Middle East conflict weighs on Alcoa shipments

By Chloe Coutinho

Friday, 17 April 2026

NewsProjects & Operations

Alcoa’s (ASX: AAI) first quarter aluminium shipments fell 8% while alumina shipments fell 31%, partly due to shipping delays linked to war in the Middle East and Cyclone Narelle.

The MOU supports Metallium’s plan to develop a national network of e-waste processing facilities, strategically located near major e-waste collection hubs, rapidly expanding U.S. data centre industrial parks and regional industrial corridors with strong logistics and waste generation.

UQ start-up unlocks copper

UQ start-up unlocks copper

UQ start-up unlocks copper Inaccessible supplies of an element crucial to powering a clean-energy future are set to be unlocked with technology developed by The University of Queensland (UQ). The technology, commercialised through new start-up company Banksia Minerals Processing (BMP), is a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly way to extract copper from previously unviable low-quality resources. UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering metallurgy major lead and Hydrometallurgy Research Group head, Associate Professor James Vaughan says the technology reveals cleaner more efficient methods for processing copper concentrate....

The refinery supplies more than 50% of Victoria’s and 10% of Australia’s fuel and can process up to 120,000bbls of oil per day, according to Viva Energy.

NewsProjects & Operations

Fire breaks out at one of Australia’s two oil refineries

A major fire broke out at Viva Energy’s (ASX: VEA) Geelong oil refinery just after 11pm last night, with the blaze now contained to the area of origin.

Alcoa says the acquisition of Alumina strengthens its position as one of the world’s largest bauxite and alumina producers and is expected to result in long-term value creation from greater financial and operational flexibility.

Major acquisition drives strong results for Alcoa

Major acquisition drives strong results for Alcoa Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) reported results for the Q3 CY24 that reflect the acquisition of Alumina and resulting increases in net income, adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA. Net income increased to $134m (US$90m), while adjusted net income increased sequentially to $201m (US$135m). Adjusted EBITDA increased to $680m (US$455m). Alumina production decreased 4% to 2.44mmt primarily due to the full curtailment of the Kwinana, WA, refinery completed in June 2024. In the Aluminium segment, production...

The decision to terminate the transaction came nearly five months after the fire event.

Peabody and Anglo American enter arbitration

Peabody and Anglo American enter arbitration Anglo American has launched arbitration proceedings against Peabody Energy over the failed $5.7b sale of its Queensland steelmaking coal mines. Peabody pulled out of the sale by invoking a material adverse change (MAC) in August following a fire at Anglo American’s Moranbah North mine. Anglo American believed the event did not constitute a MAC under the definitive agreements due to the lack of damage to the mine or equipment and the clear progress being made within a rigorous and structured regulatory process towards restarting the mine. The buyer says it remains confident that a MAC occurred,...