Alcoa to invest $65 mn in Norway smelter expansion; recycling to support low-carbon aluminium output

• Alcoa targets higher value-added aluminium output from Norway
• Mosjøen facility to add recycled aluminium capability by 2028

US-based aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation plans to invest $65 mn to expand production and recycling capabilities at its Mosjøen smelter in Norway. The project is expected to increase the facility’s production capacity by up to 75,000 t per year from the current 200,000 t per year, while also enabling the use of post-consumer recycled aluminium in production for the first time.

The investment will support upgrades to the smelter’s casthouse operations, including installation of a new open-mold foundry casting line and additional melting furnaces. The expansion is also expected to widen the company’s foundry alloy offerings and allow supply of a broader range of ingot sizes and shapes to downstream consumers.

Capacity expansion

Alcoa stated that the project will be executed in phases, with commissioning and ramp-up activities scheduled through 2028. The company indicated that the upgraded facility is expected to improve operational flexibility and support rising demand for low-carbon and value-added aluminium products across Europe.

Post-consumer recycled aluminium will also be integrated into Mosjøen’s production stream for the first time, reflecting increasing sustainability requirements from automotive and packaging sector customers. The development comes amid growing adoption of recycled feedstock across Europe’s aluminium industry, as producers focus on lowering carbon intensity and expanding recycled-content product portfolios.

Outlook

The expansion is expected to strengthen Alcoa’s presence in the European foundry alloy and packaging-grade aluminium segments amid increasing preference for low-carbon and recycled-content aluminium products. The investment also reflects the broader shift towards recycling-integrated aluminium production facilities across Europe, driven by tightening ESG-linked procurement standards and decarbonisation targets among downstream consumers.

Mosjøen remains one of northern Norway’s key aluminium production facilities and employs more than 700 people. According to the company, nearly $180 mn has been invested in sustaining and growth-related projects at the smelter since 2020.