In today's [SMM Analysis] India's Vraj Iron & Steel Ltd has approved the first phase of a 450 crore rupees ($52 million) greenfield integrated steel project in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh, adding 201,000 tonnes per year (tpy) each of sponge iron and mild steel billets. The company expects the first phase to be commissioned within 30 months of the groundbreaking ceremony.

India's National Aluminium Company (NALCO) plans to expand its Angul smelter by 500,000 tpy, with commissioning targeted for early 2030. To support the additional 800 MW power demand, NALCO and NLC India have formed a 50:50 joint venture to develop a 1,080 MW captive thermal power plant, backed by a 25-year power purchase agreement and long-term coal supply. NALCO also plans to develop 200–250 MW of renewable energy capacity to meet Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) requirements.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Adani Group and Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) have signed an MoU to jointly invest US$11.5 billion in an integrated aluminium project in Odisha, marking the largest foreign investment in India’s metals sector. The 50:50 joint venture will comprise a 4 mtpa alumina refinery, 2 mtpa aluminium smelter, captive power plant, and 1 mtpa downstream aluminium manufacturing park

Recently, the chairman of India's state-owned National Aluminium Company (NALCO) announced an expansion plan. The plan will involve an investment of 280–300 billion rupees (equivalent to 23.8–25.5 billion yuan) over the next 3 to 4 years. Specifics include the construction of a new aluminum smelter with an annual capacity of 500,000 mt, along with a supporting 1,000 MW captive power plant. The project is expected to commence construction in 2027 and be commissioned from 2030 to 2031. In terms of capital allocation, the aluminum segment will receive an investment of 170 billion rupees, and the captive power plant will receive 100 billion rupees. Furthermore, to reduce carbon emissions, the company has set a goal of having 30% of its production electricity come from green electricity by 2030. It is currently developing wind and PV projects in parallel and plans to purchase green electricity externally to help reduce emissions.

In recent years, Indonesia's energy transition has shown clear signs of acceleration. As the government sets more ambitious renewable energy targets, and as mining decarbonisation, island-based power system upgrades, floating PV project development and local manufacturing build-out continue to advance, the long-term growth potential of Indonesia's solar PV, energy storage and microgrid markets is opening up further.

SMM, May 27 – According to SMM statistics, the total scale of alumina projects currently under construction or in the planning stage in Guinea has exceeded 11.4 million mt/year, with new capacity expected to be gradually commissioned after 2028. From a project structure perspective, Chinese-invested enterprises remain the key driving force behind development. Many projects are integrated with supporting bauxite mines, captive power plants, and port facilities, highlighting a clear vertically integrated industrial chain strategy. If these projects progress as planned, Guinea is expected to transform from a traditional bauxite-exporting country into a major global alumina production hub. This could have a profound impact on future global alumina trade flows and China’s long-term raw material supply security.