[SMM Aluminum Flash News] German Aluminium Industry Remains Under Pressure, Over Half of Companies Pessimistic on 2026

Alcoa has signed a gas offtake agreement with Woodside Energy to supply a total of 31.1 petajoules of natural gas to its Western Australian alumina refineries from 2027 to 2030. The agreement strengthens near-term energy security for Alcoa's operations while supporting its long-term energy strategy, including gas supply beyond 2030 and greater integration of renewable energy. Alcoa employs around 4,000 people in Western Australia, and its gas-powered alumina refineries are among the lowest-carbon alumina refineries globally. The alumina produced at these facilities is used as the primary raw material for aluminium production.

The UK Government is strengthening its Critical Minerals Strategy by investing in domestic extraction, processing, recycling and supply chain development to enhance resource security and economic resilience. The Aluminum Federation (ALFED) welcomed the move, noting that aluminum was officially designated as both a Critical Mineral and a Growth Mineral in 2024 under the UK's Vision 2035 framework. ALFED urged policymakers to place greater emphasis on aluminum recycling, remelting, sorting and supply security advanced processing to strengthen domestic supply chains and promote circular manufacturing. The federation highlighted that recycled aluminum can be reused indefinitely while requiring only around 5% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminum, making it a key material for low-carbon manufacturing and long-ter.

Calderys has successfully completed the industry's first full aluminum furnace relining using 100% Fast Dry (FD) and Steady Dry (SD) castable refractory technology on a 25-tonne melting furnace. The solution reduced furnace dry-out time by more than 50% compared with conventional methods, while eliminating explosive spalling and post-installation repairs. It also lowered burner operating time during commissioning, reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. Following commissioning, the furnace resumed production quickly and has operated continuously without refractory-related issues. Calderys said the integrated refractory solution is designed to support 12-15 months of maintenance-free operation while improving reliability and reducing shutdown costs.