Eti Alüminyum Is Making a $30 Million Investment for Aluminum Lithium Production in Türkiye

Eti Alüminyum is making a $30 million investment for the domestic production of aluminum lithium, one of the advanced alloys used in the aerospace industry, in Türkiye. With the new casting line planned to be commissioned in 2028, Türkiye will join the ranks of countries in the world capable of producing aluminum lithium. The alloy, which is approximately 15 percent lighter than conventional aluminum and offers high-strength properties, is used in critical structural components of aircraft, spacecraft and rockets.

Eti Alüminyum, Türkiye's only primary aluminum producer and the only company with an integrated aluminum facility capable of production from mine to final product, continues its investments to develop its advanced material production capacity.

The company, which continues its $400 million rolling mill investment aimed at increasing production capacity for high value-added sectors, particularly the defense industry, has also made a new investment decision for the production of aluminum lithium, one of the strategic alloys needed by the aerospace industry.

Eti Alüminyum will establish a new casting line with a $30 million investment. With the line, which is planned to begin production in 2028, Türkiye will join the countries that can domestically produce the aluminum lithium alloy, which is currently produced only by the US, Russia, China and France.

Lower weight, higher performance
One of the main reasons aluminum lithium alloys stand out particularly in aerospace applications is that they offer high mechanical performance combined with low density.

Eti Alüminyum Deputy General Manager Yaşar Bayraktar, in his assessment of the strategic importance of aluminum lithium, noted that technological developments are expanding the areas of use for aluminum and advanced alloys, and stated the following:

"Today's rapidly developing technology and prominent strategic sectors are also expanding the areas of use for aluminum. Aluminum and advanced alloys now have critical importance especially in high value-added sectors such as the defense industry, aviation and space. Aluminum lithium is also one of the strategic materials that stands out particularly in aerospace technologies thanks to its low density and high performance."

Noting that the aluminum lithium alloy is approximately 15 percent lighter than conventional aluminum, Bayraktar stated that the material has properties such as high creep and corrosion resistance, hardness, strength and fatigue resistance in addition to low density.

Aluminum lithium alloys are used in structural parts such as aircraft fuselages, wing spars and rocket components, where weight reduction and mechanical performance are critical.

Bayraktar said, "For these reasons, we consider our aluminum lithium production to be an important step that will support Türkiye's goals in the space and aviation field with its own industrial infrastructure and domestic production capability. We are taking our integrated production structure to a higher level with high technology and advanced material production. Aluminum lithium is currently produced only in the US, Russia, China and France. When we begin production, Türkiye will also join these countries."

Production preparations underway for the $400 million rolling mill investment
Preparations for production also continue at the rolling mill project, one of Eti Alüminyum's investments aimed at increasing capacity in high value-added aluminum products.

At the rolling mill, established with an investment of approximately $400 million, the production of hot and cold rolled products is planned. Together with the new casting house investment that will feed the rolling mill, the facility is expected to contribute to reducing Türkiye's foreign dependency in flat aluminum products.

Regarding the rolling mill investment, Bayraktar said, "The new casting house that will feed this facility, together with the rolling mill where hot and cold rolled products will be produced, will prevent $600 million worth of imports in flat aluminum products. With the rolling mill starting production, higher value-added products will be offered to Türkiye's defense industry."

Renewable energy capacity in aluminum production is being increased
Eti Alüminyum continues its investments in the transformation of the energy used in production, in addition to its high-technology and advanced material investments.

In addition to its 189 MW installed solar energy capacity in Seydişehir, the company has commissioned a solar power plant with an installed capacity of 90 MW in Gaziantep. With the new 42 MW solar power plant investment planned in Sivas, the total installed solar energy capacity is targeted to be increased to 321 MW.

With renewable energy investments, it is aimed to meet all the electricity used in industrial facilities from clean energy sources. The energy transformation that began with the Oymapınar Hydroelectric Power Plant is being expanded with solar energy investments, aiming to make production processes lower carbon.

Türkiye's integrated aluminum production capacity is strengthening
Eti Alüminyum, whose foundations were laid in 1967 and which began production in 1973, has been operating under Cengiz Holding since 2005.

After privatization, the company accelerated renovation, capacity increase and technology investments at its facilities, and to date, more than $700 million has been invested, excluding the rolling mill investment.

Today, Eti Alüminyum, which has Türkiye's only integrated aluminum production facility capable of production from mine to final product, produces 82 thousand tons of aluminum annually.

The company's products have a wide range of uses, from window profiles to the aviation and defense industry, and from the tourism sector to various industrial applications. With the aluminum lithium investment and the ongoing rolling mill project, Eti Alüminyum's production capability in advanced materials and high value-added aluminum products is aimed to be further increased.