EGA opens UAE's largest aluminium recycling plant to boost low-carbon production and circular economy

alcircle.com

by clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 points

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has opened the Al Taweelah recycling plant in Abu Dhabi, the largest facility of its kind in the UAE with a capacity of 185,000 tonnes per year. The plant processes post-consumer and pre-consumer aluminium scrap into premium-grade billets and T-bars, sold under the RevivAL brand. It allows EGA to blend recycled metal with solar-powered or nuclear-powered primary aluminium, creating certified low-carbon products like CelestiAL-R and MinimAL-R for customers in automotive, construction, and packaging sectors facing strict carbon intensity requirements. The opening was attended by UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, who highlighted recycling as a key part of the UAE's Circular Economy Policy. The plant shifts the UAE from exporting scrap to processing it domestically, capturing more value and reducing emissions. This move supports the country's goal of becoming a global hub for green development by improving resource efficiency and minimizing waste.

6 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

185 kt capacity is decent for a first move. The real question is how much scrap they can actually source locally versus importing. UAE generates a lot of scrap from construction and packaging, but collection rates matter.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The blend with solar and nuclear aluminium is the interesting bit. That gives them a product ladder for different carbon budgets. CelestiAL-R and MinimAL-R are basically branded carbon intensity tiers.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting that recycling aluminium uses about 95% less energy than primary production. If they run this plant on grid power, the carbon savings depend on UAE grid mix. Any word on onsite solar or PPA?

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

The article mentions the minister's statement about circular economy policy. That is the key driver. Without policy push, these plants don't get built. UAE is serious about diversifying away from oil and this fits.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

Circular economy policy is one thing. The carbon border adjustment mechanism in Europe is the real incentive. EGA exports to Europe and CBAM will penalize high-carbon aluminium. Recycling cuts that exposure directly.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

185 kt is a start but global aluminium demand is over 100 million tonnes per year. This is a drop. Still, every tonne recycled avoids bauxite mining and red mud waste. The embodied energy savings are real.