Hindalco Industries Ltd. has commissioned India’s first greenfield Superfine Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) manufacturing plant at Belagavi, Karnataka, marking a significant step towards domestic production of high-value specialty alumina and reducing import dependence for critical fire-safety materials. The facility has an initial annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes.
The plant will manufacture Superfine PPT ATH, a halogen-free flame-retardant material used in applications including Halogen-Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) cables, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites and paints. In cable applications, the material helps suppress flame propagation and smoke generation without releasing halogen acid gases, supporting safer electrical and infrastructure systems.
The facility has been designed to meet almost the entire current domestic demand for PPT ATH used in safer cables. Hindalco has also planned a phased expansion that could increase the plant’s capacity from 30,000 tonnes per annum to 60,000 tonnes per annum, allowing production to scale with the growth of the domestic market.
The development comes amid rising demand for advanced fire-safety materials, driven by stricter safety standards, infrastructure expansion, electric vehicle adoption and the growing shift towards sustainable materials. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced IS 17048:2018 for HFFR cables, bringing Indian standards in line with global safety benchmarks and supporting wider adoption of halogen-free cable technologies.
A key feature of the Belagavi facility is its sustainability profile. Hindalco said the plant operates entirely on renewable energy sourced from biomass, solar and wind, making it the world’s only specialty alumina plant operating fully on renewable energy. The facility was developed through Hindalco’s in-house “flask-to-factory” innovation journey, combining R&D, process development and manufacturing capabilities.
The company’s InnoSafe Superfine PPT ATH solution is intended to provide enhanced flame retardancy and smoke suppression for next-generation applications. The domestic manufacturing capability is expected to strengthen India’s specialty materials supply chain while supporting the country’s broader Atmanirbhar Bharat objective in critical fire-safety applications.
Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, said the commissioning of the plant would strengthen the company’s specialty alumina portfolio and support its focus on moving up the value chain by developing advanced solutions for customers in India and global markets. Saurabh Khedekar, CEO, Alumina Business, Hindalco Industries, said the facility would strengthen self-reliance, reduce import dependence and support the evolving requirements of the wire and cable industry.
The commissioning further strengthens Hindalco’s position in the specialty alumina segment. Its Belagavi operations already produce more than 120 grades of specialty alumina and hydrates, serving applications across industries including refractories, ceramics, electronics and flame-retardant products.
The domestic production of Superfine PPT ATH now established, the project is expected to support the development of safer, halogen-free electrical systems while creating a more resilient supply chain for India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure, mobility and electrical sectors.