Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has inaugurated its aluminium recycling plant in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi.

It said the recycling plant, which has an annual production capacity of 185,000 tonnes, was the largest in the UAE.

The plant processes post-consumer aluminium scrap, and some pre-consumer aluminium scrap, into low-carbon, high-quality ‘premium aluminium’ billets and T-bars, marketed by EGA under the product name RevivAL.

EGA also blends recycled metal with primary aluminium produced using solar power, marketed as CelestiAL-R, and with nuclear power, sold as MinimAL-R.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “The inauguration of Al Taweelah recycling plant is a major milestone in EGA’s development of a global aluminium recycling business.

“This new plant turns aluminium waste generated in the UAE and elsewhere into new aluminium that makes modern life possible around the world.

“With this project, we have added a new industrial activity to EGA’s operations in the UAE, in line with Make it in the Emirates and the UAE’s Operation 300 billion industrial growth strategy.”

The plant began producing recycled aluminium in February.

Final commissioning work was paused following an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi on 28 March and resumed during April.

Recycled cast metal production resumed in early May.

Ramp-up to full production is expected to take up to six months, in line with the original ramp-up timeline, depending on scrap availability.

The inauguration of the plant was attended by Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), EGA’s Chairman Homaid Al Shimmari, EGA’s Vice Chairman Saeed Al Tayer, and members of EGA’s Board and senior management team.

Dr Al Dahak said: “Aluminium represents one of our greatest opportunities to drive this transition from linear to circular model of production.

“It is infinitely recyclable, protecting our ecosystems while fuelling a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

“Recycling aluminium waste requires up to 95% less energy compared to producing new primary aluminium from raw ore, saving significant energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Constructing the plant took 4 million hours of work, which was completed with zero injuries requiring time off work.

The project required more than 26,300m³ of concrete, more than the volume of 10 Olympic-size swimming pools, as well as over 4,600 tonnes of structural steel, almost two-thirds of the iron weight of the Eiffel Tower.

With Al Taweelah recycling plant and a planned aluminium recycling plant acquisition in Italy, EGA’s aluminium recycling capacity has reached more than 400,000 tonnes per year across the UAE, Europe and the US, with an additional 200,000 tonnes of capacity under development in Europe and the US.