Can France solve China’s bauxite problem? – AL Circle article

AL Circle article

AL Circle has published a new article talking about IB2’s pre-treatment technology that addresses China’s significant challenge in aluminium production. China, producing over 50% of the world’s aluminium and alumina, has long relied on imported bauxite due to the low grade of its domestic reserves, which are difficult to refine using the standard Bayer process.

This innovative solution neutralizes impurities in China’s low-grade bauxite, making it more viable for refining. This technology will be implemented in a pilot project at a refinery in Liulin, Shanxi, potentially reducing China’s dependence on imported bauxite.

Extract from the article: “China has been adorned with the title of ‘undisputed heavyweight’ in aluminium production for the past few years. It churns out over 50 per cent of the world’s aluminium and more than half of its alumina. But its towering lead rests on a weak foundation, i.e. imported bauxite. Despite sitting on a billion tonnes of the red rock, China has never truly cracked how to use it owing to its low grade. But it is time that could be about to change. All thanks to an unlikely saviour, a low-profile French tech firm, IB2, says it can turn China’s low-grade ore into high-value alumina, without the environmental or economic pain.”

To read the full article click here.