The firm’s decision to build a fully integrated, greenfield recycling and rolling plant is supported by North American demand for flat-rolled, low-carbon aluminium from can producers and beverage firms
Novelis to build $2.5bn low-carbon aluminium recycling and rolling plant in US. (Credit: Novelis Inc.)
Sustainable aluminium solutions provider Novelis announced an investment of $2.5bn to construct a new low-carbon recycling and rolling plant in Bay Minette, Alabama, US.
Novelis, a subsidiary of Hindalco Industries and a part of the Aditya Birla Group, said that the facility will have an initial capacity of 600 kilotonnes of finished aluminium goods per year and is scheduled to be operational by mid-2025.
The company said that the plant will be the country’s first fully integrated aluminium mill in four decades. It is intended to generate up to 1,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs.
The plant’s operations will be supported by artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and robots to optimise the workflow, said the company.
When operational, Novelis will be able to recycle 90 billion beverage cans worldwide, up from the current 74 billion used beverage cans.
The firm’s decision to build a fully integrated, greenfield recycling and rolling plant is supported by North American demand for flat-rolled, low-carbon aluminium from can producers and beverage firms.
More than half of the new facility’s capacity will be used to meet North America’s increasing demand for sustainable aluminium beverage can sheets, the firm said.
Novelis president and CEO Steve Fisher said: “Through this investment, we are making a demonstrative commitment to continue to grow alongside our customers and meet their needs for low-carbon, highly sustainable aluminium solutions.
“In addition, we are well-positioned to efficiently expand capacity at this facility in the future – above the 600kt announced today – to capture ongoing strong demand.
“Our readiness to invest to serve growing markets is a perfect example of how we are delivering on our company purpose of shaping a sustainable world together.”
The plant will aim to attain net carbon neutrality by using renewable energy, recycled water, railroad transit and being a zero-waste plant.
It will also serve the automobile business, where aluminium is said to be the fastest-growing material as manufacturers work to meet their sustainability targets.