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Hillside Aluminium

Hillside Aluminium is an aluminium smelter located in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The facility is owned and operated by South32, a diversified mining and metals company that was spun off from BHP in 2015. Hillside is one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world, with an annual production capacity of about 720 000 tonnes of primary aluminium. The smelter uses electrolytic reduction technology to convert alumina into aluminium metal, a process that requires substantial electricity supply. Historically, the facility has relied on power from Eskom, South Africa's state-owned electricity utility, under long-term supply agreements. The smelter plays a significant role in the regional economy, providing employment and supporting downstream manufacturing industries. In recent years, Hillside has been at the centre of discussions around energy security, decarbonisation and the transition to renewable energy sources, as South32 explores options to reduce the carbon intensity of its aluminium production. The facility was commissioned in 1995 and has undergone various expansions and efficiency improvements since then. Hillside remains a strategic asset for South Africa's metals sector and a key component of South32's global aluminium portfolio.

Hillside Aluminium News


South Africa's Hillside Aluminium in KwaZulu-Natal.
South32 deal empowering Alcoa to surpass Rio Tinto as world’s biggest bauxite miner
Updated 2 hours 58 minutes ago By: Martin Creamer

With the acquisition of South32’s aluminium assets, Alcoa will surpass Rio Tinto to become the world's largest bauxite mining companies on an equity-attributable production basis, with global share... 


Alcoa President and CEO Bill Oplinger.
Alcoa sees South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium being 'cash flow accretive immediately'
Updated 6 hours ago By: Martin Creamer

This asset adds scale to our smelting portfolio in a way that is expected to be cash flow accretive immediately, Alcoa Corporation President and CEO William (Bill) F. Oplinger said of South... 


South32 COO Africa Noel Pillay.
Alcoa is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium, says Pillay
1st July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

As a global producer of materials across the aluminium value chain, Alcoa Corporation is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium business into the future, South32 COO Africa... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
Positive way Hillside Aluminium is working with Eskom is highly commendable
22nd May 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The positive manner in which Hillside Aluminium is working with Eskom to ensure the longevity of aluminium production in South Africa is highly commendable. A remarkable aspect of the collaboration... 




POWER POSER: The Hillside Aluminium smelter in KwaZulu-Natal marked its thirtieth anniversary this month, while indicating that it is seeking another competitive long-term electricity agreement to sustain operations. Hillside’s current negotiated pricing agreement has been key to the business, but has also proved controversial for its opacity and for having been sustained while other consumers faced steep hikes and power cuts. As with other electricity intensive operations in South Africa, Hillside wants both a low tariff and progressively cleaner supply.
POWER POSER:
22nd May 2026

The Hillside Aluminium smelter in KwaZulu-Natal marked its thirtieth anniversary this month, while indicating that it is seeking another competitive long-term electricity agreement to sustain... 


South32 COO Noel Pillay
Aluminium poised to support low-carbon future, support energy transition
25th February 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aluminium is going to be very important going forward, supporting a low-carbon future for the planet, which is why it is so advantageous for South Africa to have an upstream smelter in the country... 


Aluminium smelting is electricity intensive.
South32, Eskom jointly exploring post-2031 power options for Hillside Aluminium
23rd January 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Studies being undertaken on the future power source for South32’s Hillside Aluminium beyond 2031 are taking place amid awareness of the different energy levers that can potentially be pulled. The... 


South32 Arctic and Bornite projects.
South32 targeting Arctic project in Alaska with joint venture partner
22nd January 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed South32 is targeting the copper-dominant Arctic project in the Ambler mining district of north-western Alaska with its Canada-based 50:50 joint venture (JV)... 


Aluminium smelting is electricity intensive.
South32, Eskom jointly exploring post-2031 power options for Hillside Aluminium
19th December 2025 By: Martin Creamer

Studies being undertaken on the future power source for South32’s Hillside Aluminium beyond 2031 are taking place amid awareness of the different energy levers that can potentially be pulled. The... 


South Africa's expansive Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay.
US has lost three-quarters of its aluminium smelters, Bank of America reports
11th December 2025 By: Martin Creamer

Bank of America Global Research yesterday reported that the US has lost three-quarters of its aluminium smelters, China has capped its aluminium production, US consumers are now having to pay the... 


Hillside Aluminium manager external affairs Craig Ullbricht; Hillside Aluminium marketing manager Njabulo Dlamini; Hillside Aluminium VPO Calvin Mkhabela; Hillside Aluminium finance manager Talhal Patel; and Hillside Aluminium technical director Adriano de Jesus
Hillside Aluminium pledges R200m to boost Richards Bay manufacturing
28th November 2025 By: Sabrina Jardim

Diversified miner South32’s Hillside Aluminium subsidiary has partnered with the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) to... 


Hillside Aluminium manager external affairs Craig Ullbricht; Hillside Aluminium marketing manager Njabulo Dlamini; Hillside Aluminium VPO Calvin Mkhabela; Hillside Aluminium finance manager Talhal Patel; and Hillside Aluminium technical director Adriano de Jesus
Hillside Aluminium to provide R200m funding to support manufacturing in Richards Bay
12th November 2025 By: Sabrina Jardim

Diversified miner South32’s Hillside Aluminium subsidiary has partnered with the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) to... 


Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa’s Hillside aluminium production holds steady as smelter tests capacity
7th November 2025 By: Martin Creamer

In the three months to September 30, production at South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, increased by 1% to 181 000 t amid the smelter continuing to test maximum... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
Southern Palladium, Sibanye-Stillwater, Hillside Aluminium make headlines
24th October 2025

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses Southern Palladium’s A$20-million raise to ramp up work at its Bengwenyama PGM project in Limpopo; Sibanye-Stillwater’s commitment to community... 


Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa’s Hillside aluminium production holds steady as smelter tests capacity
21st October 2025 By: Martin Creamer

In the three months to September 30, production at South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, increased by 1% to 181 000 t amid the smelter continuing to test maximum... 


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