The first details regarding the offers for the acquisition of Aluminium Dunkerque are beginning to be revealed, according to a report by the newspaper La Voix du Nord.
As the newspaper notes, the continuation of decarbonization efforts and the social dimension constitute key pillars in every expression of interest.
Under the aegis of AIP, which manages assets totaling 16 billion dollars, Aluminium Dunkerque has regained its attractiveness.
The contract signed in 2025 with EDF, with a duration of ten years, ensures a stable electricity price, while financial support from the state for decarbonization reassures potential buyers.
With these δεδομένα, the Greek company Metlen Energy & Metals has stood out since the beginning of the negotiations thanks to a proposal with strong European appeal. Metlen’s strategy is based on three main pillars:
1) Retention and strengthening of industrial sovereignty: Metlen argues that strengthening the industrial capabilities of Aluminium Dunkerque depends on strategic contracts such as the one with EDF, ensuring production stability and the ability to implement decarbonization investments.
2) Stability and protection of employment: Maintaining jobs constitutes a central commitment of Metlen, in contrast to other potential buyers who have not clarified social commitments. The Greek company’s proposal combines economic viability with social responsibility.
3) Continued commitment to decarbonization: Metlen commits to continuing efforts to reduce carbon emissions, strengthening the environmental outlook of Aluminium Dunkerque and combining aluminum production with sustainable practices.
Metlen has clear advantages compared to the other candidates: it is the largest producer of bauxite in the European Union and the only metallurgical company that controls the entire value chain, from mining and alumina refining to aluminum production, energy supply, and metallurgy. This integrated verticalization ensures that Aluminium Dunkerque will remain under stable and effective management.
The other candidates
By comparison, the other candidates offer different advantages but with limited guarantees:
Emirates Global Aluminium: It possesses advanced technology and financial strength, already has a presence in Europe through the acquisition of EGA Leichtmetall (Germany) in 2024, and is planning an investment of 145 million euros to increase capacity. However, social commitments remain unclear.
Aluminium Bahreïn: It has financial stability and a global expansion strategy, but no previous activity in Europe has been observed. The acquisition of Aluminium Dunkerque would represent an important step in low-carbon aluminum production, but its social footprint remains uncertain.
Other groups such as Glencore, Sumitomo, and Rio Tinto are reported to show limited interest. The name of Rio Tinto is “stigmatized” in union circles and in the consciousness of employees, a fact that reportedly discourages the submission of an offer.
Metlen’s proposal appears to combine the best of two worlds: a strong financial base and social responsibility, together with a plan for sustainable development and decarbonization.
The participation of the public investment bank BPI as a minority investor will allow monitoring of investments and ensure the continuation of development plans, especially with regard to decarbonization.
The acquisition price is estimated at around 1 billion euros, with the final outcome potentially to be announced within a few days.
Within this framework, Metlen appears as the most comprehensive and reliable choice for Aluminium Dunkerque, ensuring economic strength, social stability, and environmental commitment, elements that will define its European leadership position in the aluminum sector, concludes La Voix du Nord.
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