[SMM Aluminum Express News] Alcoa has agreed to acquire most of South32’s bauxite, alumina, and aluminum assets for an upfront consideration of US$4.1 billion in cash and stock, with potential contingent payments of up to US$750 million linked to future alumina and aluminum prices. The transaction includes South32’s interests in Worsley Alumina (Australia), Hillside Aluminium (South Africa), and bauxite, alumina, and aluminum operations in Brazil, but excludes the idled Mozal smelter in Mozambique. Alcoa expects approximately US$900 million in synergies and believes the acquisition will strengthen its position as a leading pure-play upstream aluminum producer. The deal is expected to close in H1 2027. Under the agreement Alcoa will acquire South32's interests in: 1. Worsley Alumina (86%) 2. Hillside Aluminium (100%) 3. MRN Bauxite Mine (33%) 4. Brazil Alumina Refinery (36%) 5. Brazil Aluminium Smelter (40%)

SMM, May 27 – According to SMM statistics, the total scale of alumina projects currently under construction or in the planning stage in Guinea has exceeded 11.4 million mt/year, with new capacity expected to be gradually commissioned after 2028. From a project structure perspective, Chinese-invested enterprises remain the key driving force behind development. Many projects are integrated with supporting bauxite mines, captive power plants, and port facilities, highlighting a clear vertically integrated industrial chain strategy. If these projects progress as planned, Guinea is expected to transform from a traditional bauxite-exporting country into a major global alumina production hub. This could have a profound impact on future global alumina trade flows and China’s long-term raw material supply security.

Indonesia has done this before. A commodity export ban, a rush of downstream investment, processing capacity built faster than the upstream can honestly support, and a market that eventually corrects in the most painful way possible. The nickel sector wrote that playbook. The bauxite sector is now following it, page by page, with one additional complication that makes the stakes materially higher.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia has imposed fines on several bauxite mining companies for delays in developing alumina refineries and facilities. Director General of Minerba Tri Winarno said penalties vary by company, with some fines reaching as high as US$10 million.

Greece’s Interministerial Committee for Strategic Investments has approved METLEN Energy & Metals’ EUR 300 million gallium expansion project linked to its existing bauxite mining and alumina refining operations at Aluminum of Greece. The project will also support the expansion of nearby bauxite mines and alumina facilities. Gallium is classified by the EU as a critical raw material used in semiconductors, photovoltaics, AI and defense technologies. METLEN said the investment aims to strengthen Europe’s domestic critical mineral supply chain, reduce import dependence and improve industrial resilience. The project is expected to receive about EUR 118 million in grants and tax incentives.

In-depth Interpretation & Review of Indonesia’s Aluminum Industry Policies Centering on bauxite and extending to the entire aluminum industrial chain, the Indonesian government has rolled out a series of policies focusing on three core dimensions: volume control, pricing mechanisms, and tax rates. These measures aim to gradually improve the regulatory system, standardize industrial development, and accelerate the transformation from raw ore exports to integrated domestic downstream aluminum production. This article sorts out relevant policy details and their impacts in detail as follows: I. Volume Control: Strengthen Quota Management & Full-process Digital Supervision to Achieve Precise Supply Regulation ① Bauxite Quota: RKAB Approval Cycle Adjusted to Enhance Government Regulation Capacity Regulation Capacity Indonesia standardizes the full-process mining and sales of bauxite across all mines via the RKAB (Mining Work Plan and Budget) system. The core policy adjustment focuses on optimizing the approval cycle, mainly based on Permen ESDM No.17/2025 issued by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) on October 3, 2025. New regulations shall be officially implemented starting from 2026: Approval Cycle Revision: The RKAB approval model for all mining enterprises is changed from once every three years to annual application and annual approval. Mines must submit RKAB applications for the next year between October 1 and November 15 each year, with all approvals completed by the end of the year to guarantee orderly production in the subsequent year. Transition & Application Timeline: In Q1 2026, if the new annual RKAB quota is still under review, the original 2026 quota can be adopted temporarily. Quota adjustment applications for the current year shall be submitted by the end of July annually, while the centralized submission window for the next year’s quota is set from October 1 to November 15, forming a dual management model of annual approval plus dynamic adjustment. Scenario Analysis & Policy Impacts Original Three-Year Approval Model: Unable to accurately forecast market demand for the next two years, this model easily triggers supply-demand mismatches and overall oversupply, putting downward pressure on bauxite prices. It also limits flexible government regulation, resulting in significant policy lag as quotas cannot be adjusted timely in response to market changes. New Annual Approval Model: The government gains stronger annual regulatory authority to dynamically adjust total annual quotas based on international bauxite prices, global supply-demand fundamentals and domestic smelting demand, improving price stability. Meanwhile, it strengthens fiscal revenue guarantees and regulatory efficiency through a more transparent and streamlined approval process, reduces rent-seeking behaviors, and advances compliant industrial development. ② SIMBARA System: Full-chain Digital Supervision to Curb Illegal Mineral Trading In accordance with Perpres 94/2025 (Presidential Regulation No.94/2025), the SIMBARA system (Inter-Ministerial Mineral and Coal Information System) officially incorporated bauxite into its regulatory scope in 2025, establishing a full-process digital supervision system covering operations from mines to end users. Through the SIMBARA official portal, the Indonesian government tracks real-time bauxite sales data and monitors the entire transportation chain from mining to downstream processing, including inter-island logistics, with precise linkage to mining quotas. It covers all key links: mining sites, processing, transportation and exports. The implementation of this system not only aligns Indonesian bauxite mining with global industry standards, but also effectively restrains irregular activities such as illegal mining, child labor and environmental damage, promoting green and compliant development of the sector. All bauxite mines are required to submit full-operation documents via the SIMBARA system, including production reports, inventory statements and raw material procurement records, for joint reviews by four core authorities: the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, and Ministry of Transportation. The mechanism realizes data sharing, joint supervision and full traceability. II. Tax Rate: Standardize Billing Rules & Optimize Tax Burden Structure ① Indonesia’s Bauxite Tax Framework: Fixed Fee + Ad Valorem Royalty The country’s bauxite taxation policy adopts a dual structure of fixed administrative fees and floating royalties, clarifying differentiated charging rules for various mining rights. Combined with revisions to the HPM pricing mechanism, the overall tax burden structure has been optimized. Fixed Fee: Paid in a lump sum on an annual basis Core Formula: Fixed Fee = Mining Concession Area × Corresponding Unit Rate Floating Royalty: Charged per sales transaction and highly linked to commodity prices Core Formula: Royalty = Sales Volume × Transaction Price × Applicable Rate Transaction bonuses and premiums shall be included in invoice amounts for unified tax calculation; Pricing benchmark confirmation: If the premium is negative (actual transaction price benchmark price), tax calculation shall adopt HPM plus premium. Calculation Example Assume HPM = USD 44/ton, bauxite indicators: Al₂O₃=49%, Reactive Silica=2%. Actual transaction price: USD 35/ton (Premium = -9 USD/ton), Bonus = USD 1/ton, net transaction price = USD 36/ton. Given the negative premium, royalty is calculated based on HPM: Royalty = 44 USD/ton × 7% (standard bauxite royalty rate) = 3.08 USD/ton. ② Revised HPM Pricing Mechanism Effective April 15, 2026 (Kepmen ESDM No. 144/2026) Core Revisions: Pricing unit adjusted: Dry Metric Ton (DMT) → Wet Metric Ton (WMT) New deduction factor: Reactive Silica (R-SiO₂) New moisture adjustment clause added Regulators require bauxite enterprises to cooperate with inspection institutions and add key indicators including alumina content, reactive silica and moisture content to official Certificate of Analysis (COA). Data updates on the e-PNBP and MVP systems are also mandated to ensure accurate royalty calculation. The revised HPM mechanism lowers benchmark prices and overall royalty costs, reducing comprehensive bauxite mining costs and accelerating mine shipments as well as downstream industrial integration layouts. ③ Optimized HPM Pricing Cycle: Higher Flexibility to Align with Global Markets The pricing cycle has been shortened to reduce policy lag and better reflect LME aluminum price fluctuations. Old Rules (Before March 1, 2025): Monthly single HPM release. The pricing reference window covered the 20th of the month before last to the 19th of the previous month, with a pricing lag of around 45 days, failing to reflect timely international price changes. New Rules (Effective March 1, 2025): Semi-monthly HPM releases on the 1st and 15th of each month. 1st Issue (1st of each month): Calculated by average LME aluminum spot prices from the 5th to the 25th of the prior month (21-day cycle, 5-day lag); 2nd Issue (15th of each month): Calculated by average LME aluminum spot prices from the 26th of the prior month to the 4th of the current month (10-day cycle, 5-day lag). Core Benefits Improved market sensitivity: The shortened cycle enables HPM to reflect real-time LME movements, strengthens linkage with global pricing, and avoids price distortion caused by long-term average calculations; Optimized revenue management: The government can adjust domestic mineral benchmark prices more precisely in response to global aluminum volatility, balancing reasonable profit margins for mining enterprises and stable national tax revenue. III. Pricing Policy: Abolish HPM Floor Price to Boost Market Circulation & Downstream Development A landmark adjustment in Indonesia’s bauxite price regulation is the cancellation of the mandatory HPM minimum settlement price, implemented in phases to balance fiscal revenue and market vitality. Old Regulation (Kepmen ESDM No.72/2025): Bauxite transaction prices were strictly prohibited from falling below HPM. This rule triggered supply-demand imbalance, sluggish ore sales and suspended shipments by major miners, severely restricting normal market circulation. New Regulation (Kepmen ESDM No.268/2025): Signed on August 8, 2025, and officially implemented in late August 2025. The core revision abolishes the HPM floor price and allows transactions below benchmark prices. Nevertheless, taxes and royalties are still calculated based on standard HPM values to shield national fiscal revenue from price declines. Core Advantages of the Revised Policy Government Perspective: HPM-based tax collection guarantees stable fiscal revenue independent of market fluctuations. Loosened price controls revitalize trading activity, resolve the supply glut dilemma, support mine capacity expansion and local employment, and secure long-term industrial stability. Industrial Perspective: Discounted transactions ease inventory pressure for miners and accelerate capital turnover. Lower raw material procurement costs reduce production expenses for domestic smelters, incentivize downstream capacity commissioning, and help Indonesia achieve its 2040 strategic goal of full aluminum chain integration.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] India has approved a broad-gauge rail line linking Tikiri to the Kutrumali and Sijimali bauxite mines in Odisha, boosting upstream logistics for the aluminum sector. The project, granted Special Railway Project status, will be developed under a PPP model with funding support expected from Kalinga Alumina and Vedanta Limited, improving bauxite evacuation and supply chain efficiency.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] PT Antam targets bauxite production of 4.9 million wet metric tons (WMT) in 2026. This represents a 70% increase compared to 2025 production of 2.8 million tons. PT Antam revealed that the 2026 Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) for its bauxite mine at PT Mega Citra Utama (MCU) has not yet received approval from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). The delay is due to the ongoing revision of the Feasibility Study (FS).

[SMM Aluminum Express News] The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has issued Decree No. 144.K/MB.01/MMEM.B/2026 concerning the amendment to Ministerial Decree No. 268.K/MB.01/MEM.B/2025 on the guidelines for determining Harga Patokan Mineral (HPM). The new regulation will take effect on 15 April 2026. Key Changes: 1. Reduction of the reactive silica (R-SiO₂) factor in bauxite HPM calculation. 2. Conversion of HPM unit from USD/DMT to USD/WMT. Urgent Directive for Bauxite Miners (Penambang Bauksit): 1. Immediately coordinate with your surveyor to include Al₂O₃ content, reactive silica (R-SiO₂), and moisture content in the Certificate of Analysis (COA). 2. Update the data in the e-PNBP and MVP applications for accurate royalty calculations.

On March 28th, the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) project for the 1 million tons/year mining, production, and operation of the Guizhou Aluminum Group's Zunyi Wuchuan Dazhuyuan Bauxite Mine, undertaken by Guizhou Construction Investment Group Chemical Construction Company, officially commenced. The project is located in Zhuoshui Town, Wuchuan County, within the core area of ​​the Wuzhengdao Bauxite Mine. The geological structure is complex, posing high demands for safety, quality, and organizational management. Chemical Construction Company, leveraging its mature management experience, professional technical team, and strong operational capabilities, undertook the project and continues to strengthen its management team to provide talent and technical support.