Can Oklahoma reshape US aluminium supply? EGA’s Ziad Fares explains the project
As the US seeks to rebuild its domestic aluminium production capacity, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum are advancing plans for a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, targeting more than 750,000 tonnes of annual production. In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Ziad Fares, Project Director for Oklahoma Primary Aluminum , discusses the project’s strategic rationale, progress towards a targeted construction start in early 2027, planned smelting technology, power and infrastructure requirements, investment considerations, and its potential impact on US aluminium supply chains. He also addresses environmental safeguards and stakeholder concerns. Fares brings more than 20 years of experience across engineering, strategy, finance, metals and mining, and...
The lower the aluminium content of the dross, the greater the aluminium recovery benefit RAME can achieve
In a recent conversation with AL Circle, Eric Lefebvre, Vice President of Business Development at Lefebvre Industri-AL, discussed the company’s approach to recovering and recycling aluminium residues and its role in advancing the circular economy. Based in Quebec, Lefebvre Industri-AL develops solutions, including RAME technology, that transform aluminium residues into reusable resources while helping producers reduce their environmental footprint and improve operational efficiency. With extensive experience in the industrial sector, Lefebvre works with aluminium producers, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships and expand markets. His approach focuses on turning the industry’s environmental challenges into economically viable opportunities...
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Luyou equipment fits Europe, where aluminium scrap availability is limited and recycling rate requirements are high
In an exclusive interview with AL Circle, Shandong Luyou explained the fundamental difference between aluminium scrap recycling and steel scrap recycling, pointing to aluminium’s low melting point and high ductility compared to steel. Published as part of the platform’s latest initiative, “European Aluminium Recycling Market,” the interview highlights how aluminium scrap derived from different end-user products, such as cans, automotive components, or architectural bridges, requires a unique processing approach.Luyou shares that technological advancements have helped them achieve high recovery rates, and they claim their equipment is suitable for the European market, where scrap availability is limited but recycling rate requirements are high. AL Circle: Shandong Luyou has built a strong...
Europe must treat domestic aluminium scrap as a strategic asset to meet its decarbonisation target without being dependent on imports
As part of AL Circle’s latest initiative , “European Aluminium Recycling Market,” an exclusive interview between AL Circle and Tom Jansen, VP and Head of Segments for TOMRA Recycling, explored why Europe’s aluminium recycling debate is shifting from how much scrap is available to how well that scrap can be recovered, retained and reused within the region. In this conversation Jansen stated that Europe’s real challenge lies in scrap quality, industrial retention and competitiveness. He warned that by allowing high-value aluminium scrap to leave the region, Europe is weakening its own circular economy and pushing local smelters into a costly bidding war with international buyers. He also stressed that improving scrap quality must take priority over simply adding recycling capacity. Poor...
Aluminium scrap leakage is also often driven by information asymmetry and inefficient market matching
In an exclusive interview with AL Circle as part of the latest initiative, “European Aluminium Recycling Market” , Ivan Mayorov of CANCOM Austria AG outlined the company’s role in building the digital infrastructure for RecAL, a Horizon Europe project designed to improve Europe’s aluminium supply chain and metals marketplace, enabling them to address long-standing challenges such as data sovereignty, traceability and transparency. Ivan believes information asymmetry and inefficient market matching often leads to scrap leakage. So, in his view, a transparent yet sovereign data exchange is important to create a more efficient internal European market for scrap. Ivan Mayorov at CANCOM Austria AG is a Manager of Digital Sovereignty Team, co-created & now guides a dedicated, business...
Double pressure for Europe with risen ETS costs for aluminium recyclers while valuable scrap moves to higher-paying international markets
As part of AL Circle’s latest initiative, “European Aluminium Recycling Market” , an exclusive interview between AL Circle and Emanuele Manigrassi, Director Climate & Energy at European Aluminium, addressed the loopholes of the updated EU Emissions Trading System benchmarks for 2026-2030, particularly for the recycled aluminium industry. According to Mr Manigrassi, production costs may rise for recyclers due to fewer free allowances under the revised ETS benchmarks. He also pointed to a precarious structure in which EU recyclers remain exposed to ETS and CBAM-related costs, while aluminium scrap and recycled aluminium are not properly covered under CBAM. This comprehensive interview draws attention to the detailed structure of the ETS and CBAM and how they may put the European recycled...
Canada produces 80% of North America’s primary aluminium, drawing on vast amounts of hydropower
In an interview for the 8th edition of LeaderSpeak 2026, , Jean Simard, the President and CEO, Association de l'aluminium du Canada (Aluminium Association of Canada) outlines Canada’s aluminium sector as a reliable, low-carbon and strategically important supplier to North America, while acknowledging that current tariff pressures have made the US-Canada trade relationship more difficult. He stresses that Canada’s strength lies in long-term investment, hydro-powered production, operational excellence and its ability to supply aluminium that the US would struggle to replace domestically due to massive energy requirements. The conversation also highlights Canada’s efforts to strengthen domestic aluminium use, support value-added industries, advance circularity and move from low-carbon to...
There are over 30 Mt of red mud or bauxite residue on the grounds of the Atlantic Alumina (Alcoa) plant in Gramercy, shows LSU reporting
In a conversation with Harvey Kaye, Executive Chairman of U.S. Critical Materials Corp., AL Circle discussed the United States’ growing push to strengthen its domestic critical minerals supply chain and the company’s role in supporting this strategic objective. During the interaction, Harvey said U.S. Critical Materials Corp. is advancing plans to become the first new rare earths mine in the United States to begin supplying heavy rare earth elements within the next two years. Referring to LSU reporting from March 2026, he noted that more than 30 million tonnes of red mud, or bauxite residue, remain on the grounds of the Atlantic Alumina, formerly Alcoa, plant in Gramercy. He further confirmed that Sheep Creek is currently the only economically viable source of virgin ore gallium in the...
Eural Gnutti’s '2033 aluminium' is a highly technical solution, developed specifically to ensure consistency and uniformity
Founded in 1968 in Rovato, Eural Gnutti has built its position as the world’s leading manufacturer of drawn aluminium bars and one of Europe’s largest producers of extruded bars and profiles. Its aluminium bars serve demanding sectors such as mechanical engineering, automotive, aerospace, medical, electrical, electronics and defence, while its heat-treated profiles support applications across automotive, pneumatic, actuator, hydraulic and heat sink manufacturing. As industries accelerate their shift away from lead-based metals, Eural Gnutti’s 2033 lead-free aluminium alloy emerges as more than a material innovation; it represents a strategic response to the future of precision machining. In this interview, Eural Gnutti explains how 2033 was developed to match the productivity of...
Aluminium moves beyond automotive into humanoid robotics, autonomous vehicles, and similar technologies
Part 2 of the interview with John Stokes, General Manager of IDRA Group, moves from identifying industry challenges to exploring practical solutions. While in Part 1 , Mr Stokes pointed to two major concerns of the European aluminium die casting industry, such as scrap leakage and weak data analysis, in this part, he focuses on the role of data crunching and data mining as a critical enabler for the sector’s next phase of growth. Mr Stokes stresses the need to make die casting data more accessible and usable, including for third-party service providers. This, he explains, would allow major software companies to feed valuable insights back into the die casting industry and enable seamless data exchange in and out of die casting machines. Highlighting the demand for aluminium die cast...
Scrap leakage and weak data analysis - two major challenges Europe’s aluminium die casting is navigating
Here we present Part 1 of the exclusive interview with John Stokes, General Manager of IDRA Group. Mr Stokes is a well-known Mechanical and Production Engineer with over 37 years of experience in the die casting industry. The conversation was detailed, candid, and insightful to fit into one piece. So, we are bringing it to you in two parts. The first part highlights our talk about how Industry 4.0 is transforming manufacturing processes, including die casting. Here, Mr Stokes has pointed out that digitalisation and automation are ramping up operations and doing it quite effectively, but he feels the missing area is analysis, where human minds come into play. Mr Stokes’ concern is that the industry is generating more data than ever, but not putting enough into understanding what those data...
The rising need for red mud that contain gallium and scandium motivates the use of existing red mud as a resource
Dr Greeshma Gadikota, Professor at Columbia University, has explained in this interview the growing importance of advanced recovery technologies for extracting critical metals such as gallium and scandium from red mud. She noted new technologies that are more energy and material-efficient are needed for the recovery of critical metals from red mud because its critical feature is in its co-presence in an iron-rich mineral matrix. Already some of the leading universities in the United States have developed technologies for the separation of nickel, cobalt, and manganese from spent battery materials under the leadership of Dr Greeshma. Dr Greeshma Gadikota is the Lenfest Earth Institute Chair and Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and Columbia Climate School...
Indian aluminium suppliers should prepare early for CBAM to maintain access to EU customers
The interview revolves around the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its implications for the aluminium sector, particularly Indian exporters. Alberto Monje Gama, global Sustainability Policy Manager at TIC Council explains that CBAM is not primarily designed to reduce emissions within the EU aluminium industry but to prevent carbon leakage and maintain a level playing field for global producers. He emphasises that Indian exporters must focus on verified emissions data, robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, and decarbonisation strategies to remain competitive. With a background in European studies and policy, Alberto Monje Gama has spent the last five years in Brussels developing his career around the European and global institutions and...
India is a valuable part of the LME market, with 8 aluminium brands listed
Matthew Chamberlain, the CEO of the London Metal Exchange (LME), plays a pivotal role in shaping global metals trading and price discovery. With deep expertise in commodity markets, he actively drives conversations around aluminium pricing, supply chain transparency, sustainability-linked trading and the impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic developments on the metals industry. In his interview for " ALuminium LeaderSpeak 2026 ", he dived deep into the evolving global aluminium market landscape, highlighting how geopolitical tensions, shifting trade patterns, supply-demand imbalances and sustainability pressures are influencing aluminium pricing and market sentiment. It also explores the LME’s perspective on volatility management, responsible sourcing and the future direction of global...
Aluminium industry accounts for 40% of 4.8Mt of global silicon consumption
In an exclusive conversation with Jan Coetzee, Vice President Commercial Americas at Ferroglobe and Bill Hightower, Vice President of US Corporate Affairs, on the vital synergy between silicon and aluminium industry. They both acknowledge that both silicon and aluminium have strategic importance for the energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and defence. They are complementary to each other. Not only silicon serves as a crucial alloying element in aluminium production, aluminium significantly drives silicon demand. About 40 per cent of silicon consumption worldwide is driven by the aluminium industry. To know more such interesting facts, read the full interview. AL Circle: Like aluminium, silicon is recognised as a critical mineral in both the US and Canada due to its strategic role...
India is likely to witness a 4–6x increase in critical mineral consumption by 2040
Dr Deependra Singh, the former Chairman and Managing Director of IREL (India) Limited, a central public sector undertaking under the aegis of Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, has clearly stated in this interview with AL Circle that India’s demand for critical minerals is set to rise sharply by 2040, driven by the country’s accelerating energy transition, industrial electrification, and digital expansion. According to Dr Singh, India’s mining concession rules would enhance domestic output and strengthen India’s positioning in the global critical minerals value chain. The new rules would drive faster capacity expansion through lease optimisation and boost exploration and investment inflows, explained Dr Singh. Dr. Singh earlier worked as Director (Marketing) at IREL and Director...
Europe aluminium can recycling gains pace, targets 100% by 2030
The interview with Krassimira Kazashka, CEO of Metal Packaging Europe, highlights the steady progress and future potential of aluminium beverage can recycling across Europe. It explores how robust infrastructure, supported by Deposit Return Schemes and evolving EU regulations like the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), is driving higher recovery rates and circularity. Kazashka emphasises the role of policy engagement, resource security, and scrap retention in strengthening the regional aluminium value chain. Looking ahead, she outlines the industry’s ambition to achieve 100 per cent recycling by 2030, underpinned by innovation, regulatory support, and efficient collection systems. Krassimira Kazashka is the CEO of Metal Packaging Europe since November 2023. Prior to joining...
CEM’s Thor Project positions itself as a multi-metal asset built around a clear mine-to-metal strategy
Welcome to the interview with Christopher H. Hopkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Energy Metals Corp., where he has outlined the true scope of the Thor Project as a multi-metal asset. He has emphasised that the immediate priority is advancing the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), which is expected to cover CGA, HPA, and Smelter Grade Alumina (SGA), with the potential to include additional metals. Christopher H. Hopkins is a Canadian energy executive and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience building and leading companies in oil sands, oil shale, and critical minerals. A pioneer in unconventional resource development, his work has evolved from traditional fossil fuels to the emerging critical metals driving the global energy transition. His career experience brings...
Scrap is no longer a backup-it’s becoming central to US aluminium supply
In this exclusive interview, Benjamin Pope, Chief Operating Officer of Sortera Technologies, explains how aluminium scrap is emerging as a reliable pathway for the United States to navigate primary supply risks amid ongoing geopolitical disruptions. He highlights that AI-driven sorting and alloy recovery are unlocking high-quality, specification-grade scrap at scale, easing long-standing constraints in collection, sorting, and material consistency. As aluminium prices and Midwest premiums rise, demand for scrap-particularly in casting and rolling-is set to grow through 2026 and accelerate into 2027 with new rolling mill capacity coming online, reinforcing secondary aluminium as a durable, long-term solution. Ben Pope brings over two decades of experience in the non-ferrous metals...
Carbon emissions from Australian aluminium industry represent 7% of national emissions
Welcome to Part 2 of the interview with Rachel Howard from Mission Possible Partnership. In this edition, we delve into the decarbonisation journey of the Australian aluminium industry. Ms Howard offers insights into the energy transition strategies of major players like Alcoa, Rio Tinto, and South32, and also highlights a couple of projects are even aiming for 100 per cent renewable. Aluminium recycling rate in Australia is 70 per cent and plays a pivotal role to attend decarbonisation. The first part of the interview discussed aluminium's role as a strategic, though not officially recognised, critical metal in Australia, with demand primarily driven by the construction and infrastructure sectors, accounting for around 30-40 per cent. To read the full conversation on this topic, refer to...
