EGA and GE exceed target Nox reductions: Minister visits to celebrate Government Accelerators programme success

• EGA and GE reduce NOx emissions in just 100 days by 16 per cent, beating Government Accelerators target
• EGA worked with GE and Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in Government Accelerators project

United Arab Emirates, 26 February 2017: Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and GE have completed the Government Accelerators project to reduce NOx emissions in just 100 days by exceeding the emissions reduction target.

His Excellency Dr. Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, today visited EGA in Jebel Ali to honour the EGA and GE teams who worked in close coordination with the Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office on the project. EGA has reduced its NOx emissions by 16 per cent based on full yearly running hours, the equivalent of removing 450,000 cars from the UAE’s roads.

The 100-day project originally targeted a 10 per cent reduction and ends today.

The Government Accelerators programme is an initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve rapid progress in meeting Government objectives.

NOx affects air quality and is emitted by EGA’s power stations. After DEWA, EGA is the UAE’s second largest electricity producer to meet the power needs of its aluminium smelting operations. EGA has its own power stations at both Al Taweelah and Jebel Ali.

Improving the air quality index to have clean air 90 per cent of the time is one of the national objectives set in UAE Vision 2021, and NOx is one of four main air pollutants that is included within the calculation of this indicator. A major source of NOx is motor vehicles.

His Excellency Dr. Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “The shared responsibility between government entities, the private sector and stakeholders holds great importance in the development of the tools to improve air quality. However, we can all contribute to improving air quality through how much electricity we use at home and our transport choices. But big industry can make big contributions, and I am pleased that the Government Accelerators programme has enabled that to happen quickly. EGA, GE and my team at the Ministry are to be saluted for their amazing work.”

Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Our Government Accelerators target was ambitious and completing this project has taken intense effort by a combined team from EGA, GE and the Government. We will all benefit as a society from their achievement.”

EGA achieved its emissions reduction target through the retrofitting of new technology at its Jebel Ali power plant, a series of highly-technical operational efficiency improvements at both Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, and a sustainable energy exchange program with the public grid in Abu Dhabi.

The largest contribution to the reduction came from the installation of GE’s water injection skid to a GE 9B gas turbine at EGA’s Jebel Ali power station. The technology was flown to the UAE in just 70 days, one-third of the time typically required to complete such a project. The complicated installation work was completed yesterday with teams working around the clock.

Joseph Anis, President & CEO of GE’s Power Services business in the Middle East and Africa said: “We are honoured to collaborate with EGA and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment for the on-time completion of EGA’s Government Accelerators project. The speed with which we executed this project highlights our technological leadership and capability to support enhanced efficiency and environmental outcomes, as well as our commitment to the UAE’s continued, sustainable growth.”

EGA’s Government Accelerators project was one of the first five to be initiated under the programme. The Government Accelerators programme brings together teams from industry, Government and academia to achieve accelerated progress towards Government objectives and strategic priorities.

The Government Accelerators team in the Prime Minister’s Office provide support to each project in four main areas - national indicators, policies, programmes and initiatives, and services.