Masdar forms alliance to decarbonise aluminium

Masdar and aluminium producer Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have formed an alliance to work together on aluminium decarbonisation and low-carbon aluminium growth opportunities.

Masdar and EGA will explore the joint development of renewable energy projects, including 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.

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

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Mohamed Al Ramahi, chief executive officer of Masdar said in a release: “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, added: “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% by 2050. Fulfilling this potential depends on how sustainably aluminium is made."

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, naming the product CelestiAL solar aluminium. In 2023, EGA produced some 66 thousand tonnes of CelestiAL solar aluminium.

Bin Kalban adds, "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.”