Page 168 - CW E-Magazine (21-1-2025)

News from Abroad

REDUCING IMPORT DEPENDENCE
Brimstone to co-produce alumina with cement in US

Brimstone, a US firm focused on nearly $8.7-mn of the total federal cost bauxite reserves. Brimstone replaces
decarbonising cement manufacturing share of up to $189-mn to advance site bauxite with carbon-free calcium sili-
process, will also produce smelter selection for its $378-mn commercial cate rocks, reducing the dependence of
grade alumina – marking a major demonstration plant, which will co-pro- the US alumina industry on imported
industrial milestone in the United States duce smelter grade alumina alongside bauxite.
with direct implications for national previously announced co-products,
security, domestic supply chains, and portland cement and supplementary Although the U.S. was once a lead-
the economy. cementitious materials (SCM), another ing aluminium producer, its supply
key concrete ingredient. chain now relies heavily on imports.
The Brimstone plant could represent China currently accounts for about 60%
the first new, domestic source of smelter This plant will serve as the initial of global production of both alumina
grade alumina in a generation, entering realisation of the ‘Brimstone Rock and aluminium, while the US directly
a market currently led by China. Refinery’, the company’s larger vision produces less than one-sixth of the
to refine carbon-free calcium silicate aluminium it consumes. Import reliance
“Brimstone is working to create the rocks into multiple cost-competitive, puts the US market at significant risk
industrial processes of the 21st century, decarbonised co-products. of supply disruptions and price volati-
leveraging co-production to unlock the lity – evident in the record-high prices
economic value of common, domesti- Alumina is the core material used seen globally throughout 2024. Experts
cally sourced rocks,” said Brimstone to produce aluminium, the world’s predict the US market will grow from
co-founder and CEO, Mr. Cody Finke. second-most consumed metal. The US 70,000 tons in 2023 to 90,000 tons by
“This milestone is a huge win for US currently has only one operational 2050, further increasing these vulnera-
manufacturing, as we now can secure alumina refinery, which relies on bilities.
the entire alumina supply chain right imported sources of unrefined alumina.
here in the US – fortifying the domestic Brimstone’s patented process lever-
supply of this critical mineral, reducing The Brimstone process entirely ages co-production to extract multi-
reliance on imports, and bringing jobs avoids the need to import bauxite – a ple minerals from this single rock –
back home.” rock found in certain tropical and sub- cutting costs, simplifying logistics,
tropical regions in the world, leading to and reducing waste. Brimstone will
Brimstone, which recently com- supply chain challenges – by producing begin pilot operations in 2025 and
pleted negotiations with the U.S. alumina from rocks abundant in the seeks to have its commercial demon-
Department of Energy Office of Clean U.S. Given its importance, there is currently stration plant operating by the end of
Energy Demonstrations, was awarded a global scramble to secure proven the decade.

Taiwan’s Qualipoly Chemical expanding capacities
for UV curing materials

Qualipoly Chemical Corp. (QPC), value by NT$5-bn, injecting fresh
Taiwan-based resin manufacturer, is momentum into Taiwan’s high-value
investing over New Taiwan (NT) $2-bn electronic synthetic resin technology.
(around $60-mn) to build a new plant Initially, QPC focused on manufactur-
for UV curable materials in Tainan ing unsaturated polyester resins and
Industrial Park, Taiwan. solvent-based coating resins primarily
for the Asia-Pacific market. In 2004,
The plant is expected to commence the company launched a new line of
operations in the first quarter of 2025, UV curable products, using its proprie-
creating more than 100 job opportu- tary technology, under the brand name
nities and increasing annual output QualiCure.

168 Chemical Weekly January 21, 2025

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