The Highland Council has given approval for a new £94 million aluminium recycling and casting plant at the Lochaber smelter near Fort William, according to Alvance and the Oban Times.

This project has experienced several major changes over the past two years. In January 2018, GFG Alliance gained planning permission for an alloy wheel manufacturing plant. But the near-£130 million project was put on hold due to uncertainty regarding Brexit and the UK car industry.

The new facility will produce 80 tonne per annum of long, round-shaped billets for the domestic construction industry

Brian King, president at Alvance Aluminium (part of GFG Alliance) said: “We welcome the Highland Council’s decision on our plans to expand Lochaber’s existing low-carbon operation.”

Sanjeev Gupta, GFG Alliance executive chairman said: “The transformation plan we’re announcing today underlines our commitment to investing in Scotland and our belief in the bright future of green aluminium.

“Recycling aluminium saves 95% of the energy needed to produce primary aluminium and is a key part of GFG’s CN30 mission to be carbon neutral by 2030. By utilising domestic scrap aluminium that is currently exported, we will nearly double production here at Fort William.  

“These investments will make us more competitive and will deliver a higher value product in the form of billet for construction to domestic and export markets. The new facilities, alongside the Lochaber hydro plant, will create market-leading green aluminium products that deliver for the environment as well as the economy.”

In a new venture for the group, GFG Alliance is also tabling plans for a new water canning facility, located next to the Fort William plant, to package Scottish Highlands water into recyclable aluminium cans to provide an alternative to plastic bottles for sale to the UK and international market.