On March 17, Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company Norsk Hydro held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new recycling plant in Torija, Spain. The EUR 180 million project is a key component of Hydro’s circular economy strategy, aiming to increase the use of post-consumer aluminium scrap while expanding its low-carbon aluminium offerings in Europe.
The Torija facility will have an annual production capacity of 120,000 tonnes of extrusion ingots made from post-consumer scrap, with up to 70,000 tonnes of scrap recycled using advanced sorting and production technologies. Once operational in 2026, the plant is expected to employ approximately 65 workers and, along with Hydro’s nearby Azuqueca plant, will raise the company’s total low-carbon, recycled aluminium production capacity to 200,000 tonnes.
Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal, emphasized the importance of retaining aluminium scrap within Europe, highlighting its potential as an energy-efficient resource. She noted that the facility would support key Iberian industries, including transport, construction, and energy sectors, while contributing to the circular economy. The extrusion ingots produced at Torija will have the highest share of post-consumer recycled content in the market, with a CO2 footprint below 4 kg CO2 per kg.
Simensen also called for policy measures to prevent the export of aluminium scrap and to align regulatory frameworks with circular economy goals, advocating for adjustments to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to close existing loopholes.
