We expect slow, but momentous and long term changes in primary aluminum, and are preparing to forecast them.

Shall we continue, 50 years from now, producing aluminum using the Hall-Heroult Process as it is? Some doubt it now, because of exceptional political pressures expressing environmental dangers. These dangers are more and more recognized as massive, controversial as to their natures and scenarios, but potentially cataclysmic. And since inertia is colossal in our industry, it is reasonable to ask oneself when, if ever, will there be an alternative to the Hall-Heroult Process that would completely eliminate the issues. These issues are: CO2 emissions; high energy and capital intensity; high logistics intensity; economies of scale imposing mega-projects. This is why we announce ENAL’s special research program: A Technology Forecast Study assessing when an Innovative Aluminum Smelting Process (IASP) that will eliminate CO2 emissions in electrolytic reduction and significantly reduce energy and capital costs will become a credible, bankable option as smelting technology. If you aren’t yet a subscriber, now is the time. One of the news that brings the world’s attention on IASP was Rusal’s statement that it has obtained enough encouraging results with their experimental Inert Anode process to highlight it as an intangible, promising asset in their IPO prospectus. Meanwhile this greenfield – scroll down - just produced its first metal, and this older European smelter seems to plan a restructuring to avoid shutdown in the foreseeable future, with the help of improving LME prices. It may even mean some investments within one or two years. In this equatorial country, China is preparing to pump billions in a power project conditioning more than one greenfield already in the pipeline. In this other African country, the sole smelter – click here and scroll one notch up - continues to create a basket case of litigations between government and investor.