Our operational focus is to continuously improve our cost and technical performance as well as maintain excellent social and environmental practices. We also seek to continually enhance customer experience through regular customer feedback and engagement.
In addition to owning bauxite concessions and trading coal, we aim to expand our depth and breadth by diversifying to other commodities to be a key player in the industry.
Sustainability is embedded as a core component of our corporate strategy.
A world without aluminium would be akin to living in a house that does not shelter us from the elements, driving a vehicle made of wood, and drinking soda out of heavy glass material. This is because many of the end products that are essential to our daily lives are derived from bauxite.
Bauxite is a rock with high aluminium content. To derive aluminium, the bauxite must first be chemically processed to produce alumina. Alumina is then smelted to produce the end product, aluminium.
A highly versatile, lightweight, and recyclable metal, aluminium can be found in nearly everything — automotive components, buildings and even consumer parts in our everyday life. This increasing demand in automotive use, has propelled Bauxite into one of the world’s fastest-growing metals.
Aluminium is second only to steel as the most used material in vehicles. Aluminium is preferable to steel for its lightweight property; a ten percent reduction in vehicle weight can lead to an eight percent improvement in the fuel economy.
On an industrial scale, aluminium is a superior option in making machinery and equipment due to its corrosion resistance, non-pyrophoricity, and mechanical strength.
Currently, we own two mine concessions in Guinea, West Africa and handle mining operations and trading of bauxite in the region. We also provide contract mining services. In 2019, TOP contributed 20 percent of Guinea’s total Bauxite production to China. In the Asia Pacific region, we have ownership of mine concessions in Indonesia and serve the domestic market.
Imagine a world without our modern-day devices such as TV, smartphones, and computers. That might have been the scenario if not for copper. This metal is found in all electronic devices due to its excellent ability to conduct heat and transmit electricity. Copper is also the metal of choice in plumbing, building construction, electronics, coins and a host of other products that we use in our daily life.
As we transition to a low-carbon economy, copper will progressively play an important role. By way of illustration, a single 1MW wind turbine uses three tonnes of copper. Electric vehicles have a copper intensity thrice or even four times higher than vehicles that operate using traditional sources of fuel. Due to electrification and the increasing need for renewable energy, global demand for copper is predicted to grow 1.5 to 2.5 per cent per year.
As a key player in the industry, we play an essential role in the supply chain by ensuring that copper gets into the hands of consumers. In 2020, we began trading in copper cathodes primarily with buyers in the Asia Pacific region. The majority of our copper is sourced from South Africa and Chile. Moving forward, we aim to offtake mine sources in Africa when the opportunity arises.
More than 50% of world steel demand comes from the construction sector. All buildings rely on Steel — the end product of iron ore and the world’s most commonly used metal — for strength. It represents almost 95% of all metals used per year and is widely used in the construction of essential infrastructure such as roads and railways, household appliances and energy infrastructure.
The versatility of iron and steel makes the raw material highly sought-after. In fact, the steel industry is often used as an indicator of economic progress and overall development. With China’s One Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) underway, the massive infrastructural projects needed to recreate the ancient trade route will drive significant demand for construction material and equipment.
We started our first shipment of cape iron ore trading in 2020. Currently, our iron ores are sourced from Africa, and we are seeking to explore other regions and expand our market share of iron trading to cater to increasing industrial and market needs.
Ever wondered why household utensils and automobiles come with a coat of sheen? This is due to the shiny and metallic appearance of ferronickel, the raw substance that is applied in stainless materials. Due to its resistance to acid and heat, ferronickel widely used in the iron and steel, engineering, and electronics industries. It is a ferroalloy, which is usually obtained from the carbothermic reduction of minerals, such as serpentine, limonite, or garnierite.
We started our first shipment of ferronickel in 2020, and and will be looking to further develop our market share in ferronickel trading.