London-based GFG Alliance has acquired Europe’s largest aluminium smelter — Aluminium Dunkerque in France — and renamed it Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque.

This paves the way for an investment programme designed to maximise the value of the aluminium made at the plant.

GFG Alliance has begun carrying out feasibility studies on developing a wider integrated manufacturing business — producing components for the automotive and other growing industries in France — centred around the existing 285,000-tonnes-a-year smelting operations.

Last year, GFG acquired France’s only remaining producer of aluminium vehicle wheels, AR Industries — now called Liberty Wheels France – which was already a key customer of the Dunkerque smelter.

The deal saved over 90% of the jobs at the Chateauroux plant.

Sanjeev Gupta, GFG’s executive chairman (www.gfgalliance.com), said: “This is a real milestone in our European investment journey and the fulfilment of our promise to establish a firm foundation for a new vibrant and integrated industrial business in France that will create high-value products.

“Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque and Liberty Wheels France provide excellent facilities, expertise and skilled workforces.”