Aluminium’s decarbonisation challenge extends beyond the electricity powering its smelters. Inside the reduction cell, electrode quality influences how efficiently that electricity is used, how much carbon is consumed and how consistently the process performs. Improving electrodes therefore offers producers a practical opportunity to address operating costs and emissions together. For Switzerland-based R&D Carbon , understanding the relationship between raw materials, electrode quality and industrial performance has been a focus for four decades. Founded in 1986 by Werner K. Fischer, the company built on carbon research previously undertaken at Swiss Aluminium Ltd., or Alusuisse. Today, it operates from Granges, near Sierre, with a team of 30 specialists serving more than 150 customers...
Mexico’s aluminum industry is looking to capitalize on rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, electric mobility, automotive manufacturing, and aerospace. Expanding technology investments and international market opportunities are expected to support sales growth, while the country’s reliance on imported aluminum highlights the importance of strengthening domestic processing capabilities. Ramón Beltrán, president of Mexico’s National Chamber of the Aluminum Industry (Canalum), expects the country’s domestic and international aluminum sales to gain momentum in 2026, supported by demand from advanced technology applications and established manufacturing sectors. “We expect to close out this year with growth of between 7.5% and 7.8% in domestic and international...
Grow with
AL Circle
Once known purely for its unmatched production scale, China’s aluminium sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation, wherein growth is no longer measured solely in tonnes, but in energy efficiency, carbon accountability, and global influence. Despite mounting trade barriers and domestic production limits, the world’s largest aluminium ecosystem isn’t slowing down. Instead, it is recalibrating its priorities, positioning sustainability, automation, and innovation as the next growth drivers. Image source: Iran Alumina Company A shrinking export market, or is it a conscious withdrawal “According to Aize Consulting ’s monitoring data, the share of China’s aluminium and aluminium product exports to the US dropped from 12.17 per cent in 2020 to 9.70 per cent in 2024. With the escalation...
ASEAN’s shift to renewable energy is being slowed not by technology or cost. Although solar PV prices have plunged 80 per cent and battery costs by 70 per cent over the past decade, the region lacks unified policy frameworks like harmonised renewable energy certificates, emissions accounting, and coherent regional regulations. Southeast Asia is positioned at a critical juncture in its energy transition, with electricity demand across the ASEAN bloc expected to rise by 30 per cent by 2030, driven by urban expansion, higher income levels and accelerating digitalisation. Moreover, the government is underway to demonstrate rapid clean energy deployment, which is significantly possible under promising conditions. Vietnam & Indonesia’s energy collaboration Vietnam, in 2020, became the...
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), run by the oligarch Mukesh Ambani, announced that it would operationalise a series of green energy gigafactories in Jamnagar, Gujarat, over the upcoming four to six quarters. These facilities, focusing on the production of solar panels, batteries, and electrolysers, will represent the heart of the USD 10 billion (initially made in 2021) pivot into clean energy, Reliance disclosed. This initiative, aligned with RIL’s commitment to becoming net-zero by 2035, is also expected to lower their internal energy costs by at least 25 per cent, according to a company presentation. Strategic scale and vision The green energy complex spans an astounding 44 million square feet, almost four times the size of Tesla's Nevada gigafactory. Located next to the world's largest...
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest producer, has begun a path-breaking project to convert red mud, a big industrial waste from the alumina refining process, into a useful agricultural resource. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) for developing and commercialising this "waste-to-wealth" technology. Red mud to green gold The research partnership seeks to confront the sustainable management of bauxite residue, or red mud. For each tonne of alumina produced, approximately two tonnes of red mud are generated. This extremely alkaline residue is conventionally disposed of in vast engineered ponds, taking up large areas of land. You can read our recent market report on it...
Aden Group, a global leader in integrated industrial services, has launched a pioneering deployment of sustainable bauxite refining technology at a 15,000 sqm facility in Shanxi, China. In partnership with French technological start-up IB2, this pilot represents a crucial pivot for China’s aluminium supply chain,converting surplus, low-quality domestic bauxite into high-quality inputs, while minimising emissions and increasing resource use efficiency. Image source: LinkedIn Pioneering technology, local impact The key to this approach is IB2's unique refining process, which was developed in collaboration with entrepreneur Romain Girbal and chemist Yves Occello. The t echnology focuses on China's underexploited reserves of low-quality bauxite , which has traditionally been dismissed because...
Hydro, a leading aluminium and renewable energy company, has voluntarily agreed to terminate a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Cloud Snurran AB and is deemed to receive a settlement compensation amounting to nearly EUR 90 million (USD 98.1 million). The amount for compensation is dependent on the realised values from the future sales process as well as the agreed value sharing mechanism. Initially, the PPA between Hydro Energy AS and Cloud Snurran AB could be traced back to 2018, which was initiated for an annual baseload supply of 300 GWh for a decade starting from 2020 to 2030. Additionally, a 500 GWh annual baseload supply was agreed for the period between 2031 and 2049. Why the sudden revocation of the agreement? Cloud Snurran AB came into a major financial struggle and...
Sweden-based startup packaging firm Meadow has announced that its alliance with United States-based Ball Corp. will help “drive a shift away from linear packaging” by harnessing the “industrial capability” of Ball to “replace billions of linear containers” with aluminium packaging. Image credit: Meadow Founded in 2020, Meadow is targeting traditionally plastic-reliant sectors such as personal hygiene and beauty products with its aluminium packaging solutions. The company says its approach “leverages existing consumer behaviour rather than attempting to change it” and aims to “drive circularity at a global scale” through a versatile, cost-efficient and scalable system. This system uses aluminium cans as pre-filled containers for categories beyond the beverage sector. Meadow highlights...
Globally, the race to decarbonise is heating up and aluminium is at the centre of this transformation. With China pledging that 30 per cent of its aluminium smelting will be powered by renewables by 2027, the pressure is mounting on other nations to step up. India, for its part, is not only in the race but is also hitting the accelerator. In 2024, India nudged its aluminium output slightly higher, reaching approximately 4–4.2 million tonnes. But this is just the beginning. Indian producers are charting an aggressive course toward both capacity expansion and carbon reduction. The “Big Four”—Vedanta, Hindalco, Nalco, and Balco have announced a collective investment of $5 billion to build 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The goal is clear, to shift aluminium production from its...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE's heavyweight industrial player and the biggest 'premium aluminium' producer in the world, has strengthened its commitment to produce innovative and sustainable automotive solutions following an expanded supply agreement for its CelestiAL solar aluminium to Brembo – the Italian global leader in high-performance braking systems. A green metal for the fast lane CelestiAL is EGA’s first aluminium brand made with solar power captured in the UAE desert, a renewable energy source that significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the metal during smelting. Aluminium smelting is known to have accounted for as much as 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by global industries. The agreement between EGA and Brembo builds on a partnership dating back to...
Meeting the world’s growing energy needs while tackling environmental challenges has made renewable energy technologies more essential than ever. Among these, solar air heating systems (SAHs) and solar air collectors are emerging as a popular choice for their simplicity, scalability, and eco-friendly nature. Solar air heating systems harness solar energy to heat air, which is then used for space heating and other applications. These systems typically include solar collectors, ductwork, and, in some cases, fans to circulate the air. As a renewable energy technology, they help reduce dependence on conventional heating methods and lower energy costs. Recent research highlights how the smart integration of aluminium and innovative materials can redefine SAH performance, marrying waste...
Concerning the recent report shared by Daymon Private Brand Intelligence, nearly 89 per cent of consumers are turning towards private label brands and away from the national brands, especially for over-the-counter (OTC) care products. Owing to this, McKesson, a leading American healthcare company, has launched a new and readily available OTC line, called the Foster & Thrive eco-friendly aluminium packaging product line. Image source: dosterandthrive.com The rising shift of preferences has increased across various industries as consumers become aware of less expensive private label options. The brand "Foster & Thrive" was launched to address and manage consumers' common health concerns independently, and previously consolidated as Health Mart and Sunmark. These products under the...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter on one site, is proud to announce that it has secured once again the esteemed EcoVadis Platinum Rating. This marks the second consecutive year Alba has achieved top-tier recognition, confirming Alba’s position as a visionary leader, setting the benchmark in operational excellence, environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility. “To receive the EcoVadis Platinum Rating for the second consecutive year is an immense source of pride for Alba. We are deeply invested in pushing our boundaries to driving positive environmental and social impact, continuously improving our practices, and supporting a greener Bahrain and a more sustainable world. This achievement inspires us to aim even higher,” said Ali Al...
The world is filling up fast. Every tick of the clock brings more people, more cities, more cars, more gadgets, and with it, a mountain of "more" that the planet somehow has to sustain. By 2050, we're looking at nearly 10 billion people all wanting homes to live in, food on their plates, devices in their hands, and clean energy to power it all. On the occasion of World Population Day , team AL Circle brings you this special feature, spotlighting how one unassuming metal aluminium, is quietly stepping up to meet the demands of a world that just won't stop growing. In the age of "more," aluminium might just be the material of the century. Currently, the world population stands at 8.23 billion. So, who or rather what, is going to help carry this load? Enter aluminium, the silent, shiny...
A gentle but urgent reminder: the world has just five years left to meet the 2030 low-carbon target – a milestone set by high energy-intensive industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent from 2010 levels of approximately 43,420.56 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This ambitious target is not an individual checkpoint but a vital stop on the journey to net zero-emissions by 2050. With the clock ticking, it is essential to track where exactly do the world’s carbon-heavy industries stand today? Are we on pace—or falling further behind? A report by the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), which is a climate alliance dedicated to accelerating decarbonisation of the world’s heaviest-emitting industries,...
Aluminium stamping specialists are now exploring innovative solutions to tackle the aesthetic limitations of recycled aluminium. One such approach involves using virgin aluminium produced with carbon-free energy. At the Édition Spéciale by Luxe Pack trade show, held on July 1–2, 2025, at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, g.pivaudran unveiled pioneering low-carbon aluminium. With this, they also announced that the complete g.pivaudran product line will now be available in low-carbon aluminium This new material delivers the same premium finish as traditional aluminium while drastically cutting its environmental footprint, an apt response to the rising sustainability expectations of luxury brands. According to g.pivaudran, its low-carbon aluminium produced using renewable energy sources such...
In a breakthrough that combines sustainability with cutting-edge science, researchers at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) have developed an eco-friendly method to transform discarded aluminium foil into valuable aluminium oxide nanoparticles. Smart solution to the growing problem of AL scrap This green synthesis approach not only offers an innovative solution to the growing problem of aluminium waste but also opens doors to exciting new applications in energy storage, antimicrobial treatments, and corrosion protection. The study led by Omani researcher Reem Al Maamari from the College of Engineering at the National University of Science and Technology highlights how these nanoparticles demonstrate remarkable effectiveness against bacteria and fungi, positioning...
Sohar Aluminium is strengthening its sustainability efforts by prioritising energy efficiency, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and advancing its long-term commitment to environmental stewardship. Image for representational purpose The company’s 2024 sustainability report details a series of targeted initiatives designed to align operations with Oman Vision 2040 and international climate commitments, while reinforcing its position as a leader in responsible aluminium production. Sohar Aluminium Chief Executive Officer Eng. Said Mohammed Al Masoudi said, “Building on our ESG strategy and roadmap, 2024 marked a year of tangible progress in advancing sustainability across our operations. We strengthened our focus on resource efficiency, circularity, and low-carbon initiatives while...
The voice of the UK aluminium Industry, Aluminium Federation (ALFED), have once again marked their supremacy today by officially launching the UK Aluminium Alliance (UKAA). This initiative is tapped to create a future-proof aluminium industry, which shall aid the sector in securing low-carbon growth, making it the heart of the UK industrial policy. Image source: alfed.org.uk Around the same time, ALFED, in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, has also proposed to bolster the UK's aluminium sector's international trade and technical capabilities. This was announced in the House of Lords, where this partnership marked a pivotal role in rising opportunities as well as challenges. This partnership emerges as UK businesses adapt to a changing regulatory...
