The Aluminum Industry is slowly but surely preparing for major technology changes, while investment perspectives are slowly improving.

ENAL has prepared a Special Report on foreseeable evolutions of technology in the context of increases of energy costs, and of the complete uncertainties in matter of alleged Global Warming and more especially Anthropogenic Enhanced Global Warming (AEGW) which has become the object of major controversies and even scandals. Our report explain why, CO2 or no CO2, things will never be the same. A completely innovative technology for primary aluminum production may be a major factor in the coming changes. Another was already announced - scroll down and search for 'UC Rusal IPO' - but may take much longer to develop. A conventional but State of the Art process is now proposed to the world market, competing seriously with Alcan-Pechiney’s technology, which will however remain dominant, here is why. This major producer is making progress to safeguard its investments - scroll way down and search for 'caretaker government' - and promote new ones in this highly controversial African country. This smelter - scroll way down and search ‘oversee reconstruction’ - will benefit from new, momentous energy contracts. This smelter was due to shutdown, but negotiations are in progress which will at least cause delays. In this country, humongous hydropower projects stay the course and attract more investors despite strong political resistance. This country - scroll down and seek ‘upgrade energy’ - has only one old smelter, but it is silently progressing in its revamping and may find along term solution to its energy problems. Meanwhile, its only smelter is not waiting for further investments. This greenfield project added to an old existing site is progressing, gaining scope in size and downstream integration. This country also has only one smelter, but more than one project addressing energy and all steps of process will add new capacity in the not too far future, for the country and for another one which so far has no capacity at all. China is now joining the club of major investors in both countries.