Hindalco Industries has commissioned India's first greenfield Precipitated Aluminium Trihydrate (PPT ATH) plant in Belagavi, Karnataka, on August 27, 2026. The facility boasts an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes, marking a significant step toward domestic self-reliance in cable fire safety materials.

Capacity and market impact

The new plant is designed to meet almost the entire domestic demand for safer cables from the wire and cable industry. While the initial Phase 1 capacity stands at 30,000 tonnes per annum, the facility is designed for phased expansion to 60,000 tonnes, allowing Hindalco to scale production in line with growing domestic market needs.

Prior to this development, India relied on imports for this grade of material. The commissioning addresses a critical gap in the specialty materials supply chain, particularly as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced IS 17048:2018 for Halogen-Free Flame Retardant (HFFR) cables, aligning Indian standards with global safety benchmarks.

Sustainability and innovation

A key differentiator of the Belagavi facility is its commitment to sustainability. It is the world's only specialty alumina plant to operate entirely on renewable energy, sourcing power from biomass, solar, and wind sources. This approach supports the production of high-performance specialty materials with a lower environmental footprint.

The parent Belagavi refinery achieved a GHG intensity of 0.44 tCO₂e per tonne of alumina year-to-date in FY26. The plant incorporates automated controls for critical processes and a fully integrated manufacturing ecosystem, enabling stringent control over feedstock quality and product consistency. The technology and R&D were developed in-house through Hindalco's flask-to-factory innovation journey.

Applications and strategic importance

PPT ATH is a high-value, halogen-free flame-retardant material used in HFFR cables, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites, and paints. In cable applications, it helps suppress flame propagation and smoke generation without releasing halogen acid gases.

Demand for such materials is rising due to stricter fire-safety standards, increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), and infrastructure growth. Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries, noted that the investment reflects the company's focus on moving up the value chain and delivering advanced solutions for emerging customer needs in India and global markets.

Saurabh Khedekar, CEO of Alumina Business at Hindalco, added that the addition of Superfine PPT ATH strengthens their Specialty Alumina portfolio. He highlighted that their InnoSafe solution enhances fire safety by retarding flame spread and suppressing smoke, offering an indigenous, world-class solution that reduces import dependence.

Hindalco Industries has jointly incorporated UHG Holdings IFSC Private Limited with UltraTech Cement Limited and Grasim Industries Limited. The new entity was registered in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) on August 20, 2026.

The incorporation establishes a related-party associate designed to strengthen the business and operational network of the promoter group companies. UHG Holdings will operate under the regulatory framework of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).

Shareholding Structure

The three promoters hold distinct equity stakes in the newly formed company based on their initial capital contributions. The shareholding distribution reflects Hindalco’s majority position alongside significant minority interests from its sister concerns.

Operational Scope and Regulatory Compliance

UHG Holdings is mandated to seek approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) before commencing operations. The entity’s primary objects include purchasing, leasing, sub-leasing, chartering, hiring, owning, and operating aircraft, ships, ocean vessels, and other modes of transportation.

This activity aligns with the IFSC jurisdiction regulations, including the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (Finance Company) Regulations, 2021. As a newly incorporated entity, turnover figures are not applicable at this stage.