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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If not as critical mineral, aluminium has a strong case to be treated as strategic metal in Australia
Welcome to the first part of the interview with Rachel Howard from Mission Possible Partnership where the role of aluminium in green energy transition in Australia takes a centre stage. Unlike many other large economies, construction & infrastructure sector leads the demand for aluminium, representing 30-40 per cent. Although aluminium is not formally considered as a critical mineral in Australia, but according to Rachel, it has indispensable role to play in driving environmental and economic growth. Mission Possible Partnership plays a key role here by fostering producers, technology providers, financiers, and government bureaucrats to accelerate this transition. Rachel Howard leads Development of Industrial Decarbonisation programmes for Mission Possible Partnership – working to bring...
Daouda Diakite: “Guinea never intends to stop raw material exports”
Mr Kamal Prakash, founder of AL Circle, recently engaged in an insightful conversation with Mr Daouda Diakité, Senior Advisor to the Guinean Minister of Mines and Geology, at Fastmarkets Bauxite & Alumina 2026, where they discussed extensively about Guinea’s plans with bauxite exports, exploration of untapped reserves, and developing an integrated upstream value chain. In the interview, Mr Diakité has clearly stated that Guinea has no intention to stop bauxite exports but they will take necessary precautions to stabilise the prices. Mr Diakité also said the revenue generated from mining would be reinvested in developing other strategic projects, while the state will continue to seek foreign investments for the aluminium value chain. Daouda is a geological engineer who studied in Morocco...
Rajnish Khale, IREL: India’s rare earth push facing midstream gap despite rising strategic demand
In this exclusive interview, Shri Rajnish A. Khale highlights that India holds a strong position in rare earth oxide production but lacks a well-developed midstream value chain. While China continues to dominate globally, India is gradually advancing through policy support and strategic investments. Growing demand from EVs, clean energy and defence sectors is expected to drive progress, though supply chain gaps and resource challenges remain key hurdles. Shri Rajnish Arvind Khale joined the Board of IREL (India) Limited as Director (Marketing) with effect from 16th June 2023. He is a Gold Medallist in Textile Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, Gujarat. He has also done a Master's in Business Administration in Marketing from the Faculty of Management Studies,...
Djibril René, European Aluminium: Reduced availability of primary aluminium from the Persian Gulf is likely to trigger increased reliance on scrap
In seeking forward-looking insights into the impact of the Middle East crisis on Europe, AL Circle reached out to European Aluminium, given that 14 per cent of the European Union’s primary aluminium supply comes from the conflict region. Djibril René, Director of Industry & Market Intelligence at the Association, offered a valuable perspective on the current situation in Europe. According to Mr. René, the ongoing disruption in the primary aluminium supply chain is likely to drive the industry’s increased dependence on scrap. He emphasises the need for Europe to bolster its domestic aluminium production and recycling processes to address the looming metal availability crisis. Djibril René joined European Aluminium in 2012 as a Senior Manager Sustainability & Economic Data, before being...
Chris Latham-Warde, Every Can Counts: 59% of Gen Z, 66% of Millennials, 75% of Gen X, and 77% of Boomers support for Deposit Return Scheme
In an exclusive conversation with Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager of Every Can Counts a not-for-profit communications programme delivered by Alupro across the UK and Ireland. According to Mr Chris, deposit return scheme (DRS) is a great way to encourage people to partake in aluminium cans recycling. He shared 70 per cent of respondents are supportive of DRS in a consumer research conducted in 2025. Every Can Counts programme is a mission to inspire, encourage and empower people to recycle their empty drink cans, wherever they are. Chris joined Alupro in 2017 and worked on a variety of campaigns encouraging consumers to recycle their aluminium packaging before becoming Every Can Counts Programme Manager in 2019. He now oversees the delivery of Every Can Counts in the UK and Ireland,...
Kunal Bajaj, Jupiter Group: Building India’s aluminium foil edge via integration, scale and global competitiveness
In this interview, Mr Kunal Bajaj outlines a clear roadmap for scaling India’s aluminium foil ecosystem through backward integration, capacity expansion and global market alignment. He highlights how the integration of JUPALCO and LSKB Aluminium Foils is enhancing supply chain control, cost efficiency and product quality. Bajaj also mentions industry shifts like the growing demand for lightweight and high-performance aluminium applications and the rising importance of sustainability and circularity. Focusing on these, the group aims to strengthen India’s role in the global aluminium value chain. Mr Kunal Bajaj is a second-generation entrepreneur and Director at Jupiter Group, where he plays a key role in driving growth across its aluminium and flexible packaging businesses. With an...
AL Circle x Mario Conserva: EU aluminium scrap dilemma, export curbs and the push for industrial resilience
In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Mario Conserva highlights the growing strategic importance of aluminium scrap in Europe’s transition toward a low-emission and circular economy. He emphasises how rising scrap exports are weakening domestic industry competitiveness and calls for urgent action to secure secondary raw materials within Europe, stabilise prices, and ensure the region’s industrial resilience amid high energy costs and evolving geopolitical pressures. Mario Conserva, Secretary General of FACE and a veteran with over six decades in the aluminium industry, brings unmatched expertise as founder of METEF, leader of A&L Alluminio e Leghe, and a pioneering contributor with 800+ technical works. Recognised by the IAI as one of the 50 most influential global aluminium...
AL Circle x Sachin Chugh, ARUP: “The main application for hydrogen lies in replacing the heat supplied by fossil fuels, such as natural gas, in aluminium production”
In this exclusive interview with AL Circle at India Energy Week 2026, Sachin Chugh, the Hydrogen & Energy Lead at ARUP in India, explains in detail how green hydrogen can be converted into usable electricity and why it could prove transformative for energy-intensive industries like aluminium. Against the backdrop of an oil crisis and rising prices, the discussion carries added relevance for the aluminium sector. As the Hydrogen & Energy Lead at ARUP in India, Sachin Chugh drives the hydrogen and energy agenda using his 20+ years of expertise in the hydrogen and downstream energy sector. His role involves delivering innovative solutions for stakeholders in India, focusing on hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and techno-economic assessments of new energy technologies....
AL Circle x Shrikant Acharya, Excelfore: "EVs often have additional connectivity-driven use cases"
Shrikant Acharya is the CTO of Excelfore Corporation and Chair of the eSync Alliance. At Excelfore, he drives the company’s technology roadmap and strategic partnerships across the automotive industry. He has led breakthroughs in Ethernet AVB/TSN stacks and smart automotive devices, achieving the first Avnu-certified middleware for endpoints and bridges. At the eSync Alliance, he leads efforts to standardise over-the-air (OTA) data management for connected vehicles, driving collaboration with other standards bodies including ASAM, Autosar, COVESA and SOAFEE. He previously was co-founder of MARGI Systems (acquired by Harman), helped develop key imaging standards (JPEG, MPEG, JBIG) and held roles at Cirrus Logic and Widergren Communications. Shrikant completed his undergraduate degree at...
AL Circle x Andreas Würzer from Handtmann: “Aluminium die casting will continue to gain relevance as material substitution accelerates”
In an interview with Andreas Würzer, Global Director Technical Development at Handtmann, where has clearly stated that automotive will remain the primary demand driver for aluminium casting in the short and mid‑term, driven by electrification, structural lightweighting and the increasing adoption of integrated cast architectures. Also, material substitution will continue to drive the demand growth for aluminium die casting, according to Mr Würzer. Interestingly, even though passenger cars sell in Europe is likely to decline, the share of die cast aluminium per vehicle will continue to rise. To know more such interesting insights into the aluminium die casting market from Andreas Würzer, continue reading the interview. AL Circle: Can you tell us briefly about your products and services...
AL Circle x Shubhra Thakur from LDES Council: “Long-duration energy storage (LDES) makes high renewable energy penetration technically feasible for aluminium”
In this interview, Shubhra Thakur, the Director - Policy and Markets, Asia- Pacific and Country Director- India at LDES Council, has elaborately explained the critical contribution of long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems for making a seamless availability of renewable electricity for the aluminium production process. Shubhra Thakur has championed transformative solutions at the intersection of energy, health and social equity and crafted trailblazing policy frameworks that advance gender-responsive climate action and universal energy access. She is an Executive MBA graduate in Strategy and Marketing from Delhi University and a recipient of the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholarship. Previously, Shubhra headed Corporate Affairs at ReNew and led Policy and Government...
AL Circle x Raffmetal: “Reducing energy intensity is a key priority for us, given the inherently energy- intensive nature of aluminium melting”
We welcome you to our conversation with Mr Ruggero Zambelli and Mr Paolo Gamberini of Raffmetal, the Europe’s leading producer of aluminium alloys from recycling. Mr Zambelli serves as Quality Manager and Head of Alloys Development, and Mr Gamberni is Sales Responsible for Foundry Alloys from Recycling. Sharing their outlook on the aluminium casting market, both Mr Zambelli and Mr Gamberini underline that lightweighting is a long-term strategic priority for the automotive sector, which continues to offer strong growth prospects to the aluminium casting market beyond 2026. While acknowledging near-term challenges, particularly the increasing outflow of aluminium scrap from Europe, they note that Raffmetal is working closely with government authorities to address these concerns. When asked...
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...
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...
AL Circle x Rathin Vyas: Energy efficiency is about fixing the leaks before you worry about the source
Rathin Vyas is the CEO and Co‑founder of Enerco Energy Solutions LLP, a Mumbai‑based consulting firm focused on industrial decarbonisation, renewable energy and energy efficiency. With over 17+ years of experience, he has led more than 250 industrial energy assignments and 100+ renewable energy projects, helping large manufacturers in India and overseas reduce energy use and integrate solar and hybrid renewable systems. A Harvard‑ and Cambridge‑certified sustainability specialist with a background in electronics and telecom engineering, he works at the intersection of energy strategy, digital transformation and Industry 4.0, and is a recognised voice on CBAM readiness and net‑zero roadmaps for energy‑intensive sectors like aluminium, steel and cement. AL Circle: For aluminium and metals...
AL Circle x Carsten König, GROB: “The global aluminium die casting market was recently valued at around $73 billion and is expected to reach approximately $126 billion by 2032”
Carsten König, Head of Machining Technology and Digital Products at GROB, initially began his career in turning and milling at the age of 16, progressing from conventional machines to advanced 5-axis CNC machining centers. After 3½-year of apprenticeship, he was appointed shift supervisor in the CNC milling shop, overseeing seven 4-axis machining centers and leading a team of five. His role demanded end-to-end responsibility for keeping production running at all times - ranging from repairs, NC programming, spindle replacements, and fixture design to hands-on problem-solving. After nearly two years, Carsten returned to education and enrolled in a technical college for mechanical engineering. During his studies, he completed his practical training with his current employer, marking the...
AL Circle x Glen Hodgson: CBAM is designed for an idealised future rather than today’s reality, and that gap undermines its effectiveness
Glen Hodgson, Founder and CEO of Free Trade Europa, with over twenty-five years of experience in communications, public affairs, and lobbying, focuses on promoting free trade, liberalisation, and the rule of law within the European Union and internationally. Glen was previously responsible for the Nordics, Baltics and Central & Eastern Europe within an international communications agency. Prior to this, he worked for European institutions as well as governments, blue-chip international companies, startups and NGOs as a lobbyist, strategist and communications advisor. In this interview, we get a detailed insight into Free Trade Europa's foundation, policies and transitions, and the role of China and Russia in the EU's green transition initiative. In this interview, he sheds light on his...
AL Circle x Dr Ashok Nandi: With the deteriorating domestic and imported bauxite quality, alumina refineries are slowly adopting the lower-grade ores for survival
Dr Ashok Nandi, President of the International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society (IBAAS), in an exclusive interview with AL Circle, discussed how India’s aluminium industry is shifting from efficiency gains to systemic transformation. He highlighted key drivers such as decarbonisation, circular economy practices, digitalisation, and the potential of nuclear energy for green aluminium. Dr Nandi also emphasised IBAAS’s role in fostering collaboration, supporting emerging markets, and engaging young talent to advance sustainability across the aluminium value chain. AL Circle: Guinea continues to account for more than a quarter of global seaborne bauxite trade. What seems to be changing year-on-year for Guinea’s production, export volumes and capacity utilisation between 2023, 2024 and the...
