Hindalco Industries Limited, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has commissioned a greenfield Superfine PPT ATH (Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate) plant in Belagavi, marking the first domestic production of the high-value specialty alumina material in India.

 

With an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes in its first phase, the facility is aimed at strengthening India’s supply chain for critical fire-safety applications while expanding Hindalco’s Specialty Alumina portfolio. The plant can be scaled up to 60,000 tonnes a year as domestic demand grows.

 

PPT ATH is a halogen-free flame-retardant material used in HFFR cables, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites and paints. In cable applications, it helps suppress flame propagation and smoke generation without releasing halogen acid gases, supporting safer electrical and infrastructure systems.

 

The commissioning comes as demand for such materials rises amid tighter fire-safety standards, rapid EV adoption, infrastructure expansion and a broader shift towards sustainable, high-performance materials. India’s Bureau of Indian Standards has also introduced IS 17048:2018 for HFFR cables, bringing domestic standards closer to global safety benchmarks.

 

Hindalco said the plant’s Phase 1 capacity is designed to meet almost the entire domestic demand for safer cables from the wire and cable industry, reducing dependence on imports for the critical material. The facility has been designed for phased expansion to 60,000 tonnes per annum.

 

Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, said, “The commissioning of our Superfine precipitated hydrate plant in Belagavi will further strengthen our leadership position, and enhance our high-value specialty alumina portfolio in India. This investment reflects Hindalco’s focus on creating value, moving up the value chain and delivering advanced solutions that meet the emerging needs of customers in India and global markets.”

 

Saurabh Khedekar, CEO, Alumina Business, Hindalco Industries, said, “The addition of Superfine PPT ATH strengthens our Specialty Alumina portfolio and reinforces our focus on innovation-led growth. Our InnoSafe solution enhances fire safety by retarding flame spread and suppressing smoke, enabling safer and more sustainable infrastructure. 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.”

 

The facility is the result of Hindalco’s in-house “flask-to-factory” innovation journey, with the technology and R&D developed internally from the ground up. Automated controls have been deployed across critical processes, alongside an integrated manufacturing ecosystem designed to maintain tight control over feedstock quality and product consistency.

 

The plant also claims a major sustainability distinction: Hindalco says it is the world’s only specialty alumina plant operating entirely on renewable energy.

 

The PPT ATH is produced at Hindalco’s Belagavi refinery, which recorded a greenhouse-gas intensity of 0.44 tCO2e per tonne of alumina on a year-to-date FY26 basis. The facility draws 100% of its energy from biomass, solar and wind sources.

 

Hindalco said the combination of domestic production, proprietary technology, stringent quality control and renewable-powered manufacturing will strengthen India’s ability to supply advanced materials for the next generation of fire-safe electrical, infrastructure and mobility applications.