Hindalco’s India-first alumina plant to make cables safer
Hindalco Industries Limited has commissioned a greenfield Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) manufacturing plant in Belagavi, Karnataka, marking the first domestic production of the specialty alumina product in India.
The facility has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes, with the capability to expand to 60,000 tonnes in phases. Hindalco said the Phase 1 capacity is designed to meet almost the entire domestic demand for PPT ATH used in Halogen-Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) cables by the wire and cable industry.
The plant is also described as the world’s only specialty alumina facility operating entirely on renewable energy, sourced from biomass, solar and wind.
Specialty alumina
PPT ATH is a halogen-free flame-retardant material used in HFFR cables, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites and paints. It suppresses flame propagation and smoke generation without releasing halogen acid gases, supporting fire safety in electrical and infrastructure applications.
Demand for the material is increasing with stricter fire-safety standards, growing electric vehicle (EV) and infrastructure adoption, and the shift towards sustainable materials.
The commissioning follows the introduction of IS 17048:2018 by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for HFFR cables, bringing Indian standards in line with global safety benchmarks.
Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries, said the plant would strengthen the company’s position and expand its high-value specialty alumina portfolio in India. He said the investment reflects Hindalco’s focus on value creation, moving up the value chain and developing advanced solutions for customers in India and global markets.
Saurabh Khedekar, CEO of the Alumina Business at Hindalco, said the addition of Superfine PPT ATH strengthens the company’s specialty alumina portfolio and supports its focus on innovation-led growth. He added that the InnoSafe solution enhances fire safety and enables safer and more sustainable infrastructure, while reducing import dependence and addressing the changing requirements of the wire and cable industry.
Plant development
The facility was developed through Hindalco’s in-house research and development (R&D) and incorporates automated controls and a fully integrated manufacturing ecosystem.
The Belagavi refinery, where the plant is located, recorded a GHG intensity of 0.44 tCO2e per tonne of alumina on a year-to-date basis in FY26.
Q1 FY27 results
Hindalco recently reported record consolidated revenue of Rs 84,825 crore for Q1 FY27, an increase of 32% year-on-year. Consolidated EBITDA reached an all-time high of Rs 14,989 crore, up 73%, while consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) increased 75% to Rs 7,013 crore, driven by performance across all businesses.
