Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE’s largest industrial company and the world’s leading producer of premium aluminium, has completed a debottlenecking expansion at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery, increasing production capacity by up to 50,000 tonnes of alumina per year.
The project focused on installing a third ball mill, enhancing operational resilience and paving the way for future output growth at the UAE’s only alumina refinery. Ball mills grind bauxite ore into fine particles for chemical processing into alumina. The new unit boosts throughput, reduces the risk of unplanned outages, and improves overall availability alongside the two existing mills.
The expansion was executed entirely by EGA’s in-house teams, covering engineering, project management, construction, and commissioning. The project was completed in under two and a half years, achieving more than 650,000 work hours without a single Lost Time Injury.
Since its commissioning in 2019, the Al Taweelah refinery has consistently operated above its nameplate capacity of 2 million tonnes per year. In 2024, the facility supplied 49% of EGA’s total alumina requirements, highlighting its strategic role in the company’s integrated value chain.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said, “This expansion is a key step forward for Al Taweelah alumina refinery, unlocking additional production capacity as we reorient our bauxite supply chain beyond Guinea. It further strengthens our operational resilience and unlocks capacity growth. I thank every member of the team who contributed to this success.”
