Al Taweelah, an alumina refinery owned by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), has received certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for its ESG performance. All EGA operating assets have been granted certification to the 2017 Performance Standard V2 of the ASI.
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative: What Is It?
The ASI is a global NGO that works with end users of aluminum products, like the BMW Group and Nespresso, as well as civil society and the general public, to decide what is accepted regarding sustainability in the aluminum sector.
The Al Taweelah alumina refinery has some of the lowest greenhouse gas pollution in the alumina refining industry because of its effective operations and processes.
The Al Taweelah alumina refinery focuses on the responsible management of bauxite residue, a by-product of the refining process, ever since its conception. The EGA Research & Development team is pushing further possible uses, such as in new construction materials. It has achieved a breakthrough in re-using bauxite residue as produced soil.
More generally, EGA was the first company in the world to produce aluminum for commercial use while harnessing solar energy. Over half of the CO2 emissions from the worldwide aluminum sector are caused by burning fossil fuels to produce the power needed for aluminum smelting.
The CEO of EGA, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, stated that the development of a more sustainable society depends heavily on aluminum. He emphasized the value of environmentally friendly aluminum production processes. He said that getting the Performance Standard certification from the ASI shows their commitment to sustainability transparently and fairly. He took great pride in all operational assets within EGA that have been certified. He also mentioned the plan to start making ASI-certified metal next year and make only ASI-certified metal by 2030.
In 2017, EGA became the first company with a Middle Eastern headquarters to join the ASI. Al Taweelah and Jebel Ali sites of EGA received certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard in 2019 and 2021, respectively.
In the Performance Standard of the ASI, there are more than 100 ESG standards. Before operations approval, they carry out a thorough independent audit of policies, practices, and performance.
All of EGA’s operations in the UAE are now covered by a single certification rather than the separate certifications it previously had for its Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah smelter and casting operations and its new Al Taweelah alumina refinery.
Conclusion
The growing significance of green tech solutions in heavy industries is consistent with EGA’s ASI certification. The success of EGA can serve as motivation for the aluminum industry, which is well known for its energy-intensive manufacturing processes, as it looks for new ways to reduce environmental impact.
