Aluminum Manufacture

A critical ingredient consumed in the production of aluminum is sourced exclusively from petroleum refineries. Complex refineries use coker units to break up residual fuel left over from initial crude processing to squeeze out the last drops of lighter components – leaving a solid carbon based residue known as petcoke. Without anode grade petcoke (GPC) there would be no aluminum industry. As we explain today aluminum producers are scrambling to address a looming petcoke shortage that could seriously disrupt their industry.

Petroleum coke (known as petcoke or “coke”) is produced by refinery coker units that break up residual fuel oil to squeeze out the last drops of lighter components used to make gasoline and diesel – leaving a solid carbon based residue. Petcoke is also the only commercial source of material used to manufacture electrolytic anodes that play a critical part in making aluminum. As a result – these industries are effectively joined at the hip - although you wouldn’t know it because the two rarely cooperate. As we explain in today’s blog - that may need to change going forward because a looming petcoke shortage could disrupt aluminum production and prices.