Aluminium is a good bet for infrastructure in the future

livemint.com:

Aluminium has successfully replaced timber in house construction, significantly contributing to the prevention of tree cutting. It is used in aircraft making for its light-weight tensile strength, and the same applies to renewable energy projects. As India witnesses increased government spending on infrastructure, our challenge lies in finding the extent to which aluminium usage can be expanded in these projects.

In applications like home window and door frames, as with aircraft making, the metal faces little competition. In infrastructure, it often competes with steel or stainless steel, but it can excel in such niches as architectural structures, electric charging stations, etc. Timber must completely be replaced with aluminium, given its recyclability and cost-effectiveness over time, thanks to very low maintenance costs.

Empirical evidence points to infrastructure as a growth propellant. Its creation has salutary and multiplier effects on multiple sectors of the economy. Apart from raising market demand and people’s incomes, and facilitating trade and connectivity, it promotes financial inclusion and enhances societal equality.

India’s build-up partly explains why the country is a rare ‘bright spot’ in the world economy. At $3.75 trillion, India is among the top five major economies, and could reach $5 trillion in the next few years. Infrastructure growth has been instrumental in India’s rise in the international order, even though much more is needed.