EGA is marketing this type of low-carbon aluminium under the product brand MinimAL. The metal will be supplied to CANEX Aluminum, Egypt’s leading aluminium downstream producer.

EGA’s new product positions the UAE as a reliable supplier of low-carbon industrial materials to global markets and expands EGA’s low-carbon metal portfolio for our local and global customers.

Generating the electricity required for aluminium smelting and production accounts for around 60 per cent of the global aluminium industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. ENEC’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant provides access to abundant clean electricity 24/7 from nuclear energy which is essential for decarbonising the UAE’s industrial sector.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Global demand for low carbon aluminium is expected to triple by 2040, and EGA aims to play an important role in this growth. MinimAL is our latest low-carbon product, made possible through the UAE’s investment in nuclear power generation. We are glad to be working with ENEC to supply more low carbon aluminium to the world.”

His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said: “This milestone shows how nuclear energy is boosting national energy security and enabling the UAE’s industrial decarbonisation in parallel, reliably powering energy-intensive sectors like aluminium production with clean electricity 24/7. Through the abundant electricity generated at Barakah, we have unlocked the significant, proven and long-term benefits of nuclear energy to power the UAE’s low-carbon economy for decades to come.”

CANEX Aluminum is the first customer to use EGA’s MinimAL to produce advanced products for infrastructure, solar energy, transportation, and architectural applications.

Mutassem Daaboul, Managing Director of CANEX Aluminum, said: “At CANEX, we believe true sustainability is built into every layer of production—from the raw material to the final product. Our upcycling model already transforms waste into value-added products. Now, with MinimAL, we are taking another step forward by reducing embedded emissions at the very beginning of our process. This partnership with EGA reflects our shared commitment to responsible innovation.”

The clean electricity is certified through the UAE’s Clean Energy Certification programme using International REC Standard (I-REC) protocols to ensure traceability and credibility. The power is supplied through Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) via the national grid.

The Barakah plant generates 40 terawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, which is around 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity needs, and equivalent to the annual total power demand of Switzerland. Carbon-free electricity from Barakah avoids 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to removing 4.8 million cars from the road.

EGA was the first company globally to produce aluminium using solar power, with 80 thousand tonnes of CelestiAL made in 2024.

EGA also produces recycled aluminium, marketed under the product brand RevivAL, at its plants in the United States and Germany. In the UAE, EGA is building the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling plant at Al Taweelah. The facility is expected to start production in the first half of 2026.

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Chain of Custody Standard sets requirements for the tracking and accounting of responsibly-produced raw materials and metal throughout the value chain, from mine to consumer. It complements the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard, which certifies facilities for their sustainability performance.

EGA’s UAE facilities source some raw materials from upstream suppliers certified to the ASI Performance Standard and Chain of Custody. This enables EGA to now produce a proportion of ASI Chain of Custody certified aluminium, providing customers with access to ASI Chain of Custody certified aluminium.

All of EGA’s mining, refining and smelting facilities sites around the world are certified to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standards, with the exception of the recently acquired Spectro Alloys.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: "Aluminium is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. It also matters how sustainably aluminium is made, and this includes sourcing of responsibly-produced raw materials. Achieving certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Chain of Custody Standard is step forward in our aspiration to become a global sustainability leader for the aluminium industry. I am proud the EGA is now able to produce ASI-certified metal.”

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is a global, non-profit organisation that brings together aluminium producers, end-users such as BMW Group and Nespresso, civil society, and the public through consultation, to determine what constitutes good sustainability performance in the aluminium sector. The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s standards are the global benchmark for sustainability in the aluminium industry.

The independent, third-party audit of EGA’s systems required for ASI Chain of Custody Certification was carried out by DNV Business Assurance Services UK Ltd.

Under the agreement, signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Abdul Nasser Bin Kalban, EGA Chief Executive Officer, EGA will be the ADSW Associate Partner from 2025 to 2027.

ADSW, hosted by Masdar, brings together policymakers, industry and civil society leaders, entrepreneurs, and other key stakeholders to accelerate economic, social, and environmental progress in line with the UAE’s long-term sustainability vision and net-zero objectives. The event will showcase how the convergence of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), energy and human expertise can supercharge sustainable development and unlock a potential $10 trillion-plus economic opportunity.

As the first major event in the global sustainability calendar, ADSW 2025 – held under the theme “The Nexus of Next. Supercharging Sustainable Progress”– will take place from January 12 to 18 in the UAE capital. ADSW 2025 will feature an engaging program of high-profile sessions, forums, partner-led events and high-level networking opportunities, bringing the global community together to create a sustainable, resilient and inclusive future.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week showcases the UAE’s ambition to supercharge sustainable progress and deliver economic transformation. It provides a global platform for cross-sector collaboration, fostering dialogue and partnerships to develop low-carbon economic systems that allow businesses to flourish while reducing their environmental impact. We are delighted to sign this three-year partnership agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium, another UAE leader, which shares our commitment to accelerating sustainable solutions and creating a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future for all.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium is an essential material for the development of a more sustainable society.  It also matters how sustainably aluminium is made. The aluminium industry is considered one of the ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors. Decarbonising these sectors is key to achieving the UAE's net zero goals. No industry can decarbonise alone, we must work together to solve the decarbonisation challenge. That is why global platforms like ADSW play an important role in bringing key stakeholders from all backgrounds to share knowledge and innovate solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges.”

EGA has publicly committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. Last year, EGA implemented a digital system to track greenhouse gas emissions to enhance transparency and accelerate decarbonization, in line with the UAE’s National MRV Transparency System. EGA was also the first company to produce aluminium commercially using solar power, which is marketed under the product name CelestiAL, starting in 2021.

For more information, please visit www.adsw.ae.

This state-of-the-art facility will be located at Khalifa University’s Main Campus in Abu Dhabi and is expected to significantly expand high temperature materials research in the UAE both for practical applications in industry and academic study. Currently, research in high temperature materials for institutions and the industries in the UAE can only be conducted abroad.

The goal is to build long-term strategic partnerships where academia and industry are proactively engaged and committed to success in collaborative and multidisciplinary advanced R&D efforts.

EGA expects to use the laboratory and programme for practical research into refractories, carbon-based materials, anode baking furnaces, and waste.

EGA’s research is expected to focus on capturing and recovering heat energy generated from the company’s industrial processes, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In aluminium smelting, approximately half of all energy is lost as waste heat.  

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “At EGA, one of our core values is to continuously improve our business and operations through innovation. This new state-of-the-art laboratory and research programme will strengthen the UAE's position as a leader in industrial technology development and drive forward the country’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy. For EGA, it means we can conduct even more of our practical research here in the UAE, solving challenges locally and contributing to the UAE’s research capabilities. I look forward to some ground-breaking results from this collaboration.”

His Excellency Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President, Khalifa University, said: “We are glad to see the enduring and fruitful relationship with Emirates Global Aluminium, Mubadala Investment Company, and Strata. Manufacturing remains cemented through the development of capability and capacity at Khalifa University. The trust of the industry in Khalifa University to provide localized solutions and adapt to their unique industrial challenges is a testament to the advanced and applied research competencies that the university offers. This achievement is a result of over a decade of collaboration with our industrial partners, which has enabled us to build capacity and gain a deeper understanding of industrial needs. Today, we are cementing that trust and confidence from the industry by localizing research, development, and innovation in the UAE. We look forward to seeing industries across the region and globally follow suit as we continue to provide tailored solutions and adapt to industry trends."

Mubadala Investment Company is committed to launching advanced R&D programs aimed at developing capabilities in areas critical to Mubadala and of national priority. Priority will be given to applied research and providing solutions in areas of critical technical need. Additionally, it aims to develop capable UAE scientists, technologists, and innovators for careers in R&D.

EGA is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 in line with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, and has a roadmap to decarbonise its operations.

EGA has worked for more than a decade with other industries in the UAE to find productive uses for by-products from aluminium production. EGA has already developed re-uses for many waste streams from its industrial activities, including bauxite residue, spent pot lining, carbon dust and dross.

EGA’s technology and development team works extensively with universities in both the UAE and internationally, with academic partnerships that include Khalifa University, the American University of Sharjah, Rochester Institute of Technology, Abu Dhabi University and American University in Dubai in the UAE, as well as the University of Auckland, University of New South Wales, and MIT.

The fifteenth assembly focused on the innovative solutions that progress the decarbonisation of the aluminium sector to meet the growing global demand for this sustainable metal as the UAE is the fifth-largest aluminium producing nation in the world.

The NDCA, launched in May 2022, is a platform to define and raise sectoral climate ambition and advance all-inclusive participation in the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

The NDCA’s monthly stakeholder assemblies are dedicated to engaging a specific sector, with the aim of exploring sectoral requirements, priorities, and future direction to amplify contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The session engaged stakeholders from across the aluminium value chain, including the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, leading can-makers and waste management companies, to discuss the role of aluminium in boosting the UAE’s circular economy.

In her opening keynote speech, HE Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minster of Climate Change and Environment highlighted the potential the aluminium sector holds to move the UAE towards its Net Zero ambition. She said: “The aluminium sector is a major asset in helping the UAE achieve a low-carbon future; it is critical to many of the industries central to low-carbon development.”

Her Excellency added: “As a key enabler to reducing emissions in numerous sectors, we know that demand for aluminium will rise. We must find ways to meet this demand, whilst reducing the environmental impact of aluminium production.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We are honoured to host the 15th National Dialogue for Climate Ambition session at EGA’s headquarters in Al Taweelah. At EGA, we recognise that producing metal essential for the development of a more sustainable society is not enough. It also matters how sustainably aluminium is produced. Many of the decarbonisation challenges we face are shared with other industries, and we must work together to address these challenges."

During the session, two companies signed the UAE’s Climate-Responsible Companies Pledge: Tadweer Group, and Yellow Door Energy. This takes the total number of signatories to 140. The pledge was launched in 2022 to help the UAE government engage with entities keen to make an active contribution to the nation’s climate neutrality movement and align their efforts to achieve the UAE’s common objective.

By signing the pledge, companies commit to measuring and reporting their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a transparent manner, developing ambitious science-based plans to reduce their carbon footprint, and sharing these plans with the UAE government to contribute to achieving the national net-zero target by 2050. They must also factor in climate change mitigation and adaptation as core values and principles of their businesses and operational models, and adopt an all-inclusive approach that engages society in developing their net-zero plans.

The event included a panel session focused on increasing aluminium beverage can recycling rates in the UAE and closed with three roundtables discussing the development of the aluminium scrap industry in the UAE, opportunities to reduce the aluminium sector's greenhouse gas emissions through circularity, and the use of aluminium to reduce emissions in different sectors.

During the visit to EGA, Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak inaugurated the region’s first 100 per cent renewable energy powered industrial data centre in Al Taweelah.

EGA developed two data centres in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah to further deploy artificial intelligence and automation solutions at the heart of the company’s industrial operations, while reducing EGA’s total IT energy consumption by 50 per cent.

The critically endangered turtles are the only sea turtles that lay their eggs in the UAE. EGA’s Sustainability team monitor the beach throughout the nesting season, protect the nests from predators and debris, and rescue any injured or sick turtles.

Some 116 nests have been laid on the beach next to EGA’s operations since the monitoring programme began.

This year, four turtles were found in need of care and were transferred to the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Centre at Burj Al Arab, where they now receive expert treatment before being released back into the sea.

Before the nesting season, EGA brings together volunteers from across the company for a beach clean-up at Al Taweelah. In January, EGA employees volunteered in the clean-up and removed some 1,300 kilogrammes of waste washed up from the sea.

Abdulnasser bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “EGA is committed to operating responsibly, including by protecting wildlife near our operations. We are proud to play a role in the conservation of these magnificent creatures, which are part of the UAE’s natural heritage and biodiversity. Our team works hard to ensure that our beach is a safe and welcoming habitat for the turtles, and we are delighted to see another successful hatching season.”

The average hawksbill lifespan ranges from 30 to 50 years, with females capable of laying 100 to 150 eggs in one annual nesting season.

The shipment, in a Capesize ship, is carrying bauxite mined by EGA subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation to a customer in China.

LNG-fuelled ships can achieve up to 28 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions on a tank-to-wake basis compared to vessels using traditional marine bunker fuel, according to SEA-LNG, a multi-sector industry coalition. The global shipping industry as a whole was responsible for over two per cent of the word’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.

The bauxite shipment is onboard the Ubuntu Empathy, an LNG dual-fuelled vessel operated by Anglo American and chartered by EGA. The vessel is one of Anglo American’s 10-strong chartered fleet of lower emission LNG dual-fuelled vessels. 

Capesize vessels are amongst the largest bulk cargo carriers in the world, and are up to 300 metres long – the length of two football fields – and 50 metres wide. Capesize vessels can carry around 180 thousand tonnes of bauxite ore.

EGA predominantly uses Capesize vessels to ship bauxite ore from the Republic of Guinea to the company’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and to third-party customers around the world. Last year, EGA exported some 14.1 million wet metric tonnes of bauxite from Guinea.

Bauxite is the ore from which aluminium is derived.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium plays an essential role in decarbonisation economy-wide. It is also important how sustainably aluminium is produced, and this includes the transportation around the world of millions of tonnes of raw materials. Our approach to decarbonisation is comprehensive and extends beyond our operations to include everything from supply chain to financing. LNG-fuelled cargos are one way for us to reduce our emissions, and we are proud to pioneer this fuel for shipping bauxite. Our goal is to reach net zero by 2050, including from our supply chain, and help meet the increasing global demand for the low carbon aluminium.”

EGA’s bauxite mining subsidiary GAC makes EGA one of the biggest merchant bauxite suppliers in the world. GAC began production in 2019.

EGA was the first aluminium producer and the first Middle East company to join global shipping and maritime sustainability initiative, the Sea Cargo Charter, in 2023.

In 2022, EGA signed an agreement with one of its shipping partners, “K” Line to develop and implement new marine decarbonisation technologies suitable for EGA’s bulk cargo shipping routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.

The partnership began with 12 schools near EGA’s operations in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, and now covers 20 educational institutions as well as home collections.

UAE citizens and residents consume some 660 million aluminium beverage cans in total every year. Only a third are currently recycled, compared to over 95 per cent in leading recycling countries. More than 440 million aluminium cans currently end up in UAE landfill sites annually.

EGA and RECAPP collected 145 thousand used drink cans during the year.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. Aluminium is already one of the world’s most recycled materials, but too much of this valuable material is still thrown away in our country. I thank RECAPP by Veolia and our EGA teams for educating young people about the importance of recycling aluminium drink cans and inspiring a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

Jerome Viricel, General Manager of RECAPP by Veolia said: “Aluminium is infinitely-recyclable, and recycling aluminium takes 95 per cent less energy than making new metal. I am confident that by diverting aluminium waste from the UAE’s landfills and guiding students and residents to the right approach in recycling aluminium, this partnership will further bolster national efforts towards sustainability and strengthen the recycling reflex across the country. This project underscores Veolia’s dedication to ecological transformation, and closely aligns with our ambitious new GreenUp plan that focuses on high-impact solutions while strengthening our decarbonisation commitments.”

RECAPP by Veolia is a member of the Aluminium Recycling Coalition, which was founded by EGA in 2023 to bring the company together with can-makers, beverage producers and waste management companies to promote recycling in the UAE.

For Veolia, the can collection and aluminium recycling project represents a significant step to help its customers decarbonise, depollute and regenerate resources, through the deployment of its digital platform RECAPP. The collaboration will also advance Veolia’s mission in the UAE of promoting recycling and sustainable development in keeping with the country’s broader vision for a Net Zero future and its Circular Economy Policy.

EGA is currently constructing the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling plant in Al Taweelah, which is expected to have a capacity of 170 thousand tonnes per year when complete.

The Alumina Quality Workshop conference and exhibition has run every three years since 1988, and brings together hundreds of the world’s leading engineers, technologists and academics to advance the technical development of the alumina industry. The event in Dubai focused particularly on decarbonisation and wider sustainability, with participants from as far afield as Australia, Vietnam and the United States.

EGA made alumina refining a new industrial activity in the UAE in 2019, with the start of production at the company’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery following an investment of some $3.3 billion in its development. The refinery converts bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters.

Continuous improvement has seen production increase to 2.48 million tonnes of alumina in 2023, well beyond Al Taweelah alumina refinery’s initial design capacity.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Innovation and continuous improvement have been foundations of EGA’s global success for decades, including more recently in alumina refining. Industry cooperation is an important way technical advances that benefit all are made. Bringing together the world’s leading technical experts also enables us to further deepen the expertise of the UAE National talent EGA has developed for key roles in the UAE’s alumina refining industry.”

Dr Steven Rosenberg, Director of Bauxite Residue Research at EGA and Chair of the AQW Executive Committee, said: “As a young scientist, I submitted a technical paper to the very first AQW in 1988. I am proud that we have now held the first AQW outside Australia in the UAE, sharing our technical experience from one of the world’s most modern alumina refineries, and learning from others to continuously improve.”

EGA began developing UAE Nationals for key roles at Al Taweelah alumina refinery when the project was still on the drawing board. Today around 100 UAE Nationals work at the plant, from Executive-level to frontline shift supervisors.

The award for best technical paper at AQW 2024 was won by a team led by Sami Al Bastaki, a senior manager in process engineering at Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

More than 60 technical papers were presented at AQW in total.

The University of Szeged in Hungary, which works with EGA on research to find productive uses for bauxite residue, a waste stream from alumina refining, won the award for best academic paper.

The conference featured a Net-Zero Alumina workshop which brought together a team of 55 experts from across the global alumina industry on this topic for the first time. Research partners and suppliers joined the workshop to identify key knowledge gaps, challenge assumptions, and suggest new solutions for decarbonising alumina production.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 17 April 2024: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, one of the world’s largest clean energy companies, and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer in the world, agreed an alliance to work together on aluminium decarbonisation and low-carbon aluminium growth opportunities.

The signing was witnessed by His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Chairman of Masdar.

Masdar and EGA will explore the joint development of renewable energy projects, with potential battery storage and green hydrogen production and storage, to support the decarbonisation of EGA’s existing operations in the UAE, and any future operations in the country.

The two companies will also work together internationally to find opportunities through which Masdar will support EGA to power new aluminium production facilities with renewable energy sources.

Masdar is a global leader in renewable energy and the UAE’s flagship clean energy company. It develops and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects around the world.

Aluminium production is energy-intensive, and generating the electricity required using fossil fuels accounts for about 60 per cent of the global aluminium industry’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Mohamed Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “Masdar is proud to be collaborating with EGA to help decarbonise the aluminium production process. Strong partnerships such as this are exactly what the world needs to accelerate our path to Net Zero.  When organisations combine their knowledge and resources to help decarbonise vital industries, we not only protect the environment but we also boost the economy. This is core to our mission at Masdar. We look forward to developing further compelling propositions for international markets to maximise the economic benefits of using renewable energy.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium plays an essential role in decarbonisation economy-wide, which is why demand for this metal has the potential to grow by as much as 80 per cent by 2050. Fulfilling this potential depends on how sustainably aluminium is made. EGA’s alliance with Masdar, another UAE industrial champion and a global leader in clean energy, should unlock opportunities to decarbonise our existing operations including further expanding our production of CelestiAL solar aluminium, and secure low-carbon growth. We are already exploring opportunities together, and I look forward to working with Masdar both in the UAE and around the world.”

EGA produces one-in-every 25 tonnes of aluminium made worldwide. The company’s metal is the biggest made-in-the-UAE export after oil and gas and is shipped to more than 50 countries.

In 2021, EGA became the first company in the world to make aluminium commercially using solar power, producing almost 39 thousand tonnes that year. In 2023, EGA produced some 66 thousand tonnes of CelestiAL solar aluminium.

Established in 2006, Masdar is the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse. It is active in more than 40 countries and has invested in a portfolio of renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of more than 20 GW. Masdar is committed to achieving at least 100 GW of total renewable energy capacity by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year.

Every Can Counts is a leading global awareness programme for drink can recycling. The UAE chapter, which held its first public events during COP28, is the third non-European chapter after Brazil and the USA. The programme already operates in 21 countries, to inspire, encourage and empower people to recycle their drink cans wherever they are, with a focus on out-of-home consumption and collection. The campaign runs educational and recreational activations at festivals, beaches and other popular places. 

UAE citizens and residents each on average consume more than 60 aluminium drink cans every year - some 660 million aluminium beverage cans in total annually. Only a third are currently recycled, compared to over 95 per cent in leading recycling countries. More than 440 million aluminium cans currently end up in UAE landfill sites annually. 

The fate of used aluminium beverage cans is often decided by individual consumers’ choices whether to put their used can in a recycling bin. 

Aluminium is infinitely recyclable. Recycling aluminium takes 95 per cent less energy than making new metal, and generates only a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions. The UAE COP28 Presidency and global aluminium industry leaders set a target to reach at least 80 per cent aluminium beverage can recycling by 2030 and near 100 per cent by 2050. Recycling all used aluminium beverage cans globally would save 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year. 

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Infinite recyclability is one of many reasons why aluminium is essential for the development of a more sustainable society. Aluminium is already one of the world’s most recycled materials, but too much of this valuable material is still thrown away. Increasing recycling requires supportive government policies and the development of infrastructure. It also depends on individuals making the right decisions every day about how to dispose of items they no longer need. We are excited about the potential of Every Can Counts to improve aluminium beverage can recycling rates in the UAE.” 

Bartlomiej Wojdylo, Sustainability Director Europe at Canpack said: “For CANPACK, sustainability is a core responsibility. Aluminium beverage cans are the most recycled packaging in the world, and we know from countries like Brazil that it is possible to collect and recycle all cans. We would like to see this fantastic performance replicated in other countries. By supporting Every Can Counts in UAE, we want to inspire consumers to recycle more.” 

Sandrine Duquerroy-Delesalle, Director Sustainability & External Affairs at Crown Holdings, said: “We are excited to see the expansion of Every Can Counts to the UAE, after supporting it in other countries since its launch more than a decade ago. Circularity is a key element of our sustainability and we know we have the best package and material to keep delivering it. It is great to see the industry working all together to keep the cycle going.” 

David Van Heuverswyn, Director Every Can Counts Europe, said: “I am delighted that Every Can Counts has just been launched in the UAE thanks to a new partnership between the aluminium industry and local drink can producers. Our vision of empowering people to recycle their aluminium drink cans wherever they consume them can now spread in a new region. We are fully committed and ready to make a positive change in the UAE.” 

At COP28, Every Can Counts emphasised the event’s theme of ‘Actionism’ by showcasing a large PixelCan art installation created from over 2,000 aluminium drink cans. Displayed at the Sustainability Entrance, the artwork depicted a young woman holding Planet Earth, symbolising the significant impact of simple actions like can recycling on environmental sustainability. 

The programme also deployed recycling ambassadors at COP28 with QR-coded backpacks, actively promoting on-the-spot recycling and highlighting aluminium’s sustainable packaging properties. 

Last year, EGA formed the UAE Aluminium Recycling Coalition which brings together Crown and Canpack, as well as beverage producers and waste management companies to increase the rate of aluminium recycling in the country. 

EGA has started construction of the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling facility in Al Taweelah. The plant, which will have a capacity of 170 thousand tonnes per year. Construction is expected to take three years.

The Sea Cargo Charter sets a global framework to assess and disclose the climate alignment of ship chartering activities to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emission of global shipping to net zero by around 2050, in line with the goals of the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for regulating global shipping.

EGA ships some 22 million tonnes of aluminium, bauxite and raw materials around the world each year. While the production of raw materials accounts for the bulk of EGA’s scope 3 emissions, global shipping accounts for a meaningful proportion.

The global shipping industry as a whole was responsible for two per cent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The aluminium EGA produces plays an essential role in the development of a more sustainable society. It is also important how sustainably it is produced, and this includes shipping raw materials to our production sites and bauxite and metal to our customers worldwide. EGA has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, including from our supply chain. Joining the Sea Cargo Charter will enable us to further improve our performance and achieve our goal to reach net zero from supply chain activities.”

Eman Abdalla, Sea Cargo Charter Vice Chair, and Global Operations Director at Cargill, said: “We are pleased to have EGA as the first global aluminium producer and Middle East industrial company to join the Sea Cargo Charter. The journey to more sustainable shipping starts with a commitment to transparency, a unified methodology, and emissions reporting. We hope EGA’s example inspires other participants in the aluminium industry to follow a similar path towards carbon emissions transparency in their supply chain.”

In 2022, EGA signed an agreement with one of its shipping partners, “K” Line to develop and implement new marine decarbonisation technologies suitable for EGA’s bulk cargo shipping routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean.

The pilot plant is thought to be the first-of-its-kind in the world.

Construction follows five years of scientific research & development by EGA and a consortium of global research partners, which led to a breakthrough in the re-use of one of the aluminium industry’s most challenging waste streams. EGA has spent the last year on detailed engineering work.

The pilot plant will use EGA’s proprietary technology to neutralise caustic bauxite residue into an environmentally benign raw material in hours, instead of undergoing decades-long, natural processes. This Optimised Bauxite Residue is the main ingredient for the manufactured soil, which EGA calls ‘Turba’ (the Arabic word for soil).

The pilot plant will prove the potential to industrialise EGA’s revolutionary process and will give the company the ability to conduct large-scale trials to test plant growth using the manufactured soil. It is expected to be completed during 2024.

Laboratory-scale trials have already shown that Turba significantly enhances plant growth while using less water and fertiliser than local sandy alternatives. The pilot plant will be capable of producing up to six tonnes per day of optimised bauxite residue.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The construction of this pilot plant is an important milestone in our drive to find productive uses for bauxite residue, which has been a challenge since the dawn of our industry. Manufactured soil has great potential as a solution, as it meets an important need in the UAE. Our goal is to develop and prove multiple solutions, to ensure all bauxite residue produced in the UAE is used in the UAE, contributing to a more circular economy.”

Some 150 million tonnes of bauxite residue are thought to be produced worldwide every year with less than two percent put to productive use. Untreated bauxite residue is caustic and does not support plant life.

The plant, which will be located at EGA’s site in Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi, will cover an area of 900 square metres when complete, and will contain 230 tonnes of steel, more than two kilometres of piping, and 10 separate tanks. The heart of the plant, a specialised filtration system, was built in Finland and arrived in the UAE in June.

The UAE has limited naturally-occurring soil, and imports significant quantities each year for greening and agricultural purposes. Soil is considered a non-renewable resource as it takes centuries to develop naturally in even the most favourable climates.

The world’s soil naturally absorbs some 20 per cent of man-made CO₂ emissions every year, making soil the largest terrestrial CO₂ storage facility and critical for the global effort to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Soil’s CO₂ absorption capability is under threat globally from human-driven soil erosion.

Early studies show that EGA’s Turba may have up to 10 times better CO₂ absorption properties than the UAE’s natural soil.

EGA began production at Al Taweelah alumina refinery in 2019, making alumina refining a new industrial activity for the UAE. EGA is fully committed to finding productive uses for bauxite residue within the UAE.

EGA’s bauxite residue team has already developed other potential novel applications for bauxite residue, including as a raw material for the steel, cement, and construction industries.

EGA has already developed re-uses for other waste streams from its industrial activities. These include spent pot lining, a by-product of aluminium smelting, which is re-used as an alternative feedstock and fuel by the UAE cement industry; carbon dust, which is also used as a fuel in cement manufacturing; and dross, which is processed to recover aluminium. EGA’s long-term aspiration is to send zero process waste to landfill.

The 170 thousand tonnes per year facility is being built next to EGA’s existing smelter in Al Taweelah. The plant will process post-consumer aluminium scrap such as used window frames, as well as pre-consumer aluminium scrap from extrusion production, into low-carbon, high quality premium aluminium billets.

The new facility will supply local and global markets with low carbon metal under the product name RevivAL. Construction is expected to be complete within three years.

Most of the aluminium scrap generated in the UAE is currently exported for processing outside the country, and is lost to the national economy. Once the recycling plant is complete, EGA expects to become the largest consumer of aluminium scrap in the UAE.

Market analysts expect global demand for recycled aluminium to grow from some 27 million tonnes per year in 2022 to 57 million tonnes in 2040. Recycled aluminium is expected to account for around 60 per cent of the growth in global aluminium supply between now and 2030, and around 70 per cent of supply growth between 2030 and 2040.

Aluminium is infinitely-recyclable. Recycling aluminium requires 95 per cent less energy than making new metal, and results in a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions of primary aluminium production.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium recycling is key to our metal achieving its enormous potential to contribute to decarbonisation while improving global living standards. This makes recycling the biggest global growth opportunity for our industry, and for EGA. Our construction of a major aluminium recycling plant will provide low carbon product options for our local and global customers while contributing to the national Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy.”

EGA was the first company to produce aluminium commercially using solar power, which is marketed under the product name CelestiAL, starting in 2021. Last year, EGA produced 57 thousand tonnes of CelestiAL.

In 2023, EGA expanded its low carbon metal portfolio, combining solar and recycled aluminium to achieve even lower carbon intensity. This product is called CelestiAL-R. BMW Group is the first customer for this metal.  

EGA has publicly committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the UAE’s Net 50 by 2050 Strategic Initiative.

Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.  Each year, EGA’s Sustainability team and volunteers from across the company clear the beach of washed-up rubbish throughout the nesting season, monitor visiting turtles, and protect nests.

Some 110 nests have been laid on the beach next to EGA’s operations since the programme began in 2011, with more than 7,200 turtles successfully hatched.  

EGA also works with the Jumeirah Group's Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Centre to rescue and rehabilitate injured and sick turtles, although no turtles that needed care were found this year.

Salman Abdulla, EGA’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and ESG, said: “Turtles were using Al Taweelah beach for nesting long before we built our plant nearby, and it is a priority for us that they can continue to do so every year. We ensure that our operations do not disturb this natural environment, and do everything we can to protect turtle nesting. We want to play our part in ensuring this iconic species thrives.”

Hawksbill turtles have an average lifespan of 30 to 50 years and a female can lay over 100 eggs during each nesting season.

United Arab Emirates, 17 August 2023: Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced that its Al Taweelah alumina refinery has been certified for its environmental, social and governance performance by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative.

All EGA operational assets around the world are now certified to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard V2 (2017).

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is a global, non-profit organisation that brings together aluminium producers, end-users such as BMW Group and Nespresso, civil society, and the public through consultation, to determine what constitutes good sustainability performance in the aluminium sector.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery has amongst the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in the alumina refining industry, due to highly efficient processes and operations.

The responsible management of bauxite residue, a by-product from the refining process, has been a key priority for Al Taweelah alumina refinery since before its construction. EGA’s Research & Development team has made a global breakthrough in the re-use of bauxite residue as a manufactured soil, and is advancing further potential uses including in novel construction materials. Finding viable re-uses for bauxite residue has been a challenge for the alumina refining industry for more than a century.

More broadly, EGA was the first company in the world to make aluminium commercially using solar power. Generating the electricity required for aluminium smelting using fossil fuels accounts for more than half of the global aluminium industry’s CO2 emissions.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “Aluminium has an essential role to play in the development of a more sustainable society, and it also matters how sustainably aluminium is made. Certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard is a transparent and independent verification of our commitment to sustainability, and I am proud all EGA’s operational assets are now certified. Our next goal is to start producing ASI-certified metal during next year, and to produce only ASI-certified metal by 2030.”

Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, said, “We warmly congratulate EGA on achieving Performance Standard certification at now all of its global operations. In 2019, EGA became the first company in the Middle East to achieve an Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standard certification, for its Al Taweelah smelter in the UAE. More recently, EGA’s subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation led the way by achieving the first certification of bauxite mining in Africa for their operations in Guinea, a country with globally important bauxite reserves and also one where the industry’s commitment to sustainability is tested. EGA's pursuit of certifying all its global operations underscores the relevance and applicability of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standard in diverse operational landscapes and reinforces the Standard's role in fostering responsible practices throughout the entire aluminium value chain.”

EGA was the first Middle East-headquartered company to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, back in 2017. EGA’s Al Taweelah site was certified to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard in 2019, and EGA’s Jebel Ali site was certified in 2021. GAC achieved certification earlier this year.

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard has more than 100 environmental, social and governance requirements. Certification of operations follows a rigorous independent audit of policies, practices and performance.

Sales and distribution of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative-certified metal first requires certification against the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Chain of Custody Standard, which lays out criteria for material sourcing management and accounting systems at every step of the aluminium value chain. Based on current planned material flows from both EGA-owned assets and third-party bauxite and alumina suppliers, around half of EGA’s 2024 cast metal production could be potentially certifiable, once Chain of Custody Certification has been achieved.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery began production in 2019, after an investment in its development of some $3.3 billion. The refinery converts bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters.

In 2022, Al Taweelah alumina refinery produced 2.43 million tonnes of alumina, significantly exceeding its original design capacity and meeting 47 per cent of EGA’s total alumina needs.

EGA’s existing separate certifications for its Al Taweelah and Jebel Ali smelter and casting operations, and its new certification for Al Taweelah alumina refinery, have been combined into a single certification for all EGA operations in the UAE. The certification and summary audit report can be downloaded at this link: https://aluminium-stewardship.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ASI-Summary-Audit-Report-EGA-PJSC-Certificate-27-PS-Rev-4.pdf

More than 2,000 employees at EGA are under the age of 35. Last year, EGA recruited over 220 UAE Nationals with an average age of 23 years old.

The theme of this year’s International Youth Day, "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World", is in line with EGA's commitment to sustainable development. The EGA Youth Council has a;sp initiated a new programme to plant Neem Trees across EGA site every two months. The first section of trees was planted today by EGA’s Managing Director, Abdulla Kalban, Iman Al Qasim, Executive Vice President Human Capital, and young EGA employees.

Iman Al Qasim, Executive Vice President of Human Capital at EGA, said: “Every time we drive along Youth Street we will be reminded again of the important place of young people at EGA, both today and as the leaders of the future. Our Youth Council is central to our drive to empower youth at our company, and equip them with the skills they need for our future.”

The EGA Youth Council, established in 2018, empowers young UAE National employees to become innovative leaders and agents of change within the nation.

The agreement was signed at the Japan-UAE Business Forum in Abu Dhabi, witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

EGA’s relationship with ITOCHU stretches back to the 1980s, with the Japanese company marketing EGA’s metal to customers in Japan and Japanese companies’ operations abroad.

The new agreement builds on a MoU signed late last year in Tokyo to leverage both companies industrial capabilities in opportunities that complement EGA’s existing operations in the UAE.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “EGA and ITOCHU have worked together for decades, and our partnership has been an important part of the trade relationship between the UAE and Japan. We look forward to expanding this partnership further, to the benefit of our companies and both nations.”

Keita Ishii, President and Chief Operating Officer of ITOCHU Corporation, said: “The commercial relationship between ITOCHU and the UAE is amongst the most significant our two nations share. Our goal now is to deepen our work together to help meet the growing demand for aluminium over the decades ahead.”

The memorandum of understanding, which is non-binding and non-exclusive, was exchanged in Abu Dhabi between Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, and William Lin, Executive Vice President Regions, Corporates & Solutions at bp.

Calcined petroleum coke is formed into carbon anodes which are consumed in reduction cells during the aluminium smelting process. EGA uses some one million tonnes of calcined petroleum coke each year. EGA sources up to 40 per cent of its calcined petroleum coke from ADNOC, while the rest is imported. EGA has sourced calcined petroleum coke from bp since 2012.

EGA and bp’s intended cooperation aims to explore potential ways to reduce the carbon intensity of EGA’s total supply of calcined petroleum coke, including its production and shipping.

The intended cooperation could lead to the development of a calcined petroleum coke blending facility in the UAE, which would support the emissions and quality optimisation of calcined petroleum coke from different suppliers. If developed, this new industrial investment in the UAE would contribute to the achievement of the country’s Operation 300bn industrial development strategy.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “While our industry must achieve a step-change in greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, it is important that we also continue to focus on the incremental improvements that are in reach today. Through this cooperation with bp, we are targeting reductions in the greenhouse gas emission intensity of these important processes in our raw material supply chain.”

HILT CRC (Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre) is an Australian cooperative research centre bringing together industry, researchers and government to achieve technological breakthroughs in the decarbonisation of the steel, iron, alumina and cement industries. Australia is the world’s second largest alumina refining country and the largest alumina exporter.

Joining international research and technology providers, EGA is HILT’s first industry partner with operations entirely outside Australia. EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery began production in 2019 and is the only alumina refinery in the UAE. EGA also operates aluminium smelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in the Republic of Guinea.

EGA was the first aluminium producer in the Middle East to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), and the first to achieve a site certification to the ASI Performance Standard.

In alumina refining, HILT CRC is focusing on decarbonising the production of steam for digestion, and calcination. The two processes account for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions from alumina refineries and are the most significant decarbonisation challenges at EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

EGA is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 in line with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, and has a roadmap to decarbonise all its operations.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Joining HILT CRC enables EGA to participate with the Australian alumina refining industry in finding technological solutions to the toughest decarbonisation challenges in alumina refining. EGA has a long history of partnering with others on research and development, and we are continuing this approach as we strive towards net zero by 2050. I look forward to some ground-breaking results from this collaboration.”  

HILT’s CEO, Felicity Lloyd, said: “EGA’s aspirations to be measured amongst the world’s most responsible metals and mining companies and their roadmap to reach net zero emissions by 2050, shows strong alignment with HILT CRC’s mission and strategy. EGA’s alumina refinery is one of the most modern in the world and is integrated with one of EGA’s world-scale aluminium smelters. EGA can make an important contribution to decarbonisation research including to the benefit of the Australian alumina industry. We look forward to collaborating on new technology developments and solutions to help the alumina industry to fully decarbonise.”

HILT CRC was established in June 2021 with the award of AUS$39 million of Australian government funds over 10 years, adding to the investment of approximately AUS$41.6 million cash and AUS$118.4 million of in-kind from its partners.

EGA joins 50 other partners across industry, research and government organisations who through HILT CRC will perform collaborative research dedicated to developing and demonstrating low-carbon technologies that will help transition the steel, iron, alumina, and cement industries to decarbonise heavy industry and grow the economy. 

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification is the global aluminium industry’s internationally-recognised standard for environmental and social performance and governance.

Guinea is the world’s largest resource holder of bauxite, the ore from which aluminium is derived, and the second largest global producer.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said today: “EGA aims to be a global sustainability leader for the aluminium industry, helping ensure that aluminium reaches its full potential to contribute to human progress. Guinea is a developing country, which makes sustainability an essential priority in our local business. ASI Performance Standard certification provides an independent and public verification of both what we do well and where we can continuously improve, such as in our relationships with local communities. I am proud that an EGA company has achieved the first Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification in Guinea, and hope that other bauxite mining companies in the country will follow our lead.”

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is a global, non-profit organisation that brings together aluminium producers, end-users such as BMW Group and Nespresso, civil society, and the public through consultation, to determine what constitutes good sustainability performance in the aluminium sector.

Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, said: The vision of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative is to maximise the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society, by fostering responsible production, sourcing and stewardship. Guinea plays an important role in the global aluminium value chain, and is a country where the industry’s commitment to sustainability is tested. The GAC audit piloted the involvement of Guinean specialists in the audit team, after being trained in the ASI audit process as part of our Registered Specialists Program. This empowered local expertise as they took the lead on social engagement during the audit process, including a wide range of community, employer and contractor interviews. We congratulate Emirates Global Aluminium and its subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation for achieving this first ASI Performance Standard Certification in Guinea, and for their commitment to pursue responsible bauxite mining practices in this challenging setting.”

The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard has more than 100 environmental, social and governance requirements. Certification to Version 2 (2017) of the standard was granted following a rigorous independent audit of GAC’s polices, practice and performance. The audit considered a broad range of factors both directly and indirectly related to the company’s operations, including their impact on biodiversity, human rights, transparency, community engagement, emissions and waste management.

EGA was the first Middle East-headquartered company to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, back in 2017. EGA’s Al Taweelah site was certified to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard in 2019, with EGA’s site in Jebel Ali achieving certification in 2021. EGA’s Al Taweelah site was re-certified in 2022.

GAC began production in 2019, following a $1.4 billion investment by EGA, the largest in a greenfield mining project in Guinea in more than four decades. In 2022, EGA exported 14 million wet tonnes of bauxite from GAC, making EGA one of the largest merchant suppliers of the mineral in the world. Some GAC bauxite is shipped to the UAE for use in EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

GAC operates a 690-square kilometre mining concession, located in the northwest of Guinea. Once mined, bauxite is transported to GAC’s port at Kamsar by train using shared rail infrastructure. GAC’s port has some of the largest mining equipment ever installed in Africa. The stacker/reclaimer at Kamsar is 125 metres long - longer than a soccer field - 25 metres tall, and weighs 1,300 tonnes.

The ASI’s certification and summary audit report can be downloaded at this link: https://aluminium-stewardship.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ASI-Summary-Audit-Report-Guinea-Alumina-Corporation-SA-Certificate-262-PS.pdf

His Excellency and his delegation were welcomed to EGA by Chief Executive Officer Abdulnasser Bin Kalban and a team of executives. Discussions centred on how the two companies will each contribute to the UAE’s clean energy future.

EGA has a strategic initiative with TAQA, Dubal Holding and EWEC to divest its natural gas-fired power plants and instead source its electricity needs via the grid from EWEC, including an increasing proportion of clean energy. This would make EGA the largest single customer on the grid.

ENEC’s Barakah plant is already the largest source of clean, zero-carbon electricity in the UAE and wider Arab World, with two of the four 1400MW units already commercially operational, the third unit due to commence commercial operations shortly and the fourth unit gearing up for operational readiness later this year. Nuclear energy is an important source of baseload electricity, meaning it generates significant volume 24/7, which is fundamental to supporting the UAE’s growing intermittent renewable sources, which generate during daylight hours. Nuclear energy generated electricity is particularly important for decarbonizing heavy industries, which need large volumes of continuous electricity to power industrial processes, like aluminium smelting.

ENEC supplies electricity to EWEC through a long-term agreement, which EWEC sells on for dispatch.

His Excellency Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, said: “The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant provides a significant amount of EWEC’s clean electricity and will continue to deliver the majority of its emissions-free energy for decades. As the only source of carbon-free power that generates baseload, 24/7 electricity in the UAE, nuclear energy has a central role to play in securing the decarbonization of the UAE’s power sector. Key industrial players like EGA who are looking to decarbonize their operations are already benefitting greatly from the reliable and clean electricity produced at the Barakah Plant.”

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “The UAE’s ambitious energy transition provides the largest single opportunity for decarbonisation at EGA. Alongside solar, nuclear power will be a major part of EGA’s energy mix over the decades ahead, enabling us to provide the low-carbon aluminium the world needs to make modern life possible.”

EGA became the first company in the world to produce aluminium using solar power in 2021, through an agreement with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. EGA produced almost 39 thousand tonnes of CelestiAL last year. EGA’s customers for the metal include BMW Group, Hammerer Aluminium Industries, a tier 1 supplier of Mercedes-Benz, and Kobe Steel, one of the largest rolling mills in Japan that makes automotive body sheet for Nissan.

EGA is amongst the first in the region to choose the accounts, which ensure cash balances are used to finance or refinance sustainability progress elsewhere in the economy.

EGA uses the interest-bearing accounts for funds that are required for daily and other short-term operations.

Zouhir Regragui, Chief Financial Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, added: “The aluminium EGA produces plays a key role in the development of a more sustainable society worldwide. It also matters how sustainably aluminium is made, and we are embedding sustainability throughout our company – from focusing on decarbonisation to reporting publicly on our sustainability progress. Ensuring our cash balances at the bank also contribute to enhancing sustainability economy-wide is in line with the overall direction of EGA.” 

Citi’s sustainable deposit solution seeks to help corporate finance and treasury departments invest excess cash in deposit accounts that aim to support financing for environmental and social projects, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, green buildings, and expanding access to affordable basic infrastructure and essential services.

Steven Buonvino, Head of Corporate and Public Sales, Treasury and Trade Solutions, EMEA Emerging Markets at Citi, said: “Sustainability is a key strategic priority for our clients and Citi’s deposit strategy is one of the innovative ways we’ve embedded our commitment in our products and services to help our clients advance their sustainability goals by offering sustainable deposit solutions in UAE. We’re pleased to be working with EGA and look forward to support EGA in the sustainability journey.”

Since Standard Chartered first rolled out their Sustainable Deposit product in 2019, the Bank has continued to innovate, launching impactful Sustainable Finance products such as Sustainable Trade Finance, ESG structured notes and Sustainable savings accounts. Funds in these accounts are referenced against sustainable assets on the Bank’s balance sheet. Standard Chartered has developed a Green and Sustainable Product Framework with industry experts Sustainalytics, which addresses themes including climate change and financial inclusion.

Mohammed Salama, Managing Director, Regional Head of Commercial, Corporate and Institutional Banking for MENA at Standard Chartered Bank, said: “We believe, that the sustainable proposition extends beyond financing, it covers the economy and clients’ end-to-end needs. Standard Chartered Bank has been a key catalyst of the sustainability agenda in UAE as well as the MENA region, and our engagement has spread across market leaders and national champions like EGA, offering a wide range of products and services.”

EGA is the largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer in the world. Aluminium is an essential material for everything from wind farms to lightweight electric vehicles. As the world moves to net zero greenhouse gas emissions, the International Aluminium Institute forecasts aluminium demand will increase by between 50 per cent and 80 per cent by 2050.

EGA was the first Middle East headquartered company to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, which brings together aluminium producers, end users such as Apple and Nespresso, civil society and the public through consultation, to determine what constitutes good sustainability performance in the aluminium industry.

EGA was the first company in the region to achieve a site certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard. EGA’s sites in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah are both now certified.

Last year, EGA became the first company in the world to produce aluminium commercially using the power of the sun, through a partnership with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. Electricity generation accounts for around 60 per cent of the global aluminium industry’s emissions. EGA markets this metal under the product name CelestiAL.