smelter in tennessee.
New zealands aluminium smelter reopens its fourth potline previously mothballed in 2012 due to high aluminium prices and rising power prices. Rio tintos tiwai point aluminium smelter should it stay or should it. Aug 08, 20 relief in southland and for the workers at the tiwai point aluminium smelter after a deal was struck to secure the plants short term future. Restart of the project will depend on a range of factors, such as the size of the demand reduction announced, the actual grid configuration at the time, deliverability and length of the notice period, system. Apr 02, 20 too much is at stake with the smelter to leave it to a stateappointed board.
Writedown of tiwai point aluminium smelter australian mining. Nzs only aluminium smelter seeks government support amid. Its one of only two smelters in the world producing ultrahigh purity aluminium, which goes. Follow the concrete path to the reception area to the right of the security gatehouse. Primary production is the process by which alumina is smelted to pure aluminum metal. The tiwai point aluminium smelter is always running. Closing the smelter would also dictate that several other power stations would have to close as well, if manapouris power was to be used by other consumers instead. Is a closure team heading to the tiwai point aluminium smelter or is it a. Many of the key elements that are necessary to produce very high purity ingot were in place at the very beginning of the 20th century. Our product home, new zealands aluminium smelter, tiwai. Marc daalder is a political reporter based in wellington who covers climate change, energy, primary industries, technology and the farright. Rio tinto is considering closing down the new zealands aluminium smelter nzas at tiwai. Aluminum remelt plant textile dyepigment plant liquidation aluminum smelting equipment 150,000 bpd refinery units zsk300 extruder used on polypropylene anhydrous caustic soda naoh plant 125kt 400 tpd sulfuric acid, chemetic design, 1996 50kt phthalic anhydride plant refrigerants r4ar125 plant with technology, 1990s.
Tiwai point smelter s chances looking better meridian rising electricity prices hit bottom line at tiwai point. Expansion at tiwai point aluminium smelter with 4th. Nzas chief executive stew hamilton confirmed members of the rio tinto closure team would travel to tiwai next week and be at the smelter. The previous record production was 352,976 tonnes in 2007. Tiwai is one of very few smelters powered by renewable electricity, although it is still far from carbon zero the carbon anodes yield one molecule of co2 for every molecule of aluminium metal. Modular mining develops intelligent software solutions to facilitate.
From the time the three big stateowned power generators were partly privatised in 20, the possible closure of the tiwai point aluminium smelter was highlighted as a risk. To maintain temperatures of over degrees celsius in its electrolysis pots, the tiwai smelter consumes % of new zealands total electricity supply. Liupanshui aluminium smelter report wood mackenzie. Well, there is agreement that the aluminium smelted at tiwai is some of the lowest carbon, highestpurity aluminium in the world. May 08, 2014 aluminum al is a raw material of sustainability in the built environment, technology, and the modern economy. About 90% of the 360ktpa aluminium produced is exported. New zealands aluminium smelter new zealands aluminium smelter nzas is new zealands only aluminium smelter and is located on tiwai peninsula, across the harbour from bluff in southland. It is one of only two smelters in the world producing ultrahigh purity aluminium. Workers seen casting aluminium during prime minister jacinda ardens visit to tiwai point aluminium smelter in december last year.
The 1988 shooting down of the airbus 320 by the uss vincennes was attributed to the cryptic and misleading output displayed by the tracking software. German firm turns aluminum smelter into a virtual battery. A software malfunction in 2011 meant telecom customers hit their monthly cap earlier than they should have leading to extra charges andor throttling. New zealands aluminium smelter nzas converts alumina into aluminium using renewable hydroelectricity, resulting in one of the lowest carbon footprints for an aluminium smelter in the world. On the one hand, the tiwai point aluminium smelter employs 1,000 southlanders. The decision to keep the smelter running came just a week before the deadline for tiwai s owners, multinational mining company rio tinto, to announce the results of a. The smelter is located on tiwai peninsula in southland and the majority of the plants alumina is supplied from our yarwun operation and queensland. Jan 24, 2018 the efforts to contain a fire near bluff, southland which burnt conservation wetlands and threatened power lines and operations at the aluminium smelter at tiwai point. For instance, during the global economic crisis in 2009, production costs for aluminium smelters decreased between 30 and 40% compared to the record high costs in. The tiwai point aluminium smelter will remain open, with meridian energy remaining its sole electricity supplier at an undisclosed but somewhat improved electricity price for about 30 percent of the smelter s total consumption. Heat recovery from the exhaust gas of aluminum reduction cells. Pacific aluminium, the managing partner, is a wholly owned subsidiary of rio tinto group. Marc daalder reports from inside the smelter on a decision that could reshape our economy and climate change plans. The future of the tiwai point aluminium smelter appears to have become a little more secure, with the rio tintocontrolled plant thought to be roughly breaking even, largely thanks to a lower new zealand dollar and the fact the price of alumina has fallen more than that of the finished product.
New zealand aluminium smelters nzas southland chamber of. Tiwai point smelter looks safe, despite global glut. The tiwai point aluminium smelter, which has been running continuously since it launched in 1971, will continue to produce the valuable light metals even as the rest of the country shuts down for at least four weeks. Jan 23, 2018 at times the fire was 400 meters from the smelter complex and 100 meters from the main lines that supply power to the smelter. New zealands aluminium smelter nzas officially reopened the line on thursday, adding another 31 thousand metric tons per annum to the plants nameplate capacity. Park in the visitors carpark on your right as you drive into the site. It imports alumina and processes it into primary aluminium. Nzas will work on winding down the pot line this week, and reallocate 35 staff to its three other. After approx 7 km, take the left exit bend onto motu rimu road sweeping bend sign posted to tiwai after 0. The tiwai point aluminium smelter, which employs about southlanders, has been exempted from the fourweek lockdown of new zealand. Decision on rio tintos tiwai point smelter and 800 jobs. Assesses the future of the tiwai point aluminium smelter in southland, which might close over the next few years as a consequence of increased electricity costs following the partial privatisation of the electricity sector and lower world prices for aluminium.
Smelter spokeswoman jen nolan declined to comment on wednesday and chief executive stew hamilton could not be contacted. Tiwai point aluminium smelter nzas as seen from bluff hill. Commissioned in 1971 it is operated by new zealand smelters ltd nzas. The aluminum smelting process and innovative alternative. Mining giant rio tinto has walked away from talks with the government over the future of tiwai point aluminium smelter, prime minister john key has confirmed this morning. The tiwai point aluminium smelter has slumped to a large loss. In 2003, stock trading was suspended at the new zealand stock exchange on wednesday morning because of problems with a software upgrade at an associated share registry.
Tiwai point is new zealands only aluminium smelter. May 08, 2014 thus, the aluminum atoms are formed from aluminumcontaining ions that are reduced at the electrolytealuminum interface. However, this is a reflection of the energy source more than. The mars climate orbiter crashed in september 1999 because of a silly mistake. Concern lingers for tiwai point aluminium smelters future. Aluminum copper smelter this is the al melting furnace for the electronic induction design application ranges nonferrous and ferrous metals melting precious metal melting, like gold, sliver, platinum,etc. German firm turns aluminum smelter into a virtual battery trimet tests technology to create 1. Tiwai point aluminium smelter, near bluff in southland. The software helps you to answer questions or to solve problems of every day aluminum production as well as of research and development. Jul 27, 2018 the tiwai point aluminium smelter has employed most if its 90 extra staff and is now training them, bringing the total number of workers at the plant to 900, including contractors. Bluff aluminium smelter could close taking power prices.
The tiwai point aluminium smelter has slumped to a large loss because of volatile prices and power costs. Tiwai point aluminium smelter profitable in 2016 despite. For this purpose you use interactive web pages or pcprograms that you may download and install on your computer. Smelting needs a lot of power it uses electricity equivalent to 776,000 households, or percent of all the power used in new zealand. The smelter, which employs more than 3000 people in southland, had claimed its future was in doubt as it sought to cut the price of its electricity supplies through a contract with meridian. On the other hand, saving it might require a cash injection of tens of millions of dollars. The ease with which aluminum can be resmelted, without losing durability or modifying its original properties, allowed it to become a highvalue recycled commodity, serving as a cornerstone for the recycling industry. The topic commences in 1904, with the first consideration of the hydroelectric potential of lakes manapouri and te anau, and concludes in 1969 with the signing of the industry agreement which confirmed the construction of an aluminium smelter at tiwai point, bluff. Tiwai point aluminium smelter near bluff is one of the few big manufacturing businesses working through the lockdown. Production costs for smelters are highly dependent on the global economic environment, which affects oil prices, and the prices of other commodities, including those that create smelters input costs. Tiwai waste a hot potato no one wants to hold rnz news. The facility, new zealands only aluminium smelter, is at tiwai point, near bluff. Aluminium smelting requires a large and very reliable power source to continually supply electricity to reduction cells, and tiwai points proximity to the then.
New zealands aluminium smelter location tiwai point. Heat recovery from the exhaust gas of aluminum reduction cells 60 ects thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of science reykjavik university school of science and engineering menntavegur 1, nautholsvik 101 reykjavik iceland phone. The tiwai point aluminium smelter s future seems more secure after it announced it will reboot its mothballed fourth potline, having secured a more than fouryear electricity deal with meridian energy. Tiwai point aluminium smelter the smelter currently consists of 3 lines of p69 technology cells, with 208 cells each i. Nzas reopens upgraded potline 4 at tiwai point smelter. Tiwai point the tiwai point aluminium smelter is an aluminium smelter owned by rio tinto group 79. Home, new zealands aluminium smelter, tiwai point, manapouri. New zealand smelter achieves record productivity while. The national power grid would need costly investment if tiwai point aluminium smelter closes, but it could reduce new zealands reliance on fossil fuels, a report by genesis energy suggests. Tiwai point has tried to stay competitive in the global aluminium market by focusing on the top end. This website is dedicated to software for aluminum smelting. New zealand aluminium smelter limited nzas is a joint venture operation owned by pacific aluminium new zealand limited 79.
This is a list of primary aluminium smelters in the world. However, the firm warns that, should relief for its rising power costs not be forthcoming, the financial numbers in coming years may be printed with red ink. Casual cleaners tiwai aluminum smelter spotless group auckland, auckland, new zealand. Shutting down the tiwai point smelter could take a week or more. The tiwai point aluminium smelter is an aluminium smelter owned by rio tinto group 79.
However, it is understood new zealand aluminium smelters is now working through the. Semiconductor material melting specialized steel, iron, copper melting metal alloy melting, like aluminum alloy, zinc alloy, copper alloy,etc. Reopening could take months and cost millions of dollars. The depth of the operating cell cavity is relatively low, however, only 0. The long standing association with tiwai smelter has enabled yunca. If the tiwai smelter announces it is reducing demand rather than closing would this trigger the remainder of works on cuwlp. Tiwai point aluminium smelter uses per cent of new zealands power. The aluminum smelting process developed by hall resulted. In 2011 the smelter produced a record amount of aluminium, 354,030 saleable tonnes. Future of tiwai point smelter up in the air rnz news. Reform proposal big blow to tiwai aluminium smelter. Jan 14, 2014 the origins of high purity aluminum production are likely to have a strong impact on future production in conventional reduction cells. New zealands aluminium smelter nzas is new zealands only aluminium smelter and is located on tiwai peninsula, across the harbour from bluff in southland.
Jul 21, 2015 smelting aluminum is a hot, thirsty business. Tiwai point aluminium smelter squarely in the black. Rio tintos tiwai point aluminium smelter should it stay. Tiwai speculation prompts transpower to restart network. The wing roots of the airbus a380 are made from it. With proven knowhow in the field of thermal construction, insulation linings and trading of refractory products, we provide excellent refractory engineering solutions.
Tiwai s aluminium is by far the purest in the world. An aluminium smelter was already operating at tiwai point when the smelter at. Do both rio tinto and the government want tiwai smelter. The troubled aluminium smelter uses about 12 percent of new zealands electricity every year, pays tens of millions of dollars every year for electricity infrastructure it doesnt use and employs 1,000 kiwis. At the cathode, electrolysis reduces aluminum ions to aluminum metal. Rio tinto to consider tiwai aluminium smelter closure in new zealand. At the anode, carbon is oxidized to form carbon dioxide gas. Tiwai is close to power generation, and the fact that its hydro power makes it the cleanest operating smelter in the world. A deal has been signed that allows aluminium production to continue at bluffs tiwai point smelter, meaning a huge sigh of relief for. It is sought after and used by the japanese electronics industry and european aircraft manufacturers amongst others.
Our massena west smelter in new york state, established in 1902, is the longest continuously operating smelter in the world. Startup of the new line 3, which has 160 pots, has increased the annual production capacity of the plant by 62,000 tonnes. While its news was met with cynicism by stakeholders, and the government ruled out giving it a subsidy, it was a bombshell nonetheless. The tiwai smelter uses hydropower making it among the cleanest aluminum plants in the world. Thats 570 megawatts of power every hour, and the sites international owners get that power at a fraction of the price you pay. Courier driver fired over parcels dumped on south auckland street. Secondary production is the process of recycling aluminum scrap into aluminum that can be used again. Tiwai points new zealand aluminium smelter nzas is under threat of closure. Thats because shutting it down properly takes weeks, and restarting it takes. A rio tinto closure team will arrive at the tiwai point aluminium smelter near bluff next week to assess what needs to be done if a decision is made to close the site. This guarantees that the aluminium is made from traceable raw materials and is produced with electricity from low carbon sources, using world class smelting processes. Renewal metal is externally certified to have smelting emissions of less than four tonnes of co 2 per tonne of aluminium. It sounds like a simple case of deciding between jobs and the balance sheet but its far from straightforward.
Smelter may save millions on power otago daily times online news. Tiwai smelter deadline delayed by a month newscomau. Smelter delivers significantly reduced profit for 2018 and remains. The sumitomo group is one of the largest japanese keiretsu, or business groups, founded by masatomo sumitomo around 1615. Rio tinto to scale back new zealand aluminum smelter. The latest result from the new zealand aluminium smelter limited was a real tearjerker.
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