ALRO, one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe, measured by production capacity, inaugurated a 11 million USD investment in technology and environment protection at its Eco Recycling Facility in Slatina. The company installed two double-chamber furnaces, one holding furnace and a dedicated fume collection and treatment plant.
“While the very challenging business environment forced us to adapt our development plans to maintain our position on the international market, one strategic direction remained unchanged, namely our commitment to increase efficiency and reduce overall consumption, and the investment in the Eco Recycling Facility supports these plans”, said Marian Nastase, Chairman of ALRO Board of Directors. “We are determined to continue our efforts to diversify our products portfolio, increase efficiency and reduce environmental footprint”.
In 2013, ALRO commissioned the ECO Recycling Facility (stage I), consisting of one double chamber furnace, one induction furnace, one holding furnace and the related fume collection and treatment plant, aiming at providing part of the molten aluminium from alternative sources, partially replacing the aluminium produced by electrolysis. The specific electricity consumption in case of aluminium scrap recycling process is 95% lower than the one recorded for electrolytic aluminium production, which positively impacts the overall production costs. Furthermore, aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties, which makes it an ideal metal for the circular and low-carbon economy.
Pursuing this strategy, at the end of 2023 the recycling capacity of the company is to be increased by approx. 60.000 tpa, following the installation of two double-chamber furnaces, one holding furnace and the related fume collection and treatment plant (stage II). The project represents the first development stage of the Eco recycling capacities and will sustain ALRO’s strategic decision to reduce the dependency on electric power supply and increase the value-added production.
As a result of these investments ALRO takes an important step into a low emission world, as the company constantly increased the aluminium scrap recycling capacity and will soon reach 100,000 tpa recycled aluminium solid scrap.