Lochaber’s Hidden Engineering Legacy Featured in BBC ALBA Documentary

(L-R) Calum Maclean and Hugh Dan MacLennan

The remarkable story of the hydroelectric network that powers Britain’s last remaining aluminium smelter has been brought to a national audience through a new BBC ALBA documentary exploring Scotland’s hidden underground world.

Alvance British Aluminium is proud to feature in Alba fon Talamh / Scotland Underground, a new series presented by broadcaster and Gaelic advocate Hugh Dan MacLennan alongside journalist and presenter Calum Maclean, which uncovers the stories, history and engineering hidden beneath Scotland’s landscape.

The programme shines a spotlight on Lochaber’s extraordinary hydroelectric system – a vast network of tunnels, pipelines, dams and power stations constructed to harness the natural resources of the Highlands. Built during the first half of the twentieth century, the scheme was designed to provide the significant amount of renewable electricity required for aluminium production and remains one of Scotland’s most impressive engineering achievements.

Today, that same hydro network continues to power operations at Alvance British Aluminium’s Lochaber smelter in Fort William, the UK’s last remaining primary aluminium smelter and one of the world’s lowest-carbon producers of primary aluminium.

James Rosie, Senior Electrical Engineer & Calum Maclean

The documentary explores not only the engineering behind the scheme, but also the generations of people whose lives have been connected to it. In a particularly poignant segment, Hugh Dan reflects on his own family’s connection to the smelter, sharing memories of his father, who worked at the site for more than three decades. His story echoes the experiences of many Lochaber families whose livelihoods have been linked to the operation for generations.

Hugh Dan MacLennan

Hugh Dan MacLennan is widely recognised for his work promoting Gaelic language and culture through broadcasting and community engagement, while Calum Maclean has built a respected career as a journalist, presenter and documentary maker, bringing stories from across Scotland to audiences at home and abroad. Together, they explore how Scotland’s underground infrastructure has shaped communities, industries and landscapes throughout the country.

(L-R) Peter Dodds and Calum Maclean

For Alvance British Aluminium, participation in the programme provided an opportunity to highlight the continuing strategic importance of aluminium production in the UK, as well as the unique role Lochaber continues to play in supporting manufacturing, economic resilience and the transition to a lower-carbon future.

As the programme demonstrates, the story of Lochaber is not simply one of the past. It is a story of innovation, engineering excellence and renewable energy that continues to support skilled jobs, sustainable industry and communities across the Highlands today.#

Peter Dodds, Hydro Manager, Hugh Dan MacLennan, Mark Cairney, Power Maintenance Engineer

Watch the full episode of Alba fon Talamh / Scotland Underground on BBC iPlayer and discover the hidden world beneath the mountains of Lochaber that continues to power one of Britain’s most strategically important industrial operations.

Watch the clip of Alvance British Aluminium here.

We’d love to hear your memories and reflections on Lochaber’s hydro and aluminium history. Join the conversation on our social media channels and share your connection to this remarkable story: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.