Electricity supplies for the primary aluminium industry

The historical relationship between aluminium smelting and hydroelectric development is examined. Data on hydroelectric schemes presently planned or under construction are used to project the quantities of aluminium which could be produced using hydroelectric power by the year 2000. Projections of aluminium demand are made and these are compared with the projections of hydrobased aluminium supply. It is concluded that the majority of the world aluminium capacity which will be installed up to the end of this century will have to rely on non-hydroelectric power, based on coal or nuclear energy. The sensitivity of the projections to the assumptions is tested and the conclusions are found to be robust.