Hindalco Industries has achieved a significant milestone by commissioning India's first Superfine PPT ATH (Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate) manufacturing plant in Belagavi, Karnataka. According to reports from Business Standard, this greenfield facility represents the first domestic production of this high-value specialty alumina product in India, marking a crucial step in the country's manufacturing capabilities. The new facility has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes, positioning Hindalco as a pioneer in this specialized manufacturing sector. The facility was commissioned on August 27, 2026, addressing a critical gap in the specialty materials supply chain that previously relied on imports for this grade of material.
The facility has established a global benchmark for sustainable manufacturing by becoming the world's only speciality alumina plant to operate entirely on renewable energy. As reported by Business Standard, this achievement aligns with the company's commitment to environmental sustainability and supports India's journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in critical fire-safety applications. The plant's renewable energy operations demonstrate Hindalco's leadership in sustainable manufacturing practices within the specialty alumina sector. The parent Belagavi refinery achieved a GHG intensity of 0.44 tCO₂e per tonne of alumina (YTD FY26), while the facility is powered by 100% renewable energy from biomass, solar, and wind sources, enabling the production of high-performance specialty materials with a lower environmental footprint.
PPT ATH is a high-value, halogen-free flame-retardant material used in fire-safe cables, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites and paints. According to Business Standard, in applications such as cables, it helps suppress flame propagation and smoke generation without releasing halogen acid gases, supporting safer electrical and infrastructure systems. The demand for this material is driven by stricter fire-safety standards, rising EV and infrastructure adoption, and the shift towards sustainable, high-performance materials. BIS has introduced IS 17048:2018 for HFFR cables, aligning Indian standards with global safety benchmarks and supporting wider adoption across infrastructure, electrical, and mobility applications. Saurabh Khedekar, CEO of Alumina Business at Hindalco, highlighted that their InnoSafe solution enhances fire safety by retarding flame spread and suppressing smoke, offering an indigenous, world-class solution that reduces import dependence.
The plant's Phase 1 capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum is designed to meet almost the entire domestic demand for safer cables from the wire and cable industry, representing a significant step in self-reliance for this critical material. As reported by Business Standard, the facility is designed for phased expansion to 60,000 tonnes, enabling Hindalco to scale capacity in line with domestic market growth. The facility has been developed through Hindalco's flask-to-factory innovation journey, with technology and R&D developed in-house from the ground up, incorporating automated controls for critical processes and a fully integrated manufacturing ecosystem. This development addresses a critical gap in the specialty materials supply chain, particularly as the facility is designed to meet almost the entire domestic demand for safer cables from the wire and cable industry.
The addition of this superfine PPT ATH facility enhances Hindalco's specialty alumina portfolio, which already includes more than 120 grades of non-metallurgical speciality alumina used across various industries such as refractories, ceramics, wire and cable, railways, batteries and electronics, water treatment, and bulk chemicals. According to the latest reports, Hindalco Industries Limited is recognised as the world's largest aluminium company by revenues and a leading producer of speciality alumina, serving over 1,000 customers across 42 countries. Saurabh Khedekar, CEO of Alumina Business at Hindalco, expressed pride in the company's innovation-led growth, stating, "As India's first manufacturer of Superfine Precipitated Hydrate, we are proud to offer an indigenous, world-class solution that strengthens self-reliance, reduces import dependence, and supports the evolving needs of the wire and cable industry." Hindalco's Managing Director, Satish Pai, reiterated the company's focus on value creation and innovation, stating, "The commissioning of our Superfine Precipitated Hydrate plant in Belagavi will further strengthen our leadership position and enhance our high-value speciality alumina portfolio in India."
