European primary aluminium production has a carbon footprint nearly 60% lower than the global average, largely due to the increasing use of low-carbon electricity in smelters. As one of the most electro-intensive industrial processes—where electricity represents 30–45% of total production costs—primary aluminium is disproportionately exposed to Europe’s high energy prices. Industrial gas and electricity prices in Europe are currently two to four times higher than in the US and China, driven largely by regulatory charges and system costs. This is why the Electrification Action Plan must prioritise delivering globally cost-competitive, low-carbon electricity for fully electrified processes like primary aluminium, enabling the sector to continue decarbonising while paving the way for broader industrial electrification in the future.