Hindalco and Metalshub Launch Digital Alumina Tenders to Drive Transparency in Global Price Discovery

• Initiative aims to address the need for greater transparency and robust price discovery in the global alumina market
• Structured digital bidding to enable competitive bidding and broader market participation. 

Hindalco Industries Ltd., through its subsidiary Utkal Alumina International Limited, has partnered with Metalshub, a strategic partner of the London Metal Exchange (LME), to introduce a first-of-its-kind digital tendering process for the sale of metallurgical-grade Alumina.

The initiative comes against the backdrop of a growing need for greater transparency in alumina price discovery. Of the 55-60 million tonnes of third-party alumina shipments traded globally each year, only around 10% is sold through the spot market. Despite representing a relatively small share of overall trade, spot transactions play an important role in shaping benchmark prices that influence a much larger volume of alumina sales, including long-term contracts.

Unlike aluminium, which has an established exchange-based pricing mechanism, alumina pricing relies significantly on privately published indices based on voluntarily reported transactions, which may not capture the full breadth and quality of market information available to participants.

By taking a significant step towards structured digital tendering, Hindalco aims to address this need by enabling competitive bidding for spot cargoes, supporting broader market participation, greater transparency and more robust, market-driven price discovery.

Through its collaboration with Metalshub, Hindalco will introduce a structured digital bidding mechanism, enabling competitive electronic bidding within defined tender windows. By taking an early step towards digital tendering, the company aims to support greater transparency, broader market participation, and robust price discovery.

Saurabh Khedekar, CEO, Alumina Business, Hindalco Industries, said, “Alumina is a critical raw material for aluminium, a metal that is increasingly enabling lightweighting, recyclability and the transition towards a circular economy. By implementing digital tenders for spot sales, our aim is to broaden market participation, strengthen competitive price discovery and bring greater efficiency and transparency to the global alumina market.”

Hugo Brodie, Head of Sustainability and Physical Market Development, LME, said, “I am excited to see one of the LME's key brand producers, Hindalco, join forces with Metalshub to establish a pathway towards more robust and trusted price discovery in the alumina space. The development of independent, transaction-led price references will bring greater pricing transparency and overall market efficiency.”

Dr. Sebastian Kreft, Managing Director, Metalshub, said, “Hindalco is the first major to take this important step towards structured digital tendering for alumina. While only a small fraction of the world’s alumina is sold in the spot market, these transactions play an important role in shaping trade price for the entire market. Structured digital tenders open each cargo to competitive bidding from a wider set of buyers and produce firm, verifiable transaction data rather than voluntarily reported numbers. Metalshub is working closely with LME Insight to support more reliable, transaction-based price discovery for critical raw materials such as alumina. We believe Hindalco’s initiative can encourage wider industry participation.”

Currently, Hindalco markets its alumina using a mixture of long-term contracts and spot selling where commercial arrangements are made for spot sales via a standard RFQ process. Digital tenders will be used to replace the existing sales processes at Hindalco.

The Metalshub platform will enable participants to take part in secure digital tenders and has been vetted from an information security and data governance perspective to support compliance throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Hindalco’s first digital tender is expected to take place between October and December 2026. The exact date, quantity and tender specifications will be communicated to registered participants sufficiently in advance.

Parties interested in participating in future tenders can register on the Metalshub platform at: https://trade.metals-hub.com/

About Hindalco Industries Limited

Hindalco Industries Limited is the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group. A $31 billion metals powerhouse, Hindalco is the world’s largest aluminium company by revenues, the world’s second largest Copper rods manufacturer (outside China), and a world-leading Specialty Alumina player. Hindalco operates across the value chain, from bauxite mining, alumina refining, coal mining, captive power plants and aluminium smelting to downstream rolling, extrusions, and foils. Along with its subsidiary Novelis, Hindalco is the global leader in flat rolled products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminium.
Hindalco is India’s largest copper producer, serving more than half the country’s copper requirements. Its copper facility in Gujarat, India, comprises a world-class copper smelter and refinery complex, downstream facilities, and a captive jetty. Hindalco’s global footprint spans 48 manufacturing units across 10 countries. Hindalco has been ranked the world’s most sustainable aluminium company in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for six consecutive years – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

About Metalshub

Metalshub is a leading digital trading platform designed to support efficient, secure and transparent transactions across industrial metals markets. By leveraging advanced technology and market expertise, Metalshub provides digital solutions for buyers and sellers to connect, negotiate, and close transactions. With its innovative solutions, Metalshub empowers 3,000+ businesses to optimise supply chains, make informed decisions, and drive growth in the digital era. Its platform enables sellers to provide provenance, carbon footprint and ESG information to its customers in an auditable form, leading to qualification for key target market regulations.

Vedanta Aluminium, V‑Spark launch MetALverse in Odisha; partners with OpenAI, Microsoft, SAP to unlock ₹2,100 crore AI‑driven value

Several MoUs to deploy deep tech solutions were announced during MetALverse, Vedanta Aluminium’s tech showcase in Jharsuguda, Odisha that featured participation from major tech leaders and emerging startups

Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, in collaboration with V-Spark, India's largest manufacturing deep tech incubator, recently hosted MetALverse, an immersive tech showcase in Jharsuguda, Odisha. The company also announced partnerships with several cutting-edge technology providers, including market leaders such as OpenAI, Microsoft and SAP. Together, they will deploy innovative, multi-pronged solutions to cumulatively unlock up to ₹2,100 crore in value through the enhanced adoption of AI, digitalisation and automation technologies across Vedanta Aluminium’s operations.

Vedanta Aluminium’s MetALverse event was envisioned as a strategic platform to accelerate the deployment of breakthrough technologies across large-scale industrial operations, by bringing together global technology leaders, emerging startups, and top business experts. The partnerships will focus on evaluating, piloting and scaling next-generation solutions across Vedanta Aluminium’s operations. The value opportunity of ₹2,100 crore will be achieved through the integration of innovative solutions for enhanced plant productivity, cost optimisation, asset reliability and sustainability initiatives across Vedanta Aluminium's integrated value chain.

The event reflects a shared vision between Vedanta Aluminium and V-Spark to bridge the gap between groundbreaking deep tech innovation and real-world deployment, by identifying high-impact technologies, validating them in live operating environments and accelerating their adoption. Vedanta Aluminium has already established a fully integrated value chain that ranges from mining to alumina refining to aluminium production. By leveraging the company’s vast, cutting-edge manufacturing plants - some of which are amongst the largest in the world - as a mega incubation environment, V-Spark aims to rapidly transform promising innovations into industry-ready deployments while also co-creating a robust AI-led manufacturing ecosystem.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc, said "India’s manufacturing sector is entering a defining decade. The future will belong to companies that combine scale with intelligence, sustainability and the courage to rethink what is possible. At Vedanta Aluminium, we see AI as a catalyst for that transformation, with human intelligence providing the judgement and direction behind it. We are bringing together the best minds across industry and technology because we don’t want to simply make today’s plants better. We want to build the metal of the future, using the technologies of the future."

Akarsh Hebbar, Non-Executive Vice Chairman, Vedanta Aluminium and Chairman, V-Spark DeepTech Ventures, said "The greatest opportunity in industrial innovation lies in deploying new technologies at scale to create measurable business value. Vedanta Aluminium, as one of the top producers of the metal of the future globally, provides the expansive operating footprint, technical depth and determination to industrialise breakthrough solutions, while V-Spark is the engine that identifies, validates and accelerates these technologies from concept to enterprise-wide deployment. We aim to partner with several industrial solutions to scale and transform creative innovation into tangible productivity gains, stronger sustainability, enhanced reliability and significant value creation."

Pinak Dattaray, Founder & CEO, Ripik.AI, said "AI is creating new opportunities for industrial organisations to transform how knowledge is accessed, decisions are made and operations are managed. At Ripik.AI, we are focused on making advanced AI capabilities accessible through tools that help people and organisations solve complex problems and work more effectively. We are excited to collaborate with Vedanta Aluminium as it explores new applications of AI across its business. The company demonstrates how leading manufacturers can combine deep operational expertise with cutting-edge AI to unlock innovation, improve performance and create meaningful value at scale."

At MetALverse, Vedanta Aluminium announced collaborations with several top technology companies and emerging innovators to accelerate AI-led transformation across its operations. The identified partners include OpenAI for generative AI and intelligent agents; Microsoft for cloud, AI and enterprise transformation; SAP for integrated enterprise processes; AVEVA for industrial data, digital twins and advanced analytics; Rockwell Automation for smart manufacturing and control systems; Thoughtworks for digital engineering; and Fives for aluminium process technologies and carbon plant optimisation. The company has also partnered with deep-tech innovators including Ripik.AI for industrial vision and process optimisation; XYMA for high-temperature asset monitoring; Faclon for industrial intelligence and connected manufacturing; DesignX for AI-enabled factory workflows; DigitalPaani for industrial water optimisation; AutoVRse for immersive workforce training; Enmovil for AI-led logistics; and ideaForge for drone-based industrial intelligence.

These collaborations will focus on technical evaluation, data integration, pilot deployment and scale-up potential. Through its V-Spark innovation ecosystem, the company aims to rapidly validate and deploy solutions that strengthen productivity, safety, sustainability, asset reliability and operational decision-making. Presently, Vedanta Aluminium is actively collaborating with nearly 70 startups under the program, spanning one of the world’s largest alumina refineries in Lanjigarh, Odisha, the world’s largest single-location aluminium plant in Jharsuguda, Odisha, and India’s iconic aluminium producer, BALCO in Korba, Chhattisgarh.

About Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited:

Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited is one of the world’s leading producers of aluminium, ‘the Metal of the Future’ powering advanced manufacturing, the energy transition, and next generation technologies. As India’s largest aluminium producer, the Company operates integrated, world-class assets including a state-of-the-art alumina refinery, one of the world’s largest aluminium smelter complex in Odisha, and the iconic Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO). With a diverse portfolio of high-quality aluminium products, Vedanta Aluminium caters to discerning customers across more than 60 countries and plays a vital role in global industrial supply chains. The company is recognised among global peers for its sustainability leadership, as reflected in its strong performance in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. By advancing the possibilities of aluminium - the Metal of the Future - Vedanta Aluminium continues to enable next generation industries while creating enduring value for customers, communities, and shareholders. For more information, visit: https://vedantaaluminium.com/

About V-Spark DeepTech Ventures:

V-Spark DeepTech Ventures Pvt. Ltd., Vedanta’s dedicated deep-tech and innovation arm, is accelerating technology-led transformation across the Group’s mining, metals and manufacturing businesses. Operating as a venture-client platform for all Vedanta entities, V-Spark partners closely with startups, MSMEs and global technology leaders to rapidly pilot, deploy and scale cutting-edge solutions across AI/ML, automation, robotics, drones, computer vision and advanced digital technologies. With a strong focus on operational excellence, volume-cost optimisation, reliability, sustainability and ESG integration, the platform is also enabling strategic investments in future-ready innovations. Through its robust global startup ecosystem and scalable innovation capabilities, V-Spark is positioning Vedanta at the forefront of industrial deep-tech adoption and next-generation manufacturing transformation.

Vedanta Deploys India’s First High‑Speed Portable Rig to Unlock Gold and Critical Minerals

India's First Portable Rig for Gold  Critical Mineral Exploration_Vedanta Employee at Site in Chhattisgarh

• Built for inaccessible and tough terrains, it is the first high-speed hydrostatic portable rig in India that can carry out high-speed drilling up to 1,000 metres. 
• Vedanta holds the largest number of critical mineral blocks; poised to back India's bid to cut import dependence as global demand is expected to triple by 2030

Vedanta Limited (NSE: VEDL; BSE: 500295), a leading global producer of metals, critical minerals and technology, that powers the industries of today and is incubating the industries of tomorrow, has reinforced its commitment to technology-led innovation by commissioning India's first-ever high-tech, high-speed hydrostatic portable rig equipped with advanced safety features. The rigs have been deployed at two of Vedanta's flagship exploration projects in Chhattisgarh dedicated to gold and exploration of critical minerals such as nickel, chromium and platinum group elements.

Critical mineral exploration demands exceptional technical expertise and deep-shaft mining capabilities, a high-barrier domain where Vedanta stands out among a select few national and global players. As the energy transition accelerates, Vedanta is uniquely positioned to bridge the critical mineral deficit by leveraging its integrated smelting infrastructure and advanced geological tech to unlock complex blocks.

Purpose-built for inaccessible and tough terrains, this rig can carry out high-speed drilling up to 1,000 metres compared to the typical 300–400 metre range, without losing precious time in inter-location movement — a first for exploration capability in the country. The deployment marks a significant leap in Vedanta's exploration infrastructure, enabling faster, safer, minimally intrusive and more efficient access to India's largely untapped mineral reserves.

Vedanta has placed itself at the forefront of India's critical minerals push, being the only company to have secured 10 critical mineral blocks across gold, manganese, copper, nickel-chromium-PGE (Platinum Group of Elements) tungsten, graphite, vanadium, rare earth elements and potash, with exploration already underway across five blocks. Recently, Vedanta has also been declared the Successful Bidder for the Punnam Manganese Block in Andhra Pradesh.

India's Untapped Mineral Potential

The government estimates suggest close to 80% of India's mineral resources remain unexplored. Gold is vital for medical applications, high-reliability electronics and other strategic industries, while critical minerals such as copper and nickel underpin AI infrastructure and data centres, renewable energy, electric mobility, defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. India's task is to move beyond extraction alone and build capability across exploration, mining, processing, refining, recycling and manufacturing.

The opportunity is simple: India's resource advantage will be won not by what lies beneath the ground, but by how much value it builds above it.

According to the International Energy Agency, global critical mineral demand for clean energy technologies is projected to nearly triple by 2030 under its Net Zero Emissions Scenario, and quadruple by 2040, reaching close to 40 million tonnes annually. This has accelerated efforts by countries to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from dependence on any single country or source, positioning India as a natural partner in the shift. India holds substantial reserves of rare earth elements and critical minerals, giving it strong potential to become a key player in global supply chains though the country remains largely import-dependent despite this geological potential.

Vedanta 2.0 – Transformation through Technology

Vedanta 2.0 represents the group's vision to build a technology-driven, future-facing conglomerate centred on sustainable growth. While strengthening its core businesses, the group is simultaneously expanding into critical minerals as part of the clean-energy value chain, having secured several new mineral blocks and stepped-up exploration activity.

Vedanta Group holds a differentiated position as one of the few Indian companies with mineral assets spread across India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia and Zambia, giving it access to diverse, high-potential reserves. The company plans to expand into new geographies with stable regulatory environments, deepen value-added processing within India, and build mining partnerships aligned with global environmental, social and governance standards.

Adani Copper Secures LME Certification, Elevating India’s Role in Global Energy Transition

Kutch Copper Limited (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), has earned London Metal Exchange (LME) certification for 'Adani Copper'. Approval by the world centre for the trading of industrial metals validates KCL's manufacturing excellence and responsible sourcing practices against strict global benchmarks, enabling Adani Copper cathodes to be delivered with warrants eligible for issuance against LME Copper futures contracts from July 10, 2026.

For the Adani Group, LME listing of Adani Copper as a Good Delivery brand for 'Copper Grade A' contracts places the brand alongside the world's leading copper brands, conferring international recognition and market credibility on the Group's entry into the metals sector and its emergence as a globally competitive producer of refined copper.

"Copper is the backbone of the global energy transition. Achieving LME brand status places Adani among the world's leading copper producers and strengthens India's role in building a resilient, responsible supply chain for this vital metal. Kutch Copper's world-class infrastructure and ESG standards make this recognition both timely and well deserved. It will enhance the global acceptance of Adani Copper. Apart from reinforcing India's growing stature in the international metals industry, the registration is a landmark step towards self-reliance in refined copper," said Dr. Vinay Prakash, CEO – Natural Resources, Adani Enterprises, and Managing Director, Kutch Copper Limited.

An LME-brand certification is a rigorous process involving superior quality assurances — covering chemical composition, shape and weight — alongside strict responsible sourcing protocols. The LME listing enables eligible Adani Copper cathodes to be placed on warrant in LME-approved warehouses, strengthening financing flexibility as LME-listed metal is recognised as high liquid asset that can be used as collateral. For the LME, the addition of Adani Copper broadens the exchange's deliverable base with high-quality cathode from a major new production hub, deepening the liquidity and geographic diversity of the global copper market.

The USD 1.2 billion Kutch Copper facility with production capacity of 0.5 million tonnes — one of the world's largest single-location custom copper smelting complexes, designed with state-of-the-art technology, advanced process automation, and sustainability-led design principles embedded across operations — strengthens domestic supply, reduces the nation's dependence on imported copper, and advances India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' ambitions in a metal central to electrification, renewable energy and the energy transition.

About Kutch Copper Limited

Kutch Copper Limited (KCL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited and a part of the metals and mining portfolio of the Group. With an annual production capacity of 0.5 million tonnes, the company manufactures high-quality copper Grade A cathodes and other value-added products to serve domestic and international markets. For more information, please visit: https://www.adanimetals.com/

About Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL)

Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) is the flagship company of Adani Group, one of India's largest business organisations. Over the years, Adani Enterprises has focused on building emerging infrastructure businesses, contributing to nation-building and divesting them into separate listed entities. Having successfully built sizeable and scalable businesses like Adani Ports & SEZ, Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Power, Adani Green Energy, Adani Total Gas and Adani Wilmar, the company has contributed to make India self-reliant with our robust businesses. This has also led to significant returns to our shareholders for three decades.

The next generation of its strategic business investments are centered around green hydrogen ecosystem, airport management, data center, roads and primary industries like copper and petrochem - all of which have significant scope for value unlocking.