Hydro Launches EUR 180 Million Recycling Plant in Torija to Transform European Aluminium Circularity

Groundbreaking ceremony in Torija on March 17. From left Ingrid Guddal, Head of Recycling in Hydro Aluminium Metal; Alvaro Murillo, Mayor of Torija; Patricia Franco, Minister of Economy of Castilla-La Mancha; President Emiliano García-Page of Castilla-La Mancha; Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal, Nils Haugstveit, Ambassador of Norway to Spain; Iñigo Aranguren, Sales Director South Europe in Hydro Aluminium Metal. Photo: Jens Christian Boysen / Hydro

(IN BRIEF) Hydro has initiated construction on its new recycling plant in Torija, Spain, with an investment of EUR 180 million. The facility, part of Hydro’s expansive European recycling portfolio, is designed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of aluminium recycling. It will work in tandem with the nearby Azuqueca plant to deliver over 200,000 tonnes of low-carbon, recycled aluminium annually. The new plant is expected to recycle up to 70,000 tonnes of post-consumer scrap each year and produce specialised alloys with high recycled content. The project, which includes advanced sorting and production technologies, will require a partial shutdown of existing production lines for 8-10 weeks between May and July 2025, and will hire 65 new employees prior to its operation in 2026. Additionally, the plant will produce certified low-carbon aluminium with a CO₂ footprint below 4.0 kg per kg, with Hydro’s premium recycled product Hydro CIRCAL featuring at least 75% post-consumer scrap and a CO₂ footprint below 1.9 kg CO₂e per kg. The initiative is a key part of Hydro’s strategy to support a circular economy, reduce energy consumption, and lower emissions, while addressing policy challenges related to scrap exports and regulatory loopholes.

(PRESS RELEASE) OSLO, 18-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — In a significant step forward for the circular economy, Norsk Hydro ASA (OTCMKTS: NHYDY), a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company committed to a sustainable future, has officially broken ground on its newest state-of-the-art recycling plant in Torija, marking a pivotal investment of EUR 180 million. This facility, strategically located in Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha region, is set to play a crucial role in keeping post-consumer aluminium scrap within Europe’s production loop, thereby bolstering the sustainability of the industry.

At the heart of this initiative is Hydro’s commitment to optimizing its global recycling operations for aluminium. The new plant, which will operate alongside the nearby Azuqueca facility, is projected to have an annual production capacity of 120,000 tonnes of extrusion ingots. Together, these sites will deliver over 200,000 tonnes of low-carbon, recycled aluminium, supporting key industries such as transport, automotive, construction, and energy throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

In addition to enhancing production capacity, the Torija facility will utilize advanced sorting technologies and innovative production processes to recycle up to 70,000 tonnes of post-consumer scrap annually. This will enable the creation of specialized aluminium alloys with the highest possible share of recycled content on the market. As part of the upgrade, Hydro plans to recruit 65 new employees before the plant commences operations in 2026.

“We view aluminium scrap as energy in its solid form,” explained Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal. “Exporting this valuable resource is not an option, especially when European industrial competitiveness is increasingly challenged by the scarcity of affordable energy. The new plant will significantly enhance our recycling capacity, reduce both energy consumption and emissions, and strengthen energy security for our customers.”

Hydro is also addressing broader policy challenges by advocating for tighter regulatory frameworks. The company has raised concerns about the export of aluminium scrap from Europe and potential loopholes in the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) that could hinder recycling efforts. “Our investment in the Torija plant underscores our firm commitment to circularity in the aluminium value chain. We believe that clear, long-term policy frameworks and measures to close the CBAM scrap loophole are essential to boost Europe’s industrial competitiveness,” added Simensen.

The new facility will produce certified low-carbon aluminium with a CO₂ footprint of less than 4.0 kg per kg, as verified by third-party audits conducted by DNV. It will also become the largest producer of Hydro’s premium recycled aluminium, Hydro CIRCAL, which guarantees a minimum of 75 percent post-consumer scrap and boasts a documented CO₂ footprint of below 1.9 kg CO₂e per kg.

This project is an integral component of Hydro’s overall strategy toward 2030, aiming to meet the rising demand for low-carbon, recycled products and to drive significant emission reductions by harnessing the energy-saving benefits of aluminium recycling—which requires only 5 percent of the energy needed to produce primary aluminium. By turning waste into a strategic resource, Hydro is setting new standards for sustainable production in the aluminium industry.

Media Contact:

Jens Christian Boysen
Communication Manager, Hydro Aluminium Metal
jens.christian.boysen@hydro.com
+47 94982099

SOURCE: Norsk Hydro ASA