EGA receives first shipment of caustic soda for Al Taweelah alumina refinery

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has received the first shipment of caustic soda for its under-construction Al Taweelah alumina refinery. Caustic soda and bauxite are the two most important raw materials in alumina refining. The refinery will require some 130,000 tonnes of caustic soda each year, which will initially be imported.

Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “Whilst construction continues in many areas of Al Taweelah alumina refinery, we are steadily moving into commissioning completed equipment and sections. Importing the first of these raw materials is an important milestone in this immense effort to develop alumina refining as a new industrial activity in the UAE.”

Once full ramp-up is achieved, Al Taweelah alumina refinery is expected to produce some two million tonnes of alumina per year. First alumina from Al Taweelah alumina refinery is expected during the first half of 2019. The refinery will require some five million tonnes of bauxite each year, which will be imported from the Republic of Guinea in West Africa. The company has begun importing bauxite in June.

Last year, EGA signed a long term caustic soda supply agreement with Shaheen Chem Investments LLC for the construction of a chemicals complex in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi. Shaheen’s plant will meet all EGA’s caustic soda needs.