When I begin to write this column, it is most important to understand and consider the far-reaching importance of why aluminium is considered the most promising metal. This is because to support and achieve the sustainable goals that India besides every other nation has made an objective.

Sustainability is one of the most talked about subjects today. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, framed in 2015, will require overcoming environmental challenges and implementing transformational changes. These changes shall be seen in areas like recycling surplus from any process or valorising waste, bringing alternative holistic energy solutions and automation to enhance accuracy. Further, it shall help to eliminate human errors and increase process reliability.

I can clearly see we are passing through a phase of big transformation which will see high strength-to-weight ratio structural components in aviation, automotive, railways and marines. Other transformations may include using natural resources like solar and wind, making an economic and reliable alternative. Alongside this, the use of digital media for complex analysis and access to storage in time is beyond what the human mind can imagine. Most interesting for all these disruptive developments, aluminium and alumina will play pivotal roles.

Also, stringent tariff conditions like The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation under the European Union (EU) regulation aim to reduce carbon emissions. It is achieved by charging the carbon content of imported goods. Sustainable measures like the reduction of CO2 emissions are no longer an option it is a compulsion for all exporters to the Europe market.

As I move on to deliberate on various technologies and innovations for primary aluminium in the subsequent articles, I will focus on key areas, starting from the mineral ores. Additionally, I will cover the processing of alumina, the electro-smelting of alumina to primary aluminium, and the development of new products from it.

Each step will witness the transformation and so will manufacturers worldwide with a focus on innovation in every domain of operation. We need to remember, that science and technology-based development is a slow process, and with changing times comes an effective ecosystem and proper patronage.