Operating as Turkey’s only fully integrated aluminum facility from bauxite mining to finished product, Eti Alüminyum is expanding its technological capability into strategic alloys. The company announced a $30 million investment in a dedicated casting line to produce aluminum-lithium, a critical material currently manufactured exclusively in the US, Russia, China, and France. Production is set to launch in 2028, establishing Turkey as the fifth manufacturing country globally.
15% Lighter with Exceptional Structural Strength
Engineered primarily for critical aerospace applications—including aircraft fuselages, wing spars, and rocket components—aluminum-lithium offers key performance advantages:
Weight Reduction: 15% lighter than standard aluminum alloys with low material density.
Mechanical Properties: Superior hardness, elevated tensile strength, enhanced fatigue resistance, and exceptional tolerance against creep and corrosion.
$400 Million Rolling Mill to Launch in Q2 Next Year
Eti Alüminyum's concurrent $400 million rolling mill and foundry investment is nearing completion, scheduled to commence operations in the second quarter of next year (2027). The facility will manufacture hot- and cold-rolled flat aluminum products, projected to substitute $600 million in imports annually while supplying the defense sector with domestically manufactured materials.
Renewable Power Portfolio to Reach 321 MW in Solar Capacity
Aiming to meet 100% of its industrial power demand through low-carbon sources, Eti Alüminyum continues to supplement its Oymapınar Hydroelectric Power Plant with substantial solar capacity:
Seydişehir Solar Power Plant: 189 MW operational capacity
Gaziantep Solar Power Plant: 90 MW operational capacity (recently commissioned)
Sivas Solar Project (Planned): 42 MW
Total Target Solar Capacity: 321 MW
Executive Statement from Vice General Manager Yaşar Bayraktar
Yaşar Bayraktar, Vice General Manager of Eti Alüminyum, stated:
“Rapidly advancing technology and priority strategic industries continue to expand the functional scope of aluminum. Advanced alloys hold pivotal importance across high-value sectors such as defense, aviation, and space exploration. With its low density and high mechanical performance, aluminum-lithium is one of the most strategic materials for aerospace systems.
Aluminum-lithium alloy is 15% lighter than standard aluminum while offering high creep, corrosion, fatigue resistance, hardness, and mechanical strength. It serves as a core material for aircraft fuselages, wing spars, and rocket structural components. Therefore, we regard this production as a vital step supporting Turkey’s aerospace objectives through domestic manufacturing capabilities. Currently, aluminum-lithium is manufactured only in the United States, Russia, China, and France. Once our facility goes live, Turkey will join this select group of nations.”
