Novelis Set to Begin Commissioning $5 Billion Alabama Aluminum Plant

Industry Pulse News Desk · 2026-08-28

Aluminum producer Novelis expects to start commissioning operations at its $5 billion recycling and rolling plant in Bay Minette, Alabama, later this year.

BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Aluminum manufacturer Novelis is preparing to begin commissioning operations at its new $5 billion facility in Bay Minette, Alabama, before the end of the year. Engineering and construction company Fluor Corporation is wrapping up construction work on the massive site, which marks a major expansion of domestic processing capacity.

The facility is designed as a fully integrated aluminum recycling plant and rolling mill. Once operational, the complex will process recycled scrap alongside primary aluminum to produce specialized sheet products, primarily serving the beverage packaging and automotive sectors.

The upcoming commissioning phase will involve testing core machinery, verifying facility safety protocols, and systematically integrating automated systems across the complex. Construction crews are currently finalizing structural installations and placing specialized heavy equipment, including industrial rolling mills and recycling furnaces.

The project represents one of the largest single capital investments in Alabama's manufacturing sector. Local authorities expect the development to create approximately 1,000 direct, permanent technical jobs while providing expanded demand across regional supply chain networks.

The Bay Minette plant will significantly expand total domestic output capacity for low-carbon recycled aluminum. Novelis aims to bring the entire site to full commercial production following the phased operational rollout over the coming months.