Emirates Global Aluminium has reported progress to restore production at its Al Taweelah site, Abu Dhabi, with early milestones reached ahead of schedule.

To resume hot metal production at Al Taweelah smelter, EGA must progressively restore each of the 1,262 reduction cells.

Anode removal has been completed at all the reduction cells, bath cleaning completed at around 90%, and frozen metal removed from over 20% cent of the reduction cells.

The first restored reduction cell was restarted on 26 May.

So far, 89 reduction cells have been restarted.

Hot metal production will gradually ramp-up as reduction cells are progressively restored and could take up to a year to reach pre-incident levels.

EGA said it was working to accelerate this timeline.

Al Taweelah Casthouse produced its first cast metal on 4 May.

The casthouse is remelting frozen metal removed from the reduction cells during restoration to produce finished aluminium products, in addition to casting hot metal from restored reduction cells.

Al Taweelah recycling plant had recently begun final commissioning and cast metal production at the time of the incident.

Final commissioning work resumed during April, and 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.

At Al Taweelah alumina refinery, first alumina production is expected early in the third quarter, with a potentially rapid ramp-up to full production subject to the optimisation of bauxite supply chains.

The ramp-up of hot metal production is not expected to depend on full ramp-up at Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

The company said basic utilities have been restored across the site, with natural gas and electricity availability projected to ramp-up in line with the needs of the restart programme.

The site was damaged during Iranian attacks on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi in March.

Two employees who sustained injuries required hospitalisation and have since been discharged to continue their recoveries.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: “We are rapidly and safely actioning a clear, disciplined plan to restore production at Al Taweelah, which is one of the most important aluminium production complexes in the world.

"All opportunities to accelerate the timeline further are being explored, and we will achieve our goal of emerging stronger than ever before.

"Our people have risen to this challenge, and I commend their continued heroism and dedication to EGA’s bright future.”

EGA’s Jebel Ali site continues aluminium production at full capacity.

Average daily inbound deliveries of all major raw materials currently exceed EGA’s requirements to maintain metal production at Jebel Ali and meet the demands of restoration at Al Taweelah, with raw materials stocks on the ground in the UAE increasing.

EGA said it had volumes of metal on the water and in warehouses in certain overseas locations at the start of the conflict, enabling the continued supply of metal to some customers.

Constraints on outbound logistics from March resulted in the temporary suspension of new shipment departures and EGA built up significant inventory of finished metal on the ground in the UAE.

EGA has made progress in establishing alternative outbound logistics routes using ports outside the Strait of Hormuz.

EGA is currently selling more metal than the company is producing at Jebel Ali, with UAE stockpiles gradually reducing.

A return to pre-crisis shipment levels is expected, based on current conditions, to require the re-opening of the Strait.

EGA’s recycling plants in the United States and Germany have continued production throughout 2026.