Abu Dhabi – The National
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has announced the completion of the expansion project for the Al Taweelah alumina refinery, aimed at increasing the refinery’s production capacity by 50,000 tons annually.
The project involved the installation of a third ball mill at the refinery, enhancing operational flexibility and boosting the output of the only alumina refinery in the UAE. Ball mills are crucial for grinding bauxite ore into fine particles that undergo chemical processing to produce alumina.
The addition of the new mill at Al Taweelah boosts the existing two mills, significantly reducing the risk of unexpected downtime and improving operational efficiency while supporting overall production increases.
EGA’s internal teams took full responsibility for the project’s execution across all stages, including design, management, construction, and operation. The construction was completed within two and a half years, achieving over 650,000 work hours without any reportable injuries.
Key Development
Abdul Nasser bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, stated, “This expansion is a crucial step for the Al Taweelah alumina refinery, enhancing our production capacity and operational flexibility in light of the restructuring of the bauxite supply chain outside Guinea, as well as strengthening our operational resilience and expanding our production capabilities. I extend my sincere gratitude to all teams involved in this achievement.”
Since beginning operations in 2019, the Al Taweelah alumina refinery has consistently operated above its nameplate capacity of two million tons per year. Last year, it met 49% of EGA’s alumina requirements.