AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
AL Circle x Amit Kumar: For aluminium, electrification is the most critical pathway because electricity is the dominant energy input
Dr. Amit Kumar is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta and a global leader in energy systems assessment. He holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Assessment of Energy Systems and the Cenovus Energy Endowed Chair in Environmental Engineering. He serves as Director of the Centre for Hydrogen Innovation, Workforce Development and Outreach, and Deputy Director of Future Energy Systems, a USD 75 million research initiative at the University of Alberta. Dr. Kumar leads large interdisciplinary programs that inform energy policy and investment decisions. His work is internationally recognised, and he has served on expert panels and advisory committees for organisations including the European Commission, National Science Foundation, Natural...
Nifty Metal drops 2% as InCred turns cautious on Hindalco, Nalco
Metal counters fell under tremendous pressure today, as investors moved away from the sector, thus affecting several stocks with significantly lower rates on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The Nifty Metal index reflects the weakness, when it declined around 2 per cent during the session and slipped to an intraday low of INR 11,713.05 (USD 129.11). The loss was completely evident across key industry players. Steel Authority of India (SAIL), National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Jindal Stainless, and Hindalco all registered losses exceeding 2 per cent by late morning. Other major names, including Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc, NMDC, and Tata Steel, also traded in negative territory, each recording declines of more than 1 per cent. InCred Equities has revised its outlook on aluminium producers...
Vedanta Aluminium deploys CFD-driven cooling network to save energy at Jharsuguda smelter
India’s leading producer of aluminium, Vedanta Aluminium, has deployed an in-house developed Forced Cooling Network (FCN) at its mega smelter in Jharsuguda to strengthen energy efficiency and potline performance. The advanced system uses 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling to optimise thermal management in aluminium reduction cells, or pots, ensuring more stable and efficient operations. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The innovation has already earned national recognition, receiving a Certificate of Merit at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power, underscoring its contribution to industrial energy optimisation. Also...
Kailash Pandey is promoted to Head of Mining, Sambalpur Cluster & Sales of primary aluminium at Hindalco
Hindalco Industries Limited has reportedly promoted Kailash Pandey to the position of Head - Mining, Sambalpur Cluster and Sales of primary aluminium. It is a significant milestone in his entire three-decade-long career with Hindalco. In this new role, Kailash Pandey would be responsible for managing the entire mining operations at the organisation, overseeing the Sambalpur Cluster, along with leading the sales of primary aluminium for enhancing the growth factor of the company. To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 Previously, as the Business Head of Hindalco Industries Limited, Pandey was responsible for managing a diverse set of coal and bauxite mining assets spread across different states in India. He also managed a...
Oklahoma Department of Commerce hails successful plant tour of Emirates Global Aluminium in the UAE
Senior figures from across Oklahoma’s public and private sectors have returned from the Middle East after examining, at first hand, the scale of aluminium production in Emirate Global Aluminium that could soon be replicated in their own state. To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 The facility, described as comparable in size and sophistication to the multi-billion-dollar plant proposed for Inola, Oklahoma, offered a practical demonstration of what such an investment can deliver. John Budd, Chief Executive of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said the experience brought home the sheer magnitude of the undertaking. He noted that the true scale of EGA’s site only becomes apparent when seen in person, adding that its...
US trade representative hints towards tariff recalibration as aluminium stocks go down amid trade pressure
Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative, stated on Tuesday that the Trump administration is willing to adjust the broad tariffs imposed on imported aluminium and steels amongst rising pressure from businesses. However, he expressed that the underlying tariffs have been “very successful” for the US domestic industry and thus will remain unchanged. In his words,“ Clearly, those are going the right direction. They’re going to stay in place.” For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The stock prices of the US aluminium companies fell. Alcoa Corp, one of the leading producers of bauxite, alumina and aluminium, was down 7.9 per cent, followed by Kaiser Aluminium at 4.5 per cent and Century Aluminium Co. dropping to...
Alcoa secures federal approval for mining in Western Australia under the EPBC Act
The Australian Federal Government has granted Alcoa Corporation, a leading producer of bauxite, alumina and aluminium, the modernised framework of mining activities in the Western Australian region. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC), the Australian primary national environmental legislation, Alcoa will be required to undertake a Strategic Assessment of mining areas until 2045. This will provide an overall view of possible impacts on flora and fauna over an extensive region, providing transparency of future mining operations to the stakeholders. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Ongoing mining operations in Huntly and Willowdale in Western Australia will...
From Aluminium to Steel: Meiyume strengthens Its sustainable metal packaging strategy
At Paris Packaging Week on February 5-6, Meiyume grabbed the spotlight to underline how it is responding to rising expectations around sustainability in the luxury beauty sector. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 ". Instead of considering responsible sourcing as a separate initiative, the company is focused on a major strategy shift with its expertise in metal packaging as part of a broader shift in strategy. Aluminium sits at the centre of this development. Over time, Meiyume has built up a wide range of in-house processes, from stamping and extrusion to casting, impact extrusion, CNC machining, and both hot and cold forging. Also Read: Leadership shift: Constellation Brands appoints Nicholas...
Roxanne Sharif joins Can Manufacturers Institute as director of sustainability
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), a trade association of manufacturers and suppliers of metal cans, has appointed Roxanne Sharif, MBA as Director of Sustainability, effective February 9, 2026. Being an expertise as a corporate sustainability leader, supporting Fortune 500 companies, Ms Sharif is expected to lead the association’s non-policy sustainability initiatives. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Announcing the appointment, CMI President Scott Breen emphasised the strategic importance of the role. “Roxi is going to take CMI’s sustainability program to the next level, in the impactful programs she will execute, the compelling communications she will deliver, and the bold leadership she will...
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AL Circle x Tiziana Tronci from Gefond: “The aluminium die casting market shows strong growth potential in 2026 and the years ahead”
Tiziana Tronci is a Board Member & New Products Development Manager at Gefond Srl and CEO of HPDC. With a degree in Communication Sciences and over 20 years of experience in communication and business development, Tiziana plays a pivotal role in advancing innovation across the non-ferrous foundry ecosystem. She joined Gefond as New Products and Business Development Manager in 2016, and since then working closely with the industrial sector to promote innovative solutions in the supply of materials and technological equipment for non-ferrous foundries. In 2020, she joined the Board of Directors at Gefond, and in parallel, co-founded an innovative startup, HPDC – High Performance Die Casting, aimed at transforming mold thermoregulation in foundries, improving energy efficiency and...
Turkish scrap dealer turns $1.8K Boeing 747 into $57K asset
Ertan Çoğul, a scrap dealer in Bursa (a city in Northwestern Turkey), purchased a 22-tonne Boeing 747 for TRY 80,000 (USD 1.8 thousand) after a municipal project to turn the aircraft into an aeroplane cafe was cancelled. Today, the plane’s estimated scrap value has risen to approx TRY 2.5 million (USD 57.2 thousand). To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 Çoğul has been operating in the scrap industry in Bursa since 1988, and bought the aircraft in 2017. The plane was originally transported from Istanbul during the term of Mayor Recep Altepe. However, after the mayor resigned, the project was shelved, and the craft was sold to the recycling sector. Also Read: The Ghana government backs the recycling sector as the Deputy...
The Ghana government backs the recycling sector as the Deputy Minister tours the Shai Hills Facility
A visit by Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Samson Ahi, to the Shai Hills facility of Recyclers Ghana Ltd has drawn attention to the company’s export contribution and the pressures facing the recycling industry. To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 The trip was part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry to engage directly with industrial operators, understand how they function on the ground, and assess what support may be required to help local manufacturers expand and remain competitive. Speaking during the visit, the company’s manager, Manesh Kumar Jangir, outlined the firm’s development since it began operations in 2019. He said Recyclers Ghana produces refined lead, plastic chips, granules,...
Vedanta Aluminium installs solar-powered borewells to improve drinking water access in Odisha villages
India’s largest aluminium producer, Vedanta Aluminium, took initiatives of installing solar-powered borewells with advanced purification systems across villages in Odisha. The company reinforces its commitment to community well-being through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme across the villages of Odisha’s Kalahandi and Rayagada. To strengthen community ownership and ensure long-term sustainability, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have accepted the handover of the newly commissioned systems. Community members were also trained on proper operation and maintenance of the systems in the presence of local Sarpanches (heads of the villages) and PRI representatives. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry...
Floating metal: Here’s how University of Rochester scientists made aluminium tubes unsinkable
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a technology that will enable aluminium to float on water by securing air bubbles inside. The tubes themselves are quite slender, about one-fifth of an inch in diameter. However, when stacked together, they can be combined into larger assemblies. Such configurations could form the basis of floating platforms or devices designed to capture energy from the rhythmic motion of ocean waves. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Aluminium is one of the lightest structural metals, yet it is still about 2.7 times denser than water. If a solid piece is dropped into the ocean, it will sink immediately. To create aluminium tubes that cannot sink, researchers at...
Laura Haury becomes sustainability project coordinator for Kentucky's MI2 Metals initiative
Kentucky’s Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) has appointed Laura Haury from Logan Aluminum as its new sustainability project coordinator. To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 In her new role, Haury will connect manufacturing practices with environmental stewardship and public engagement. She is expected to lead initiatives centered on recycling, sustainability education, and community outreach. Working alongside The Recycling Society through its Million Can Contest program, Haury will promote aluminium recycling awareness and help develop school and community-based programs aimed at improving recycling participation across Kentucky. Read More: China’s solar panel industry is shrinking: Impact of overcapacity, price...
Odisha, India attracts $7.4 billion in renewable energy investments
Odisha has drawn renewable energy investment commitments of INR 670,000 million (USD 7.4 billion) for the development of 6.8 gigawatts (GW), announced on the opening day of the third edition of the Odisha Renewable Energy Investor Conclave. To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 The agreement brings a mix of renewable energy, especially wind and solar developments, simultaneously with hybrid and storage-backed systems. It is aligned with Odisha’s ambition to strengthen its position within India’s evolving renewable energy landscape. This is one of the several major agreements signed during the event, which was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister KV Singh Deo. The state’s power trading company, GRIDCO,...
India posts record power capacity expansion with renewables leading the process
India has expanded its electricity generation base by more than 50,000 megawatts (MW) during the current financial year, setting a new annual benchmark for capacity growth. According to figures released on Sunday by the Union Ministry of Power, the country added 52,537 MW of generation capacity across all energy sources between April and January 31. This increase represents an expansion of over 11 per cent compared with the total installed capacity recorded at the close of the previous financial year. Officials described this as a significant development, mentioning that the energy generation this time exceeds the earlier high of 34,054 MW achieved in FY 2024–25. Renewable energy accounted for the bulk of the newly installed capacity. Of the 52,537 MW added this year, 39,657 MW came from...
China’s solar panel industry is shrinking: Impact of overcapacity, price collapse & socioeconomic volatility
China’s solar panel manufacturing sector is facing a serious slowdown despite solar energy becoming the cheapest form of clean power worldwide. Over the past decade, China emerged as the global leader in solar panel production. Strong government support, large-scale industrial expansion, and technological advancements enabled manufacturers to significantly reduce production costs. As a result, solar panels became more affordable. This rapid expansion has created a major imbalance. Manufacturing capacity in China is 500 GW per year, exceeding the global demand of 270 GW in 2024. This oversupply has intensified competition among producers, leading to a sharp decline in prices. In many cases, solar panels are being sold below their production cost. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026...
