Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), one of the world’s largest aluminum producers and Gulf Extrusions, a subsidiary of the Al Ghurair Group, has entered into an agreement for the innovative re-use of an industrial by-product in the Abu Dhabi company’s production process.
As part of the agreement, Gulf Extrusions will supply EGA with about 450 tonnes of spent caustic soda from its Abu Dhabi and Dubai extrusion plants each month for use in alumina refining.
The move will eliminate the need for new raw materials, boost efficiency and benefit the environment, EGA said. Further, it will help the aluminum manufacturer to make use of waste products as feedstock through its collaboration with other industries.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban CEO – EGA
“Finding ways to reuse waste takes innovative thinking and close co-operation between companies and industries. But solutions like this agreement with Gulf Extrusions reduce the need for fresh raw material and are part of how we can address our global waste management challenge.”
Each year, EGA recycles about 100,000 tonnes of its own waste, including sending major waste products as feedstock to industries like the cement manufacturing sector.
“EGA’s reuse of spent caustic soda to make full use of the aluminum content of this by-product will reduce the environmental impact of both our companies,” said Mr. Christian Witsch, chief executive of Gulf Extrusions.
The innovative approach jointly developed by EGA and Gulf Extrusions removes the need for treatment and re-uses the aluminum content of the by-product, making it a cradle-to-cradle solution. It also slightly reduces EGA’s requirement for fresh caustic soda and bauxite for the Al Taweelah alumina refinery.
EGA and Gulf Extrusions did a trial run of the process at Al Taweelah and developed transport protocols to ensure its safe transfer between the two companies’ sites.
EGA, jointly owned by Abu Dhabi’s strategic investment arm Mubadala Investment Company and the Investment Corporation of Dubai, has more than 400 long-term customers in 50 countries, sold 2.52 million tonnes of cast metal in 2020.
