According to foreign media reports, Vedanta said on Friday (February 27) that, in the auction process organized by the Government of Odisha, the company had been declared the preferred bidder for the Karnapodikonda bauxite block. The Directorate of Mines and Geology of the Government of Odisha issued a “Notice Inviting Tender” on December 4, 2025, inviting parties to submit bids. Vedanta qualified in the initial bidding stage and participated in the online auction for the grant of the mining lease. The company received notice of the “Preferred Bidder Declaration” at 4:20 p.m. (Indian Standard Time) on February 27, 2026. The bauxite block was at the G2 exploration level, with a total area of 532.747 hectares.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] East Hope Group to be mentioned that they have reached an MoU to acquire 5 bauxite IUP in Indonesia from PT Bino Artomas Mineral Group. The 5 IUPs has never been on operation yet; however, geology review has been conducted in the Indonesian lab. It will cost around USD 200 - USD 250 mn for all 5 IUP with an area of more than 100,000 hectares in Ketapang, North Kayong, and Melawi. Current status: East Hope will gather geologist team to conduct the geology review again based on the Chinese lab. 5 IUP mentioned: PT Panca Raja Perkasa PT Cakra Internusa PT Rejeki Jaya Mandiri PT Bino Artomas Mineral PT Ridatama Cahaya Abadi

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Guinea Bauxite & Alumina Exports in January 2026. Ministry of Mines and Geology reports: Total bauxite 20.26 million tons; alumina 46,764 tons. Bauxite Highlights (top contributors): 1. SMB: 6.57 Mt (32 vessels) – leading exporter 2. Chalco: 2.64 Mt (14 vessels) 3. CBG: 1.64 Mt (28 vessels) 4. Zhicheng Guinee Mining/GBT: 0.94 Mt (5 vessels) 5. CDM China: 0.94 Mt (5 vessels) Other key volumes: 6. Cobad: 0.82 Mt 7. AMC: 0.79 Mt 8. BAM: 0.63 Mt 9. KBM: 0.58 Mt Alumina: 1. Friguia: 46,764 tons (2 vessels) – sole reported exporter

[SMM Aluminum Express News] The Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Finance Corporation (AFC) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to co-fund three strategic mining projects. The flagship initiative is a USD 1.3 billion alumina refinery designed to process approximately 1 million tons of bauxite per year using a modern Bayer-process flowsheet. It will feature an on-site gas-fired cogeneration plant to produce steam and electricity for efficient operations. The refinery is projected to run for about 20 years at 95% utilization, yielding a cumulative total of around 19 million tons of alumina over its lifespan.

According to SMM's statistics on February 27, the total bauxite inventory at ten domestic ports increased by 2.12 million mt from the previous week.

Although Emirates Global Aluminium's core profit increased by 7% last year due to higher sales, the company suffered a major setback in Guinea—the local government revoked the bauxite concession of its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), resulting in an impairment loss of up to $765 million. The UAE opposed this decision, and Emirates Global Aluminium's President Bin Kalban revealed that consultations with Guinean authorities are still ongoing. In response to the supply disruption, Emirates Global Aluminium quickly launched a diversified supply strategy, signing alternative bauxite supply agreements with countries such as Australia and Ghana, which can currently meet over 70% of its raw material needs.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Vedanta Limited was declared the preferred bidder for the Karnapodikonda bauxite block in Odisha on February 27, 2026, following a competitive e-auction by the state government. The block spans 532.747 hectares (at G2 exploration level) and supports backward integration for Vedanta's aluminium business by securing long-term bauxite supplies for its operations (e.g., Lanjigarh refinery and Jharsuguda smelter). The 'Declaration of Preferred Bidder' notification was received at 4:20 pm IST. The auction followed a tender invited on December 4, 2025.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Vietnam's Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee has approved two major bauxite-alumina expansion projects for Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group (Vinacomin), with a combined investment of nearly VND 60 trillion (~US$2.3 billion). Nhan Co Alumina Plant Expansion (Nhan Co & Kien Duc communes): ~VND 29,986 billion (~US$1.16B). Adds a new 1.2 million tpy alumina line on 870 hectares. Targets international-quality alumina for domestic use and export. 30-year operating period; operations start 2030. Lam Dong Bauxite-Aluminum Complex Expansion (Bao Lam 1 commune): ~VND 29,869 billion (~US$1.15B). Adds a second 1.2 million tpy alumina line on 20.79 hectares. Construction: Q2 2025 to Q3 2030; operations begin Q4 2030.

[SMM Aluminum Express] On February 27, 2026, Metro released its 2025 annual results. The report showed that Metro's bauxite shipments in 2025 were 6.2 million wmt, up 9% YoY.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Alcoa agreed to pay AUD 55 million (~USD 36–39M) to remediate unlawful clearing of over 2,000 ha in Western Australia's Northern Jarrah Forest (2019–2025) for bauxite mining, without approvals. Environment Minister Murray Watt granted an 18-month national interest exemption for continued limited clearing while a strategic assessment is completed, ensuring bauxite supply continuity. Alcoa caps annual clearing at 800 ha and will rehabilitate 1,000 ha/year by 2027.