How Aluminium Powers India's Economic Growth

Aluminium is vital for India's economic growth as it is a critical component in a variety of sectors that are pushing its transformation from a developing country to a major global power, experts have said.

Aluminium is extensively used in the automobile sector, particularly for making alloy wheels in India, Raj Singh, a critical minerals analyst based in Mumbai, told Sputnik India.

The metal is also a priority in the railway sector for the Narendra Modi government, which aims to transform it by introducing semi-high-speed trains nationwide, the specialist remarked.

"This metal has now become the lynchpin of the country's modernisation efforts in the railways. For instance, the construction of the Vande Bharat trains, which India is manufacturing in partnership with Russia, requires a lot of aluminium," Singh emphasised.

This is being done to replace bulky iron, as aluminium makes the components of rails and other vehicles lighter, he said. Besides, it is extensively used in overhead railway cables, which are essential for providing electricity to trains running on an electrified network, he added.

Meanwhile, Aluminium is widely used in developing roads, airports, and bridges in India, underlined Ankur Chaudhary, head of the Mechanical Department at Punjab-based Avon Meters Pvt Limited, which produces smart energy meters and wires.

"In addition to projects related to infrastructure development, the mineral is a core component in the real estate industry as it is required to build doors, windows, electrical wiring, facades, and other related applications," Chaudhary told Sputnik India.

With an ever-rising Middle Class, the demand for electrical appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, microwave ovens, is growing in India, all of which contain aluminium parts in them, he remarked.

Moreover, India is fast transitioning from non-renewable to renewable energy, with solar panels made of aluminum, particularly in the hinterlands, where the government's subsidies are driving the expansion of solar energy, the expert highlighted.

In the defence domain, aluminium is a critical metal in the aviation sector, essential to manufacture fighter jets like the LCA Tejas, Chaudhary noted.

"As aluminium is corrosion resistant, easy to fabricate, and has high strength, it is vital for the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) missions, for making rocket and satellite structures in particular. Since the weight of a spacecraft is crucial in a space mission due to factors such as payload management and fuel efficiency, ISRO's vessels are made up of Aluminium," Chaudhary summed up.

India is the world's second-largest producer of aluminum, having produced over 4 million tons in the last financial year. However, the surging demand for the metal has opened avenues for countries like Russia, a long-time and trusted trade partner.

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